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Can perimenopause cause increased anxiety and depression?

Posted , 53 users are following.

Anjipanji66
Anjipanji66

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I'm 48 and have always been a 'bit of a 'worrier' since childhood and have suffered from bouts of moderate depression since my early thirties, however, back then it seemed reasonably manageable...however, KABOOM! I hit the grand old age of 47 and I felt like something had turned up the amplification knob!. I started having bouts of intense anxiety resulting in insomnia (in particular early waking) which then manifested into depression, the most awful feelings of doom, gloom and helplessness, intense fear, shame, guilt etc. My periods were becoming lighter and later and blood tests confirmed my hormones were fluctuating, I was put on anti-depressants which I'm still on but they don't seem to help with what seems to be the most crippling PMT which I have at the moment. Only a couple of days ago I just crumpled into a heap on my bedroom floor and cried, no I 'wailed' like a banshee!.....I feel like I'm losing my mind and am feeling very scared at the moment as I can't see any end to it and feel very alone...is this normal? has anybody else felt this way? and what helps you cope?

9 likes, 61 replies

61 Replies

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  • Tashthedash
    Tashthedash Anjipanji66

    Posted

    Hi there, Yes indeed I definitely feel the same. What's odd about this horrible life stage is that I'm finding that none of my friends really talk about it, and trying to create better working arrangements is a nightmare. That is the days I can work. I also now get EVERYTHING going? Regular flu infections which leave me even more drained with my lack of sleep. No wonder some women feel like they're going mad, I know I do!
  • darcyd
    darcyd Anjipanji66

    Posted

    Hello tribe!

    I'm 45 and have always been a deep thinker / feeler / worrier. Been through several episodes of severe depression & anxiety starting in my twenties that coincided with either major hormone change (pregnancy, post, major periods, etc) or life stressor event. Now I can't help but think this peri menopause thing is starting the vicious cycle over again. I'm feeling so helpless since I can't get into a recommended psych doc OR hormone specialist for over a month!!

    I'm already on AD but sudd!enly not working with the sudden & severe anxiety. Also, the anxiety rears up as I bleed irregularly. I've had a endometrial ablation and shouldn't be bleeding much at all. Certainly not enough to bloody my sheets at night. GYN/OB doc says all is fine. 😖

    • susan21149
      susan21149 darcyd

      Posted

      I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. I am the same latly except I do not bleed any more. My anxieties have been through the roof i am stressed out nobody wants to hire me and the Baby Gap turned me down right she thinks I am not fast enough to work in their stock room and i do have experience in the stock room because i have worked in the Express in their stock room and i am fast enough to work in the stock room. 

      I am on medications blood pressure, ativan, for anxieties, 

      I would go to a mental health place, to see a psych for some meds because anxieties are worse when you are in menopause because mine have been bad with palpitations. 

      I am down tonight myself feeling unworthy because the baby gap said i am not good enough and fast enough this really hurts feeling down in the dumpssad

    • Juliesnow
      Juliesnow darcyd

      Posted

      Hi there i am going through the same thing years of depression anxiety medication trials went ti a psychiatrist thinking she would be the specialist and know what right medication would be for me as i was tired of the guinepig cocktail....and terrible side effects.... Now ive had an oblation not sure it increased issues as for months i wale up with severe debilitating anxiety for no real reason first thing in the morning....i was so desperate for answers i googled thinking others surely must be going through this to and discovered that people can have adrenal disfunctions or over function as cortisol levels are highest around 7 am it talked about brain fog sleep issues weight gain around the mid section mood swings etc funny thing was my sister is a nurse so i asked her about her visot to the endocrinologist as she went to see one in the states being a statesode nurse you dont need referrals and she told me she was diagnosed with adrenal issues which made her produce too much of certain hormones and what i read was most family dr's will not be apecialized enough to pick up on it and often spend years just giving people anxiety and depression meds vs dealing with real issues or referring them and i discovered adrenal issues are often hereditary and siblings can get the same thing....sadly we know our own bodies better than anyone and sometimes you neednto do your own research even if doctors hate that ...mine is finallu bow doing proper tests in accordance with an endocronologist i pray they figure this out
    • CCinCal
      CCinCal Juliesnow

      Posted

      Same here. Tried so many ads and bad side effects. Still dealing with it. I hope we both find the solution. Good luck. Feel free to pm me with progress.
  • CCinCal
    CCinCal Anjipanji66

    Posted

    Anjipanji & others

    It's been over a year since your posts. Can you give an update as to current condition and what has helped?

