What was your anxiety like ?

[GeneLovesJezebel]

I’m not sure if I have anxiety or if I’m just feeling a bit detached as I’m ageing.
Can I have examples of your anxiety so I can compare ?

Mine has mostly manifested as health anxiety, perhaps due to the reality that I'm much more likely to get something nasty the older I am. I do feel generally low and detached too though and can't focus on anything.

Oh and an impending sense of doom that some awful is going to happen such as cancer diagnosis, so no point doing or planning anything. I was planning to try to do positive things today such as look at holidays, buy stuff for the house etc, then I open up Facebook and there's a just giving page for a local dad around my age who died after a shock cancer diagnosis. Really need to snap out of this but unsure how. Not sure if all caused by menopause tbh.

Have you tried HRT to see if it helps ?

Mostly health anxiety but also general anxiety about nothing at all. Would wake feeling awful and this would last a week or so before it settled.

@GeneLovesJezebel I'm trying to stay away from HRT as not good if you have fibroids like me - see my other post.

Very low dose antidepressants helped me a lot with anxiety- couldn’t take HRT.

@milcal health anxiety is just the worst. Have had it to some degree for years but it's crippling me atm. The internet, social media & Dr Google are the worst. Really trying to stay away from them but it's so hard!!!!

CBT.
Loads of 'courses' online or through books, or find a good practitioner.

It's what is advised by drs anyway, without having to take drugs.

@worriedoncemore yeah I know what you mean and the worry also causes physical symptoms. Just been to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and of course they found nothing wrong but I was convinced I was going to die! It's a really horrible feeling.

I'm going to leave it just now as I am feeling better but after my holiday I would like to discuss with the doctor ways of coping or medication like HRT. Not sure if they would prescribe this for me as I get migraines with aura and I have read somewhere this could cause problems.

Mine was like a lightening bolt and absolutely crushing. I had never had anxiety before, so it was really shocking and awful. HRT took it all away. It saved me, honestly.

The only thing that has saved me from going completely over the edge is working out 3 times a week. Been doing it for years and, although I often don't feel like going, I force myself. I know if I stop that I've completely lost it...

I had anxiety and palpitations which my GP put down to my stressful life (divorce etc) but it all completely went away with HRT

Anxiety also struck me out of the blue in menopause. It manifested as overthinking everything, as though I couldn't switch my brain off, being scared of basic things, like driving or, as part of a job I've done for 20 plus years, public speaking. It caused physical symptoms, terrible headaches and issues with eating.
CBT worked ( I tried HRT and hated the side effects I experienced) and I took betablockers very briefly.
It passed as I went through menopause.

[quote worriedoncemore]@GeneLovesJezebel I'm trying to stay away from HRT as not good if you have fibroids like me - see my other post.[/quote]
I’m trying to avoid the oestrogen part, but I needed a coil due to heavy periods causing anaemia.

@SadLittleLife

Anxiety also struck me out of the blue in menopause. It manifested as overthinking everything, as though I couldn't switch my brain off, being scared of basic things, like driving or, as part of a job I've done for 20 plus years, public speaking. It caused physical symptoms, terrible headaches and issues with eating. CBT worked ( I tried HRT and hated the side effects I experienced) and I took betablockers very briefly. It passed as I went through menopause.

Overthinking everything and not being able to switch my brain off is what I have. I did something at work the other day, I thought it went well at the time, but afterwards I kept thinking about it over and over again. Repeating in my head what I said, what I could have said better. Then I remembered the way a woman looked at me on the way out, and thought that maybe I’d actually embarrassed myself. Then I kept getting flashbacks. I was awake in the night going over and over it. I also find I go over conversations I’ve had, and I have conversations in my head with people. It’s exhausting.

@worriedoncemore

The only thing that has saved me from going completely over the edge is working out 3 times a week. Been doing it for years and, although I often don't feel like going, I force myself. I know if I stop that I've completely lost it...

I exercise and walk, but I find myself over while I’m walking, so I push my brain to look at the things around me instead of thinking. I used to be so bold and independent, I don’t know where I’ve gone.

Writing this has actually made me cry. I feel so pathetic, where did the old me go.

Palpitations and a combined psychological/physical paralysis. I looked at it as a physical problem and adopted a medical solution - HRT which worked perfectly. I would not have accepted CBT or a talking therapy as there’s nothing wrong psychologically.

@GeneLovesJezebel This stage passed for me and hopefully it will for you too. I am now post menopause and when I look back at 3-4 years ago, I can't believe how I felt and how badly it affected me.
I now feel like a better version of the old me now as no monthly hormonal surges or period issues and my confidence fully returned.

Thank you.

@GeneLovesJezebel If you already have the Mirena, I'm confused why you aren't adding in estrogen?

Most women using that combo as HRT don't have any bleeding. The slow release of progestogen from the coil controls the effects of estrogen on the womb lining.

Has your dr not suggested you try this?

Also, have you thought about using CBT meanwhile?

Because I’m trying to avoid HRT. The coil is for heavy periods causing anaemia.

The coil is for heavy periods, not HRT.

@GeneLovesJezebel

The coil is for heavy periods, not HRT.

Yes, but it is licensed as part of HRT for women who want to use it like that.

All that is needed to make it HRT is estrogen- gel, patch or tablet.

I'm wondering why you are trying to avoid estrogen when it may help you?

In terms of breast cancer risk, it's progestogen that is the main risk, not estrogen.