Menopause/Panic/Insomnia

[rosalind]

Looking at this message board I get the feeling that most people are quite young.
However, I wondered if any one is around 50ish and started with panic/anxiety/insomnia when they had the menopause?
I had been totally fine until I got to about 47 and then everything went pear shaped! I'm now 55.
I've just started HRT and hope that it will help.
Last year I tried every drug under the sun and none worked - anti-depressants and benzodiazapines. They all made me ten times worse.
My problem is a horrible feeling in my chest like anxiety, terrible insmnia and dizziness.
Would love to hear from others who are in the same position.
Ros

[Robertc160882]

Hi Rosalind,

I know I’m only 23 but my mum who is around 52 and is experiencing the same thing as yourself at the moment and is very confused. I have explained to her that this is down to panic attacks etc but she blames it on blood pressure. The doctor has even advised her that it is panic attacks but she won’t believe it. I think it is perfectly normal to go through your life without panic attacks and it is a certain feeling inside us that triggers them off. Unfortunately for me I took drugs as a youth and this set mine off but I went on to lead a perfectly normal life got three kids, house loving partner . I recently lost my job and that triggered it off again after been okay for four years. I guess some people or more subject able to these kind of things but you will get through it.

[carlin]

Hi Rosalind, felt i wanted to reply, sorry you are having a rough time at the moment. I am 51 years old, have been peri-menopausal for about 2-3 years but now think (due to cessation of periods) that the worst is over... i suffered with panic/anxiety previous to this, but have to say it increased so much these last few years, due to hormones etc...the dizziness was the worst symptom, also no sleep and palpitations in the night, the only thing that seemed to help me, was re-assurance that this was quite common and not to be frightened, i never wanted to take hrt, but that is my personel view, have no sound advice to give, but please try not to let it frighten you, speak soon, feel free to get in touch if you need anything take care.

[rosalind]

Thanks for replies Carlin and Robert.
I too never wanted to take HRT and put it off for years but my symptoms aren't getting any better so I've given in!
I just hope it works.
Robert - you'll have to get your mum to come on the message board!
Sounds as though we have a lot in common!
You have done really well Robert and I do hope you manage to get a job soon.
Tell your mum I too feel confused as I can't find any reason for panic etc. That's why it's so hard!
I keep thinking I must have a weird illness!
Anyway, thanks for kind words to you both.
Ros

[Meg]

Menopause is a time when you are bombarded with unusual amounts of hormones, these regulate many of our feelings and just as anxiety is worse during PMT then it can start or be worse during menopause.

Hope the HRT works for you.

period trouble [ladies please] (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2961)
one for the females (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3572)
ok - here's a REALLY strange question !!! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4010)
girls only (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4554)
PMT PANIC (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4881)
PMT, tiredness, and feeling of unreality (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6670)
Bleuuuuuurgh -for the girls on here! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7372)
time of the month (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7421)


Hormones
http://www.nomorepanic.org.uk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3362


Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?