    I'm going through all the awful conditions depression, anxiety, extreme mood swings, weepy, off balance feeling, doom and gloom, tingling feet, dizziness, brain fog, head feeling like a bobble head tilting to right, etc. everyday is a challenge to just no basics. It's awful and feeling down and hopeless.

    Thanks.

    • Juliesnow
      Juliesnow CCinCal

      Posted

      Me to im getting my adrenal glands checked to see if they are producing to much or not enough cortisol ....its an aweful feeling i know anyone else with answers to these issues woild love to hear and i get the brain fog to its the oddest thing and moods for no real reason and early morning severe anxiety i have heard that many physicans for years can diagnos for depression and anxiety without knowing it could be adrenal gland problems....the tip off for me to ask was i looked it up all the early morning anxiety i couldnt understand and it led mento find issues with cortisol levels could show up as early morning anxiety and then i discovered my sister went to an endocronologist and was diagnosed with adrenal issues which is also hereditary especially among siblings ao worth a check
    • CCinCal
      CCinCal Juliesnow

      Posted

      Yes I went to a naturopathic doctor and got my cortisol checked. Mainstream Drs don't do anything with adrenals. It's treated like chiropractic care, not even mentioned.
  • louise44105
    louise44105 Anjipanji66

    Posted

    Yes, apparantly this is completely normal. I share a lot of what you're going through, also from the age of 47. I've taken up Tai Chi, wordsearches, colouring in, dot to dots, anything to keep my mind busy! I get the general impression that, in time, we'll get used to it and not let it bother us so much. I hope this is the case because it does feel like you're going completely mad, doesn't it?
  • Juliesnow
    Juliesnow Anjipanji66

    Posted

    This is a relief to hear im going through the same thing and am waiting to get my hormone or cortisol levels checked to see if my adrenal glands are working. Im not sure how old hhis post is but if youve had any success since posting would love to hear. I have that early morning severe anxiety to and tooo to seeing if anyone else out there experienced this to find many dis and it explained in many articles that our cortisol levels are highest in the 7am area which could be a sign of adrenal problems so worth checking out
    • louise44105
      louise44105 Juliesnow

      Posted

      Hi there. It's not that there's a problem with the adrenal glands as such, they are just working overtime trying to keep in balance with your hormones, which is part of their function. Obviously, it's always worth having these things checked out medically though. Wishing you all the best x
    • Juliesnow
      Juliesnow louise44105

      Posted

      Thx for your reply my sister has an over active adrenal gland which produces excess hormones she has been diagnosed with this and it can be herditery apparently but we will see either way it all is not fun 😊
  • sue58256
    sue58256 Anjipanji66

    Posted

    Anjipanji I can relate to what you are sayingand yes like you i had depression and anxiety for years but one day i felt like i had been hit like a mallet I cried for three month plus evry single day, i couldnt understand why i couldnt "lift" my self yes the doom and gloom and irrational thoughts I was really frightened as i had never experienced the anxiety and depression like this. the only thing i havent got at the moment "touch wood" is the insomnia i do do drink chamomile espescially at night and it seems to help I aslso suffered bad palpatations and missing heart beats they have settled now but still get them occassionally maybe once or twice a day even though im on medication. you arnt going mad its just this awful menapause which intensifies all your feelings. I use aromatherapy oils for the menapause meditation and evening primrose i take meds for the anxiety and depression although its balanced at the moment so these work for me
    • CCinCal
      CCinCal sue58256

      Posted

      Hi can I ask which meds work for you? As I'm in the process of finding the right ones for me that don't give me horrendous side effects. Thnx
    • sue58256
      sue58256 CCinCal

      Posted

      for the anxiety and depression I take propanalol and depression I take citalopram initially the citalopram takes anything from 2-6 weeks to kick in and make you feel worse before you feel better but once they kick in they work well the propanalol should work straight away I have no side affects with them or the citalopram but they could for others but there will be different sorts of anti d's.For my menapause i use oils there are different ones I use bergomot patchoui and lavender also anything with a citrus fruit ie orange or grapefruit are uplifting im also in the process of making up oils for the menapause but im not qualified as yet I just do it for my self because i have a medium knowledge of oils you can also look up which oils to use but be care with the carrier oils you use if you have any allergies and the oils absolutely wonderful when mixed and used correctly as i said im enrolled on the aromatherapy course but have used the oils for some time. I have also started on evening primrose oil capsules so im using a combination of the two I also drink at least two cups of chamomile tea a day one being at bedtime. these work for me my love I do find the citalopram better than sertraline and if you do take them never stop them without you doctors advice as I say they are brilliant for me but if you stop them they will have horrible side affects for a few days always if you want to stop them see your doctor and they will wean you off them and you will have no problems hope this has helped a little
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