It’s the anxiety which is ruining me and I feel helpless against it

[WearsblackLoveschocolateAvoidspeople]

Sadly, anxiety isn’t a new issue for me as I have suffered since a small child but since I hit around the age of 45 it’s been a steady spiral to insanity.

I am 51 now and no sign of my cycle ending and the anxiety and my ability to handle any of my life stresses is getting so much worse, all made worse by the fact the anxiety makes my physical symptoms worse (including my 26 year IBS issues), so I end up even more anxious over those.

NOT help either by the fact I am also dealing with unwell elderly parents (Mum has Alzheimer’s and breast cancer).

I don’t know how to ease this anxiety. I live a healthy lifestyle and do all the things you are supposed to to to reduce anxiety but it’s getting worse, I’m sure my hormones are to blame.

I have tried hrt but it made my endometriosis pain worse (another physical issue I’m dealing with).

Any advise how I can reduce the awful wound-up feeling I wake with and is with me all day long? It’s exhausting. I am on my die and panicky all the time.

Same!! I wish there was a solution I'm exhausted by panic x

It’s just dreadful isn’t it? I’ve never felt this bad with my mental health x

God, what you are going through sounds awful. Firstly I am sorry to hear your parents are unwell. That is enough to deal with in itself without all the other stuff.

Secondly I know what that horrible anxiety feeling feels like as I had the same thing. It came on about the same age, 45, when I became perimenopausal and just sat with me all day and really affected my everyday life. I would feel completely on edge and wired all day long. It was almost like my body was being pumped with adrenalin all day. The anxiety was dreadful. It was awful.

I tried HRT but had side affects and it just didn't really help me so I chose to come off it. I am almost 50 with no sign of my periods letting up. Since coming off the HRT I have researched and researched of things that could help me and as a result of that research I started taking supplements. I take a natural supplement for my menopause, along with digestive enzymes for my IBS (which flared up with the perimenopause) glucosamine for my joints, a general multivitamin and iron tablet and magnesium glycinate which is for the nervous system. I have found the combination of my supplements has eased all my symptoms. I can't believe the difference they made to me. I can cope with the perimenopause, my tummy issues have gone and most importantly for me I no longer have that 'wired' feeling that I used to wake up with everyday. I feel rested and my body feels relaxed and the anxiety I used to feel everyday has massively reduced. I put this down to the magnesium glycinate as I ran out of it recently and noticed the difference as I was waiting for my next delivery. That wired feeling was starting to come back a little.

Another thing I have also made myself do is go for a walk everyday. I have 2 dogs which helps and they need walking so I make sure its me that takes them. The fresh air and exercise helps too.

I really hope you find something that works for you because feeling that way is no way to live. Good Luck!

Thank you so much, it’s bloody awful isn’t it?

I’m writing down all the things you’ve suggested as I’m willing to try anything atm.

I have been wanting to try magnesium for some time as I know it’s supposed to be very good for anxiety and I also have some muscle issues so hoping it will help with that too but I’ve been worried it will exacerbate my IBS (I suffer with IBS-d). I know the glycinate is supposed to be the kindest on the digestive system, I’m just hoping it won’t send me to the loo too often! I should try it though.

I agree walking is very helpful, I get out every day with my dog and it does help.

Progesterone alone. I also tried HRT with oestrogen and the fluctuations of oestrogen along with the increased oestrogen from the patch made me think I was going insane.
Lots of reading around the subject and it seems progesterone drops off first so the balance between the two hormones is out, leading to being oestrogen dominant at times.

I find that a nightly 100mg Utrogestan helps with sleep and I definitely feel a bit more calm and balanced. I also suffer badly with IBS and it slows my digestion a little too which has helped with the urgent loo trips and the anxiety around urgent trips has lessened.

As far as my GP is concerned I’m on 25mg patch and cyclical P but I do it my own way and take just the P and continuously. I still get a period (it’s a bit longer and lighter rather than the 3 days of gushing) but I can live with that.

