Not sure if Perimenopause- High Anxiety, Panic, Feeling Crazy
Posted , 7 users are following.
I'm 44. My aunt-in-law passed away end of May, and I was caring for her until she went to hospice, and have been running between her and my parents-in-law's house taking care of their needs. I bring this up because about 8 months ago I started to have anxiety almost all day and bouts of panic attacks. I only had anxiety like this once before on Levothyroxine, I went off it and have not taken anything since October. Gradually I have started to feel like I am losing my mind. Fearing fear, feeling drops in my stomach, foggy-headed, forgetful. Irritable beyond normal feelings- red hot irritation. Dark thoughts. I scare myself. I am normally laid back and compassionate. The anxiety has become somewhat more manageable, but the thoughts are not what I want in my head and scare me. PMS is insane, I become worse emotionally than I used to be. Last month I spotted before my period and then it was normal. This period was a week early exactly with cramping over a week before starting for 3-4 days. I asked the doc in October about Peri and she said I was too young. My therapist thinks its Perimenopause, and possibly sleep apnea. Unfortunately I can't get anyone to look at me until end of August. Any thoughts?
0 likes, 5 replies
amanda35780
Posted
Forgot to mention in October I attempted Armour Thyroid and became depressed after 2 weeks on it, and went off it. Also this period started with spotting yesterday and full period today.
christina81747 amanda35780
Posted
i think its a combo and your not too young for perimenopause i think you have alot of stress and loss and responsibility going that in itself will cause the anxiety and the rest fears thoughts and such is feom anxiety and if you add hormines to mix its worst ur not crazy ar all i would suggest going to endocronoligist they will test everything i wasnt getting anywhere with gyno so endo will test it all for you!!
becky21031 amanda35780
Posted
Youre not crazy or alone. Im 42 and going through peri. The anxiety and fear of everything can make u feel alone and drive u nuts. I agree emotions during pms can be out of control and cause so much more stress. And to top everything off it sounds like youre already under enough stress. I try to relax by pampering myself a lot during those times. Theres a great book called Jump Off the Hormone Swing that really really helped me understand my body more. And this allowed me not to become more anxious. Hang in there. Itll all be ok. Be comforted knowing youre not alone in this. ❤
debra16694 amanda35780
Posted
hi Amanda - i cannot speak to your age & peri because i was 52 when i started peri, but for me that consisted of hot flashes, insomnia & flooding periods - i finally went thru menopause @ 55 but my post menopausal symptoms went thru the roof about 6 years ago when i was the sole caregiver for my parents, trying to keep my husbands business afloat thru tough times & getting kids off to college. After my parents death my health tanked. please do not under estimate what stress does to our hormone balance and emotionally well being - please take care of yourself in any way that you can - i sucked at self care & am paying the price - BE WELL!
Sassyr12a amanda35780
Posted
Hi Amanda
It sounds like you have been dealing with enough to make anyone anxious! When I had symptoms of meno, the anxiety was different and I felt like I couldn't control it at all. It was more chemical than emotional, and wound feel like a huge surge of adrenalin followed by physical shaking, fear, heart racing etc so it can easily be either, but probably made worse by the stress you have been under. What I would say though is that the thyroid is not to be messed with. If you have meds for it you should take it. Lots of women think that underactive thyroid just makes you feel tired, but it's fundamental to the endocrine system which controls hormones to the brain. I've had over active, thyroid toxicosis, graves disease and am now underactive and it can cause chaos with hormones and mood etc. If you can't get to see anyone for a while, I would take your meds, and treat it like its hormone related. Take care of yourself, get fresh air, exercise, meditate anything that makes you feel better for a minute. Then get all your bloods checked and you'll know what it is/isn't. Look after yourself and hope you get some calm xx