Anxiety

[Hemlock2013]

Morning all,

Could a violent and sudden onset of healthy anxiety be hormone related? I’ve spoken to dr about peri last year, due to cycle shortening and intense rage. Hormones were normal so I went to therapy privately. It helped a bit.

However, although I get anxious with pmt, it normally vanishes when I come on and is mild. This month I’ve gone completely bonkers, convinced myself I have liver failure, tumours, club nails, the list goes on. I’ve had gastro symptoms for a while, heart burn and bloating on and off. Tolerance to alcohol has vanished. I’m just picking it all apart and wondering if I need to go back to the drs? But for hormone help, not full body scan.

Tia x

I came to start a thread about anxiety, but saw yours and thought I'd jump in here!

I'm 56 and have been on HRT for 5+ years, but anxiety was definitely one of the things which triggered me to seek HRT. Historically I'd had 'big' jobs and wouldn't bat an eyelid at giving presentations to 1000 people, or flying around the world on business etc, but then suddenly in my late 40s I started getting heart palpitations and panic attacks - even at the prospect of packing a suitcase or going into a room where I didn't know people. HRT helped with the palpitations, although I ended up moving to a less full-on career.

Problem is that recently it feels as if anxiety is taking over again. I don't know if it's the aftermath of the pandemic and not being out and about so much, but I am getting panicky about driving now, or meeting in large groups, and I'm terrible for catastrophising - lying awake at night worrying about stupid things.

I don't know what I need - whether it's more estrogen, or CBT, or yoga, or what?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Yep, that’s exactly what prompted me to seek out HRT OverTheHill. Pretty awful and scary when you are panicking about driving 5 miles down the road ( me!!) or worrying about finding a parking space in a car park ( me!!)

My anxiety started aged 48. Prior to that, I was fine. 48 was when my menopause started.

It’s a bit better now , but I fear I won’t be the same person as I was before. Not sure if Hrt is helping but I’m taking it anyway.

Talk about a change of life!

I wish I’d started HRT earlier. My peri symptoms were horrendous, the anxiety was awful.

Can you speak to a different Dr? Many of them don’t get an awful lot of training re peri symptoms apparently!

@Hemlock2013 - Just to answer your question - yes! absolutely - the health anxiety could be hormone related. I guess the only way to test it out is to try all the other things (diet, exercise etc) first and if you're still having problems talk to your GP again? the problem is that too often women are prescribed anti-depressents for anxiety when HRT might be more helpful.

@Runaround50 I fear I won’t be the same person as I was before
This is EXACTLY my fear! I feel as if I've lost the 'old' me and I can't quite claw her back. My anxiety over driving - especially on motorways and also at night - risks making my life smaller. Somehow I now feel panicky and overwhelmed by all the movement/ noise/ lights etc. In the past I thought nothing of driving from one end of the country to the other and I want to be able to do this again!

You know, I’ve had a Cbd tablet thing this morning and I have managed to avoid spiralling into thinking I have some awful disease today! It’s so interesting the link with perimenopause and anxiety. And how awful you left a job @OverTheHill50 because of it. It’s really heartbreaking how this thing effects every woman!

Btw, I’ve also stopped drinking, I’m doing a fodmap diet for the tummy issues and daily yoga so I can go back to the dr armed and ready! He said previously unless I have a proper symptom like flushes before he gives me hrt.

@OverTheHill50

I came to start a thread about anxiety, but saw yours and thought I'd jump in here!

I'm 56 and have been on HRT for 5+ years, but anxiety was definitely one of the things which triggered me to seek HRT. Historically I'd had 'big' jobs and wouldn't bat an eyelid at giving presentations to 1000 people, or flying around the world on business etc, but then suddenly in my late 40s I started getting heart palpitations and panic attacks - even at the prospect of packing a suitcase or going into a room where I didn't know people. HRT helped with the palpitations, although I ended up moving to a less full-on career.

Problem is that recently it feels as if anxiety is taking over again. I don't know if it's the aftermath of the pandemic and not being out and about so much, but I am getting panicky about driving now, or meeting in large groups, and I'm terrible for catastrophising - lying awake at night worrying about stupid things.

I don't know what I need - whether it's more estrogen, or CBT, or yoga, or what?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

How much oestrogen are you using? If it’s the gel, maybe try increasing the dose and trying splitting the dose am and pm.

I relate to your driving experiences. I used to regularly drive long distances through work and manage to navigate and park just with the help of a road map and directions from the venue. Then when I got there give a presentation to a bunch of strangers. Ditto the night driving.

I am so much better since using testosterone as it’s pretty much got rid of any residual anxiety. If I do feel anxious now I can rationalise it away.

@Deux - that's interesting about the testosterone - how much do you take? In what form?

I take HRT in tablet form, so it's hard to increase the dose. I tried patches previously but I struggled with the utrogestan part - it made me feel like a zombie!

I keep meaning to go for a private menopause clinic session, but I kept putting it off during the pandemic.