I am 48 years old, stay at home mom with two children. They are in school, I try to keep myself very busy. I have had OCD and anxiety, I have been fighting it for years. But, now the Perimenopause is really terrible..depressed, mood swings, tension headaches, dry and itchy skin.
I have spoken to my sisters who are all past Menopause, they tell me their stories but I just cannot believe that hormones can cause all this havock. I do not feel myself at all, my PMS is worse and the week of my period I actually feel like I have a disease and I am dying. Feel like I am going crazy!! Please tell me if this is normal to feel this way at this time, because I am obsessing and cannot get my mind off of it. Need Help!!!!
It's normal!!!! 😊 hang in there Jennifer it does get better..... You are in the right place to get advice 💜. It's pretty awful, and no end to symptoms, I worked fulltime but had to give up my job it was just impossible & no one understood. At least at home I have no pressure to try and pretend everything is ok on thee most awful days. I miss working so much and feel so angry that these symptoms are not recognised by many of our doctors, not discussed, it's just wrong! You keep strong because you are! Sending out big hugs 💓😘 xx
It's incredibly normal to feel this way now. Unfortunately, some of our past issues become heighten during the dancing, declining hormone phase. I liken this part as one of those incredibly bumpy landings during a powerful thunderstorm. I acutally love to fly, btw, but not a fan of the uncertaintly of the landings!
Right now we are circling the airport, hitting some turbulence occasionally, even getting to the point of on our way to landing only to have the plane go straight back up and start it all over again.
I want that smooth landing to happen yesterday, like most on here. I want to be just like your sisters who are all past menopause. Have they been of any inspiration to you as in things do get better after this insane phase?
It's easy to obsess over this, that's why I have to really fight with myself and force myself to get active and not let the worry and sad feelings take over. At times I really feel like I have PMS on steroids-yeesh! Activity is good, like brisk walking for one, perhaps a popping in a movie to get your mind off it, just cover up with the blankets and lose yourself in a movie for a bit. Check out JayneeJay's 66 symptoms list along with her many suggestions including vitamin B6 supplements.
Please know you are not alone, although when in the throws of this not much makes us feel better right away. Eventually we will land and this will be a thing of the past.
I can completely relate to how you're feeling. At times I have worried constantly that I must have some horrible disease. Which only drives the anxiety into overload. Headaches, anxiety, depression, heart palpatations, feeling so weak I felt I could not even walk, feeling so dizzy, and off balance. Feelings of impending doom, felt like I might be dying. Too many sysmptoms to list them all. They all equal a constant feeling of being unwell. There have been many times I literally was afraid of going insane.
I finally told myself. I can either let this completely take over my life, or I can do everything in my power to learn how to live through it. I have started out by trying to control, and manage the things that do make the symptoms worse. I have started eating a cleaner diet, taking supplements (Jayneejay is a wonderful resource on supplements), cutting down and eventually cutting out caffiene, excercising, and most importantly, learning to breathe and stay in the moment. I still struggle, however, I do find myself feeling a little stronger everyday. I know I will have good days, and bad days. I remind myself that I am strong, and will NOT let this continue to define my life. I cannot be thankful enough for all the wonderful caring ladies on this site. We are all in this together, and we will all love and support each other through it.
Jennifer, I am sending you very positive thoughts, and reassurance that you do not have to fight this battle alone. Take a deep breath, and remember as a woman we can and will survive this!!
Yes it is normal because I deal with anxities myself all through my life and I'm in post menopause where I have had more anxities, mood swings, crying, yelling, just want to hide away when I feel this way. I feel like a different person because of these hormone plus I take a thyroid medication so these hormones and my throid i don't feel like a whole person so I know what you are talking about.
I see my medical doctor tomorrow I'm going to talk to her about natural progesterone to help with these symptoms.
Hugs to you and a smilely face hope you feel better and hang in there
Hi, Jannifer, be positive, it will end. At least you have sisters that can tell you about their experiences. Mine, never had any of those weird symptoms, only hot flashes! I had it all, but One thing I am luck about, I never had depression :D. Besides, my worst symptoms took like 4 months. Of course, I still have this and that, sometimes, but much less agressive. Anyway, now I know what is all I feel about, and do not get afraid anymore. Just try and be calm, take good care of your health, and belive it wont endure forever. Big hugs.
It's horrible but quite normal and trying to believe that hormones can make you itch is sometimes too hard to believe but they can. You're doing the right thing by trying to keep yourself busy and I'm sure with 2 children they can help keep your mind occupied.
