Left the job I love due to the menopause :(

[Greaselightening]

I can't believe it. I've left a job I love due to crippling anxiety from the the menopause. I feel so empty inside 😞

I felt compelled to respond as I too had to leave a job I loved in peri. I became a shadow of my former, confident self. It was the anxiety, brain fog and forgetting words/using different words than I meant which were most challenging when at work. The physical symptoms weren’t a bundle of laughs either. Managing emergencies as part of my job meant I was in fear that I would say or do the wrong thing. So I went off sick and then I eventually left.

I’m now post meno (still on HRT) and am 2 years into a new role I love just as much. I wanted to say this to give you hope. Peri will end and maybe like me you’ll look back and see that new chapters begin and you can feel just as fulfilled as you did.

@lorisparkle Can you afford to give up work or even take a career break if your employer allows that?

Your husband doesn't get the impact the menopause can have on women. A report by the Fawcett Society and Channel 4 found that in 2022, 10% of women aged 45-55 quit their jobs because of menopause symptoms, equating to about 333,000 women across the UK. (I haven't checked the full report so just taking the numbers at face value).

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Without outing myself too much we are in a very difficult position with our household dynamics financially and money is very tight. The last thing I wanted to do was leave my job but I physically and mentally couldn't do it anymore. I tried and ended up having a break down 😢 It is difficult financially as my husband doesn't earn a lot but we are just about managing.
I have an appointment today with a mental health specialist gp. My own gp referred me last week. Apparently it is a new service. Hopefully they can help.
Sending love to all of you suffering. It is not easy xx

I hope the GP service helps, let us know how you get on x

Thank you Orangesandlemons. I will do xx

I also have a mental health problem and going through peri, so happy if you want to chat.

I'm on fluoxetine and olanzapine right now along with HRT x

Thanks orangesandlemons. It would be good to chat :) X

After feeling more positive last weekend, I am back to being uncertain with the job and then worrying about what else I could actually do!

had hoped the HRT was helping to settle the perimenopause but not so sure.

my husband has said we really need my wages and I am not at this point going to leave my job without something. Can so see why my mum ended up giving up her FT role and going PT in her 50’s - certain that a large part was perimenopause although she may not of realised it.

other stuff going on with my daughter experiencing friendship issues again which added to work and peri is making it hard.

do have my first appt about my worry management course next week so hoping my sessions start soon and this will help as do need to address that before moving jobs.

hope everyone is doing ok today.

think people do not understand how we feel unless that experience themselves and don’t think men can fully grasp it.

can anyone look at any form of support groups, therapy etc to help?

I'm sorry to hear this Brightlights. It really isn't a linear process :(
Let us know how the worry group goes.
I had my MH appt and she is switching my antidepressants over. I'm still no where near ready to even think about working. I'm struggling with that but know I am far too vulnerable to even think about it x

How is everyone? This sounds silly but does anyone have tingly sensations on the face, head etc. doc has said it's nothing to worry about but it's making me so much more anxious 😥

@Greaselightening I hope you find the right antidepressants for you. I have tried 3 different ones but the one that helps me most with my mental health makes me eat which really doesn't help with my weight. I am speaking to the GP next week for a review so might see if there is an alternative.

Thank you Lori. It's a nightmare isn't it. I'm the same, in that the ones that work cause weight gain. I'm tapering off my current ones and am starting a new one soon. I've got an appt next week.
Good luck for next week x

@Greaselightening thank you. The GP has suggested an alternative but that means reducing or stopping all my current antidepressants before starting the new one on the chance that this one will work!

I am moving over to a new anti-depressant. It is very daunting. I have reduced mine down and will now switch to the new one x

How is everyone? X

I had my first worry management session on Friday and I do think it will be helpful.

my anxiety has been less the past week for who knows why. Been super busy so that may be part.

my skin isn’t great despite the new acne cream I got a few months ago that was helping. Have changed moisturiser recently so gone back to my old one to see if that helps.

thinking with the job that I need to leave as much as possible in next 6 this to more onto something better

I'm glad to hear the course was helpful and you're not as anxious.
Are you actively looking for a new job?

I switched from Citalopram to Sertraline because 40mg Citalopram wasn't helping. I gradually reduced one before starting the other over about 2-3 weeks in total. It was an awful time, I got worse but the Dr had earned me is get worse again before I got better. I have now been on 100mg Sertraline for two weeks and am feeling better. It's a slow process but worth it. Remember to be kind to yourself ☺️

Unfortunately both sertraline and citalopram make me feel worse. I have tried persevering with both but the mental side effects are terrible. I find the weight gain on mirtrazapine makes me depressed so I am going to be trying another one soon once I have reduced what I am on now. It is a nightmare but I am hopeful that a new option will help.

So my latest symptom in the advent calendar of f@@king menopause is eye twitching. I have had enough now. I'm am so done with it all 😫

@Growsomeballswoman I get a random eye twitch sometimes never thought it was linked to perimenopause it's so annoying

I am perimenopausal and dealing with an awful family situation at the same time so I don't know how much perimenopause is to blame but I am so fed up insomnia feel on edge all the time want to burst into tears awful anxiety panic attacks
I should be having a great time we are financially comfortable have a nice life dc are young adults we can go out for dinner without them and they still want to spend time with us which is a bonus have had a few days away in the uk before we have our first holiday abroad without them booked next month but I am struggling with everything at the moment

I'm so sorry to hear this 😞 It's a very lonely place to be. Are you on HRT?

How are we all doing? Xx

All been a bit hectic recently with life.

back to see nurse for more HRT as about to run out. Had to change to another patch as one I’m on and think has actually helped is out of stock still. so hoping this one does same.

anxiety seems to get better - got my third session of a worry management course this week.

sleep is another story.

work is manic and I definitely do not want to be there beyond a year at most which is October. 6 mths at Easter so will start to update cv and start applying then.

considering work is manic and I’m dealing with a bunch of issues before my time, my anxiety isn’t too bad which is surprising. Do wonder if it’s just coming out in lack of sleep!

Hope everyone is ok