Perimenopause and Anxiety/Fear!!!!!

hi, hun

I feel you and I do believe I am in postmenopausal that come with anxiety I wake up feeling anxious I have to force myself back to sleep.

I am just like you. I'm in perimenopause. Waking in the night with intense fear of everything. Fear of dying (I'm having abdominal issues and they aren't finding anything), fear of having wasted my life, believing no one loves me, uncontrollable/inconsolable deep weeping. The episodes go on for hours. Loss of appetite. Depression. It's horrible.

Hi Megan,

Definitely not just you.

In early peri, I had no idea that's why I was so tense... I just thought it was life stress... work, parenting, family stuff...

But I had more and more trouble getting back to my usual laid back self even when life was not stressful.

During that time, we learned the hard way that my daughter has a nut allergy... 1000 miles from home.

And yes, it comes back to haunt my nightmares, and my waking days, and I do have trouble putting that down to this day.

And I def have the anxiety of trying new meds.

The only advice or wisdom I have is that it's ok to not be ok.

I am in late peri now... periods spotty to light, and so unpredictable. I have, by the grace of God and with the help of the ladies here to lean on, made it this far.

We are here to vent to, talk to, walk with. Big hugs to you.

Sara

megan i totally relate, my ocd is in overdrive, i cant relax but im in pain, cant walk it off as i now have allergies and what seems like asthma, the thoughts never stop!!! someone said in something i read that (perimenopause slaps you up and down of the walls of your unfinished business) to me that is spot on, here if you ever want to chat xx

Hey Megan....

I am DEEP in the throes of post-menopause, and it is a friggin' tsunami, to say the least! Once my period ended, the symptoms got WORSE! Somedays, I don't know if I will be able to function! Many of the symptoms come from out of nowhere, they leave, and then return with a VENGEANCE. One thing I can promise you is this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! Countless women are experiencing the symptoms you described relentlessly; yet they are PETRIFIED to talk about their perimenopausal/menopausal journeys! I think it's fear of aging, fear of being called "OLD", shame, taboo, fear of the unknown, fear of being ostracized by other women, fear of being labeled "CRAZY", if you will, fear of opening up to their husbands and loved ones, etc. Suffice it to say, there are MANY reasons women don't talk about the BIG PM & M words! There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about; this is a NATURAL segment of our lives!

Feel better and drink plenty of water!! Make sure you are taking your vitamins, exercising, and eating well. These factors do help combat the symptoms, yet I've experienced menopause forcefully pushing its way through ALL of those health benefits I just named, and wreaking HAVOC on my body, mind and soul!

You're not alone. My worst perimenopause symptom in raging anxiety. For me it manifests as health anxiety, and every little symptom convinces me I have a terminal illness. I am starting acupuncture this week, but I recently tried something else that has given me a lot of relief. My doctor recommended L Theanine. It's an amino acid found in tea and it has been clinically studied for use with anxiety. It is available as a supplement and I started taking it twice a day, morning and evening. It has helped me A LOT. I can't say my anxiety is gone, but it is maybe 3/10 instead of 9/10 on a regular basis. I couldn't find any downside when researching it online. I hope this helps someone.

I have not been diagnosed yet but I am convinced that I have been welcomed into this crazy club. I am so sorry your dealing with this. I have ptsd from trauma, and up until now has only caused a minor disturbance to my life. Now however I feel like I'm on a bad Rollercoaster. I 100 percent understand what you mean with the wing in the middle of the night., I do this too, and my mind is swimming with the most horrific thoughts, or I just feel like I'm about to die for no apparent reason. I am struggling with health anxiety over all the symptoms I've been experiencing and I get hyperfocused on how the drs have missed something and this is the end. This is truely aweful. I have no suggestions at this point S I'm just now realizing this most likely is peri , but know you are not alone! feel free to read my post it might at least give you some comic releif!

I'm exactly the same. OCD, intrusive thoughts and just feel horrendous. It is a bit cyclical too, it's definitely far worse at certain points of my cycle.

I'm hoping HRT once it's stabilised will help.

thank you ladies! i have tried lexapro, which has worked in the past, but not now, zoloft, and BHRT... they all made symptoms worse... finally went inpatient after the meds made it really not good and am on remeron and propranolol for depression/anxiety/OCD. doing therapy and its helpful. i am not ashamed i went inpatient and am glad i had nurses that could relate! do what is right for you and dont give up advocating for yourself. ive had good days where i feel like myself and days that are not so good. its a work in progress. i know this is temporary and that is helpful. our bodies and minds can adapt and we can retrain our brain. radical acceptance is something im working on, among other things. thank you for your support!!!