It may be normal but there are things you can try.
Get some multivitamins from the chemist or supermarket which are designed for menopause. Take them for at least a month. They really work. Vit B for anxiety in particular but the combination in these multivitamins is probably even better.
Try to get hold of hilarious book Grumpy Old Menopause for a very helpful summary of menopause symptoms and many positive things you can do.
I know how you feel, I feel just dreadful too. My last 'proper period' was 7 weeks ago and at the moment Ive had 6 days of on/off brown spotting which is not heavy and not all the time but my body is telling me that I need to have a period if that makes any sense at all. I havent felt myself for months, ive scheduled yet another appointment with my dr for next week but Im not hopeful to be honest because my last consultation was a joke. I left the surgery feeling like a time waster after being told to deal with it and live my life rather than wasting it on self pity and worry! My dr refuses to believe im in peri because my last FSH was normal even though my previous one was high. My cycle over the last 12 months has ranged from 16 days to 68 days between periods and the bleeding has been lighter and sometimes just 2 days of brown discharge, im gaining weigh, my skins is dry and dull and looks awful, my hair is thinner, im feeling faint and dizzy most days, my moods and anxiety are terrible my dr still says thats im not peri, he says its anxiety and that my periods arent irregular at all. Im at a loss, work is a constnt struggle because im so tired and unsteady on my feet. Theres no real understanding about how real women feel and its wrong. I empathise with you completely. Big hugs x
I am with you all the way on this, its the pits isn't it. I have mood swings, anxiety that is out of control, my heart feels like its racing, I feel like i'm having a heart attack which then causes me to panic. I have indigestion after every bit of food, i'm losing weight and I don't have weight to lose, I feel dizzy, shakey, clumsy, everything aches, headaches, feeling of doom. These are to name but a few things. I have started HRT and am hoping to feel a difference in the not to distant future. Its the scariest thing isn't. But I keep popping on here and reading what others are saying, just to confirm I am NOT going crazy.
Stay strong and we are all here if you need to let of steam. xx
That chronic tiredness & fatigue has to be one of the most debilitating symptoms I have ever experienced and continue to do so. More so when we are use to running about and having everything in order I find it really pulls me down. I started to decorate after xmas as I was in a roll for several months and now I'm at a standstill once again... Walls striped and everything waiting to be completed, I'm sick of looking at it but have no energy or enthusiasm to do it. Makes me very sad as its just not me 😔 its a continous nightmare! Xx
Same here, I have lost my motivation to do much and tha is so not me. I have always been active. We are in the middle of finishing up our remodeling of our home. We actually want to sell it and downsize. Perhaps move to warmer climate. It's like I can't focus enough to accomplish much these days, I'd rather nap. I'm pushing myself to go for daily walks as recommended by doctor, but it's hard.........so exhausted! I'm sad right with you and Andrea! We need a boost!
Hi Jennifer , I think unfortunately this is "normal" ,am 50 next month ! I have always suffered anxiety/panic attacks and depression on and off think 2 go hand in hand ! My anxiety was until recently well controlled with very low dose of Seroxat ,but suddenly noticed that I was experiencing heightened anxiety levels pre menstrually , didn't realise it at the time but this was obviously due to peri menopause ! Did have bloods taken a couple of years ago but they came bk inconclusive ! I used to have at least one week of the month when I felt (normal ) around ovulation but not even had that this month ! Haven't found any miracle cures as yet ! Think would def be onto a winner if I did , have read about so many women experiencing the same symptoms or an increase of them ! Like you I do feel like I am going mad , it is a truly scary feeling ! Take care of yourself ( you are not alone and you are not crazy ) best of luck !
Yes Jennifer this is all hormones and its no fun!!!Ive been feeling good last couple weeks but due for my period and the couch is my best friend today!!!!Bless you having to deal with symptoms and having two children at home...hormones are not nice at this time and really play with your anxiety and like you i would think there had to be something serious goin on and i would not make it...had bunch of testing and all normal but it still scares you even when you know your health is good...I had saliva test done and found estrogen low...nothing ever showed up on blood test so found a dr that cared and found why i felt so bad...nurse told me to think of a teen goin thru puberty and reverse it...well reverse feels alot worse then foward did from what i remember...lol hang in there and take care of yourself...hope you feel better soon....
Thank you Lauri, It's hard to believe hormones can do this . I wish it was more talked about and there were more solutions to the problem. But, as women we are strong I know we can get through it. It's just a hard road t travel...God Bless!! and thank you