Also, make sure your vit D is good and magnesium spray to the legs / feet also helps a good night sleep.
High sugar and alcohol makes me feel grim (I’m not great at avoiding them tho).

And if all else fails take an immodium for the IBS with your evening meal and it will slow things down nicely through the following day.

I don't get on with magnesium - it messes with my stomach. The thing that's pretty much knocked my anxiety on the head id an Ashwagandha supplement. It's made an amazing difference!

The menopause supplement I take has Ashwagandha in it. They have been really good for me. It is a shame you don't get on with magnesium as its been a godsend for my wired restless feeling and anxiety. I have IBS too and it hasn't affected my tummy. I must just have been lucky with it.

I have IBS and it hasn't affected my tummy issues at all. Not sure if I am just lucky but it wouldn't hurt to try. I think I got to a point where I would literally try anything and have just been lucky enough to try a combination of supplements that have just worked for me. I can't believe how much better I feel. I was at my wits end.

I also have suffered from terrible anxiety since starting menopause. I am reluctant to go down the hrt route due to the increased ovarian cancer risk.
I was put on Sertraline which was amazing for anxiety, i felt normal again. Unfortunately it also gave me unmanageable diarrhoea so i have been changed to fluoxetine. Im not sure about it yet, its made me feel a bit zoned out but i shall give it a bit longer.
I understand where you are coming from, i find it hard to manage even the slightest change and it is exhausting. I also gave up work due to stress and lack of progression and im now filled with dread at the thought of starting something new.
not sure what i’ll try next if the fluoxetine doesn't work, i hope you find a solution soon.

Thank you, this is good to know. My gynae has suggested that I try progesterone for my endometriosis but wants me to try Cerazette. I would much rather start with utrogestan as I don't like taking synthetic hormones and would much prefer something as body identical as possible, if it would slow down my digestive tract as well as easing this awful anxiety that would be a blessing. I did try hrt patches but they made the endo pain (and pain from a failed uterine ablation) so much worse but it was probably the oestrogen side of things contributing to that?

I do take vitamin d, my latest bloods from a couple of weeks ago and my vit d levels are 80 which I believe isn't too bad. I have just bought some magnesium spray for dh as he suffers night cramps so I may try that as well.

Because of my gut issues I am very careful what I eat and drink so no sugar, diary etc hardly any wheat/gluten and I only drink mint tea and water.

I do have to resort to taking half a teaspoon of imodium every day, that seems to help things but I don't like having to resort to it but atm it's one of the only things I have tried that helps.

I have some ashwagandha gummies but haven't yet tried yet as I am always hesitant in case things upset my IBS but I have this week off work so may try them.

Can I ask which is the supplement you take?

I had the same issue with Sertraline. I have been given the option of Fluoxetine or Nortriptyline but not sure which to take. Tbh I am put off either as the Sertraline made me feel awful.

I am wary of hrt as my endometriosis specialist tells me that having endometriosis puts me at risk of ovarian cancer so kind of does put me off additional hormones.

I too have the same issue regarding work. I have reduced my hours down to 10 per week and even that is draining the life out of me. I feel pretty useless/worthless to society right now. Never in a million years did I have any idea perimenopause could chew you up and spit you out in the way it has.

I do hope the Fluoxetine works well for you. Not the same as a menopausal human I know but my rescuce dog has been on it for the last 12 months and it has worked wonders for him 😊

Yes of course. Its called 'Esme' and I got it from Amazon. I have tried other menopause supplements which have helped some things but not others for me, but these ones are the ones that have made me feel completely back to normal (as well as my other couple of supplements) So the combination of ingredients have obviously just been what my body has needed.

Thank you, I’ve just ordered some so
fingers crossed.

I hope they work for you too. Anything is worth a try isn't it? They took about 2 weeks to start noticing a difference and after a month the difference was rather noticeable. Good Luck!