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Menopause

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Original poster

perimenopause anxiety

12 replies

crochetmonkey74 · 17/07/2023 11:39

Anyone getting this?
I'm 48- periods still regular according to nhs but definitely changing. I find that the couple of days before my period, my anxiety goes off the chart- and I can be fixated on anything (family member has been in terrible accident/ small spot on arm is definitely cancer etc etc) Then when my period comes, I can literally feel the anxiety lift
I am not keen for medication as it gave me worse side effects when I tried it, I can just about manage right now so just looking for tales of solidarity I think
Anyone had similar?

OP posts:
Josephi · 17/07/2023 18:31

Same here. I’m in the middle of the anxiety/panic, a few days until my period. I can’t wait until I star HRT.

WunWun · 17/07/2023 18:32

Yes, this was the reason I started HRT at 44. It's better now

Munches · 17/07/2023 18:46

It’s horrendous. Utterly vile. Please please go to your doctor xx

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 17/07/2023 18:50

For those on HRT , how was the process? I'm overweight amd worried all the checks would make me more anxious (BP etc)

OP posts:
Gherkingreen · 17/07/2023 18:59

@crochetmonkey74 I'm the same age as you, and have exactly the same experience a couple of days before my still-regular periods. I'm on HRT and it helps with my mood generally, definitely feel improvement in brain fog and sleep, but my god the panic and anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed before my period is a nightmare.
I've come to expect it now, and try to mitigate it with more sleep, lots of exercise, no alcohol, the best diet I can manage, telling DH and DCs how I'm feeling, and letting work know too - have had overwhelming feelings of heart racing and wanting to run away during work days (and I WFH!) so it's good to let them know.
Speak to your GP, read up online, you're not alone, keep talking and be kind to yourself. Hope you get the answers and support you need.

mambojambodothetango · 17/07/2023 19:39

Yes I think this might be happening to me too. I felt massively overwhelmed by everyday stuff in the 2 days before my period this month. Really impatient with the DC and just forgetting stuff all the time. Sleep is OK, don't feel I sleep deeply but wondered if that's because it's warm. How does exercise help?

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 17/07/2023 19:50

For me it's the fixations. Tiny things get blown out of all proportion. An example is 'my tooth feels rough, it's probably going to crack, and I'll have loads of dental work' then I'll spend the days looking at it obsessively in mirror, googling etc. Then , it sort of just goes once my period begins and I can understand that I don't know what will happen, and any number of things could

OP posts:
Gherkingreen · 18/07/2023 05:48

@mambojambodothetango for me, exercise makes me feel better, lessens the nervous energy I feel, takes my mind off how I'm feeling, the endorphins kick in I guess. It also helps me sleep better and generally feel stronger, fitter and better about myself.

Josephi · 18/07/2023 07:05

@mambojambodothetango I do weights 3 times a week with PT and its so hard that I can only count reps and my brain can’t create new worries. Surprisingly yoga makes me even more irritated. Walking is also good.

Slavica · 18/07/2023 07:59

I am in the same situation, same age, periods still regular but changed. For me, the exacerbating factor is that I can't sleep during the week before my period (and my average cycle length is 23 days). Even otc sleeping pills don't do much any longer - for the past three days, I've been going to sleep at 2 in the morning, then having to wake up at 7 for work. I try to go to bed at 10 pm and then toss and turn instead of sleeping.

The anxiety is all the worse for the lack of sleep and general irritability. I have always been an anxious person, but these days the fixations are so exhausting!
I will mention it to my gynecologist at our yearly appointment. Like you, I worry about HRT (but is my worry justified or is this also a symptom?). It is so difficult not to trust what my mind is telling me.

Iwantcakeeveryday · 18/07/2023 09:45

crochetmonkey74 · 17/07/2023 19:50

For me it's the fixations. Tiny things get blown out of all proportion. An example is 'my tooth feels rough, it's probably going to crack, and I'll have loads of dental work' then I'll spend the days looking at it obsessively in mirror, googling etc. Then , it sort of just goes once my period begins and I can understand that I don't know what will happen, and any number of things could

oh gosh this is me too! Hrt has helped, but therapy has helped more. I have had anxiety issues since I went into early meno but, I think a bad experience and first panic attack was the trigger and meno made it worse. I feel that HRT has helped me get to a place where therapy can help me long term. If it is only something you experience now and only just before your period, then it may be something hormonal that HRT will help. The extreme changes of hormones I think exacerbates anxiety for me. I still get health anxiety though, but it is more manageable. I have realised its better to tackle the fear that causes it, so just go to the dentist, get that mole checked or whatever it is. Don't delay because I'm scared.

MissSmiley · 18/07/2023 10:03

The palpitations and anxiety stopped and I felt like me again as soon as I started on HRT, I also slept through the night within 48 hours of putting the first patch on

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