Can perimenopause cause increased anxiety and depression?

Sounds like your antidepressants aren't working, go see your doctor, he may need to up your dosage.

I know this an old post but I've been feeling the exact same symptoms for a few months now. The only thing is, I just turned 31. Is it possible for me to be experiencing early perimenopause. I had my first child at 14 so I know my body's chemistry is out of whack because of that. I also have gone through bouts of depression every 6 years or so and have anxiety that comes and goes in waves but for some reason, thiso time feels so different. Even my symptoms are different. I wake up a few times a night and early awakening. I sweat a lot at night and when I wake up in the morning my sweat is extremely oily on my face. Today I found a long hair grown out of my chin that had to be plucked, palpitations, brain fog, forgetfulness, fatigue, body aches, sensitivity to heat...and a few other symptoms. I know my hormones have to be imbalanced bit I'm not sure if maybe it's due to thyroid problems, perimenopause, PCOS. I don't want my doctor to laugh at me if I go in and ask if what I'm experiencing is early perimenopause. Any suggestions?

I just signed on today and so glad I did.  I just turned 41. had my tubes tied about 2 1/2 years ago.  I have always been a bit of an emotional basket case so to speak I cry at cartoons, and PMS has always been a bit more intense for me however these last three months I feel like I am losing my mind.  I am paranoid about stupid things, I can be having a fantastic day and someone cuts me off and I am in tears for the rest of the day. I feel like I cant get any thing right with anyone, work my spouse my kides even seem to be hitting  all the red traffic lights these days LOL. (which really I normally wouldnt care near this much). My periods are coming faster some are heavey and some are light and last 2 days which before I was like clock work.  I have yet to go to the doctor because my friends are and mother are saying I am too young for this to start but unless its this then I am seriously losing my mind.  I have always had problems with estrogen, tried the nuvaring years back and it truly made me angry and edgy and very snappy, it seems like any type of birth control with high amounts of estrogen did not mesh well with me,  not sure if this makes sense to anyone but any suggestions or comments that might help or stear me in the right direction would be very much appreciated.   

HI Anji...I know this is an old post but are you still experiencing these symptoms.

You just described exactly what I have been going through. I am almost 49 and I'm coming up on a year of no periods. Up until recently my symptoms were manageable but I now have intense anxiety and fear, dread, hopelessness and am an emotional wreck. I was treated for many years for anxiety and depression but haven't had any serious problems or need for medication in 12 years. I feel like perimenopause / menopause has turned my life upside down on a lot of levels. I feel like I don't know myself anymore. My body seems to be working against me... All the things I thought I knew about myself, I don't. I no longer feel strong physically or emotionally., just more vulnerable than I ever have. Like I can't stand on my own two feet. I worry constantly about myself or my husband getting sick. (I am a late to the game first time Mom and have a 5 year old son) I don't know if some of this or all of it is at all normal for menopause but whatever it is, I sure hope it runs its course and then runs away.... leaving me with some degree of sanity!

Hello. I know what you're going through. Had some issues with anxiety 10 years ago my doctor put me on lexapro I was in my early 30's now I'm about to turn 45 and for the last year I've been having more issues with anxiety. Been to several doctors and gyno says my levels are fine. Bit I got to a holistic dr and he says no levels are off and puts me on progesterone and testosterone along with other vitamins that I'm low in. So for the last six weeks I've been on these and I'm feeling like I'm getting worse. Last night had a terrible attack every day I wake up with fear that today I'm going to have a terrible day of anxiety some says I'm ok but then the night comes and I have an attack. I'm on the brink of crying all the time and don't feel like I have control of my own life. Never have been a worrier but now I wake up everyday with the fear of not know what the days going to be like. I've made an appt with a psychologist hoping that she can help me. I really don't know where to turn anymore. I've been to so many different doctors that I'm not sure which way to go. I hope you have found what works for you and you're feeling better. Thanks for reading this.

Hi, my name is Ronda, and I'm right there with you right now. I'm 48 an have a senior and a 6th grader who is a little autistic. So it is rather stressful in itself then all this on top of it. I had bloodwork done which showed my hormone levels were very low. So she put me on prempro and prozac for depression. I feel like I am losing my mind. All I want to do is sleep. I am in my 4th week of menstrual bleeding( which I think is a side effect off the prempro). I don't know what to do, other than contact my doctor. But I am very scared, and fear I may take my life. I've never experienced this before, so I am like you, scared out of my wits. I done the same thing and got on my bedroom floor and just cried out to God. I feel every bit of what you are feeling. I'm just not good at putting it into words on here. But you just confirmed word for word, what I am doing. I hate you are going thru this, but it is good to know we are not by ourselves. Please let me know if you ever got any better. Thanks, feeling helpless!!

 

Hello everyone! I just recently noticed several things changing mentally and physically and thought I was going crazy or was a hypercondriac.  Came up on this site and it's helped tremendously. I've dealt with severe depression and anxiety for years, but had severe post pardon depression after the birth of my son. Everything went down hill from there.  Finally when he was around age 10 I ask if the Dr would try me on Prozac, in the meantime I had tried every antidepressant known to man plus anything else you can think of. Well about a week and half later I was back to me... No more panic attacks, no more zombie feeling, depression was very little except around my periods. Anyway at the time my Psychiatrist told me that there was a risk that I would have a very hard time whenever I hit perimenopause/menopause . Well he was right. I am now 50 years old and the past year I've been having so many symptoms of weird aches and pains and then of course the anxiety and depression is back even worse than before.  I read over a list of 66 things that spam one going through perimenapuse may have and I promise you they should have my photo below that list. Lol!  In All seriousness it was shocking to say the least. This has just started in the past year so apparently I'm starting somewhat later than friends I know. They all started in their early 40's.  I was beginning to think maybe I was going to be the rare one with very few symptoms and breeze right through it, wrong.... Anyway I haven't been to a dr yet and want to find someone that understands and specializes in treatment of perimenapause. If anyone has any suggestions on a dr or what type of dr I should search for it would be greatly appreciated. I live in the USA  Nashville Tennessee area.  Appreciate any input.... Thanks, Angie

Hi

I was just reading your post from a while back and wondering how you are doing and if you found anything that gave you any relief. I’m having same exact symptoms. Hope you are doing well. 

HI,

i’m brand new to this form and just wondering if this discussion or similar ones have been going on more recently? I’m really struggling with panic in anxiety and open love to find people to connect with. I’m 52 and not sure if perimenopause is contributing to this as I do have a history of this in the past but I go for many years without any symptoms and now I’m in the throes of horrible anxiety and panic attacks and struggling as to How to get by day by day, sometimes hour by hour. I just started seeing a psychiatrist and I’m on meds but no relief yet, have an appointment to see my GYN doctor at the end of the month to see if hormones could be related, but have a extensive history of cancer in my family so not sure HRT would even be an option. I feel like I can’t get distracted or have any joy in my life right now because these feelings are so bad, can anyone relate?