Alcohol effect - depression and anxiety

[rainbowhairchalk]

It's perimenopause isn't it 😭 I'm 42, nearly 43 and in recent months I've found after drinking alcohol I feel really down for a few days. Today something happened and I felt so anxious whereas normally I wouldn't worry too much.

I spoke to my doctor asking about HRT and she said I'm too young but referred me anyway to a gynaecologist who I will hopefully see in about 6 - 12 months 🙄 what can I do in the meantime? Apart from stop drinking, obviously 😪😪 I'm so sad this is happening. I don't want to take antidepressants because I've been on them before and the side effects don't agree with me. Anyone else feel too young??

Are you sure it is to do with menopause? I often wonder whether these sorts of greater sensitivities to alcohol aren't simply the result of the years of exposure to it (even modest exposure) catching up with us. I know as many men as women who have found that in middle age alcohol brings more of a downside than it used to.

I have no idea, it's just something I've read. There are other things going on with me such as waking up covered in sweat, itching, expanded tummy which could all be symptoms too though.

I have found that after drinking I can be down and anxious for days now. I have since learnt that during perimenopause there is a drop in estrogen which leads to reduced serotonin levels - adding alcohol in the mix (which is a central nervous system depressant) makes it worse.

My anxiety and depression is virtually non-existent when I am on a sober streak (I am always on and off the wagon). BTW I'm 51 and not on HRT.

So no alcohol then apart from special occasions (that are worth the anxiety and depression) 😭😭

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! I think it depends on whether you can stick to e.g one small glass when you drink and maybe that will be ok. I can't do that so now I pick and choose when I do drink. I will also press the F it button sometimes and drink more times than I should but then I do pay for it afterwards.

I love drinking, only really do it on a Friday or Saturday night, and just a bottle of wine with DH but it's really not worth it at the moment. Three days of feeling down is too many 😪 hopefully I'll pick up tomorrow.

OP I'd say you should go back to your GP and tell them you are having night sweats and wish to trial. HRT for three months pending your gynae app (or pay to go private)...

I was having night sweats age 42 and they stopped within a few days of starting g HRT age 44.

The alcohol thing is a red herring. Alcohol is a well known mood depressant.

I am on HRT and I can't drink any more. I think it just happens sometimes as you get older.

It's not night sweats as such, I just wake up covered in sweat some mornings. She wouldn't prescribe without speaking to a gynae (I don't live in UK, maybe different rules and not as aware about menopause here) and when I got the referral through it probably means she spoke to a gynae and they said I need a referral. I could try again next time I see her though of course.

I’ve given up alcohol (used to love my wine) and feel much better without it.

This is so interesting, Im 43 but at 42, my body response to alcohol changed. I joked with my hubby that I have become allergic to alcohol. I would get fatigue, lethargy the next day. My left leg would swell up and I would be irritable - all very odd, now it seems I am not alone

OP, that's a night sweat.

Mine was especially in between my breasts so my breastbone and the vest I wear to bed were soaked.

Aahhh ok, I didn't realise. Mine is usually up around my neck 🥴

I just found the depressant side of drink seemed to ramp up for me and it’s impact on my sleep too. I stopped drinking and whilst my mood can still be up and down my sleep isn’t impacted and I feel better without it.

Alcohol is a depressant anyway

I think it is more an age thing than a menopause thing
I feel the same with alcohol at 48 but it didn't have that effect at menopause when I was 30.

It didn't affect me like this previous to this year though 🤔

I'm 51 and well into peri-menopause, or perhaps menopause (don't know as I had a hysterectomy and obviously no periods). Alcohol just doesn't agree with me any more. I feel shit the next day, not just anxious but just generally unwell and awful.

I have reduced my consumption massively and to be honest don't miss it. There are so many 0% of alcohol free versions compared with even a few years ago. Although it's hard to beat an old soda water and lime.

Just to update this thread, today after a few weeks of blood tests, I was diagnosed with a type of lymphoma. So if you have itching and sweating, it's not always peri-menopause and should be checked out!

@rainbowhairchalk@rainbowhairchalk I'm so sorry to hear that.

I hope you are getting speedy support from your GP etc.

Alcohol is a depressant and all generations suffer from Hanxiety !
2 out of my 3 children avoid it for that reason . They are in their 20s .

I went to see a haematologist today who will be sorting me out. I don't live in the UK and the healthcare where I am is pretty good. He also made me laugh so there's that. Thank you 😊

Stop drinking. So many benefits such as better skin, healthier body, reduced chance of cancer, more money, better sleep, weight loss. Your mental health will improve so much. I haven't had a drink for 16 years and am proud to have achieved this. Good luck.