I like the idea of naming it and also separating it out as being hormones. The only thing I notice is that a bad night sleep gives it a particularly dark flavour. Magnesium, vitamin D, omega 3, B6, zinc can all help with anxiety.
It's wierd - I never considered myself an anxious person - I've always been a bit of a worrier and can overthink - but the physical anxiety- jumping or racing thoughts, shake hands, fast heart etc are a special symptom of peri. Really helps to know you are not alone as it can really make you feel you are cognitively losing it.
What I've also been trying / practising with peri is that every time a new cognitive or emotional symptoms comes up, try and not react, but accept it. That helps a bit and then I can gradually find things that support / help. It's so much easier said though, I can almost hear my mothers voice, in good intention, telling me to be less emotional and just be more practical, and me wanting to go oh just fuck off you don't understand.
When it happens I go back to okay one day at a time, then it stabilises a bit and I can envisage three months ahead - key is to book something absolutely lovely in for a few months time. In the long term, I know I've got to reduce my stress levels - but it's hard as I can't really go part time yet.
HRT sounds quite complicated to me, it's taken 5 years for me to consistently take one tablet every day for a different serious condition! I'm thinking of trying the progesterone only coil for a year and seeing if that helps alongside healthier lifestyle. If that doesn't work I'm all in for HRT.