Hi Ladies,

I need your input here so I can decide if I need meds for my extreme anxiety. How did you decide when to use medication and is it helping you? Have you tried any natural techniques? I work in a very hard environment as one of two females in an all male environment. I am the only caucasion as well and as much as I would wish that that was not an issue the reality is that it is. I am bullied and undermined constantly. I have gone to Human Resources and even sought legal advice. This issue is very hard to prove. I make very good money and cannot easily find a different job. I need the wage I earn and I also need the benefits etc. I am seeking counseling which I start next week. I am also to tired and weakened to try changing a career at this time.

I have always had high anxiety but now that I'm in the midst of peri it has become unbearable and my health is suffering. My quality of life is not so good right now. I feel like I'm at war with my own mind . Would HRT help or do I need something for anxiety? I have used Xanax on the nights when it is bad but I don't take it daily. It does help but kind of knocks me out. I operate heavy equipment and can't use meds that can be risky. Thanks for any input, advice and especially support.

Shakti

Hi Shatki~

For me, it was the quality of life. I had never experienced anxiety, panic, palps, or anything of the sort. I was hit with it all at once. Peri had completely disrupted my life, the way I lived my life and interacted with family, friends and clients. I just couldn't live like that any more. I tried natural remedies, I tried counseling, I tried biofeedback, yoga, etc. etc. Nothing worked for me. Finally, my doctor gave me two other options, HRT or an AD. My doctor(s) does not like to prescribe HRT due to the risks involved. The nurses in her unit had much better experiences with ADs so I decided to try it. I have met several women on PS as well as personal friends, that are eithor on Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil or Buspar. I tried Zoloft and Paxil, they did not work for me, they had a tendency to intensify my symptoms (people react differently to different meds). My doctor's nurse is on Effexor so I tried that and it has done the trick for me. I did experience 2-3 weeks of weird side effects, which I was told would happen. I continued with it, after about four weeks I was back to my old self. The anxiety was gone, no more panic attacks, insomnia or hotflashes. I do notice if I don't take it regularly, rather then helping it makes it worse. If I take it like I'm supposed to, it works miracles for me.
What I have learned from PS, is that there are many women on ADs though they don't like to discuss it on PS because of the reprucussions. You will find that there are some women that will scare the hek out of you, for the mere thought of even considering medication (even though they might be much worse off then someone taking medication). Try to weigh in all factors, and keep searching until you find what is best for you. Nobody should have to live like this.
Good luck,
Karen

Dear Shakti
Oooffff sounds like you are having one heckuva time

I have always been an anxious person, and have had my unfair share of full blown panic attacks. When I hit Peri, my symptoms worsenned. I take valium (5mg). Some days I take a whole pill, some days I take a 1/2 pill, some days I don't take any pill. For me, a valium does NOT make me sleepy, it takes the edge off my anxiety. I prefer to take the natural homeopathic road when possible, but honestly these days, I am ALL for modern medicine. Every women is different, as Karen has pointed out. My husband is on Effexor and it has improved his quality of life a hundred fold.

My personal belief is ......If have tried the natural way, and nothing is helping....then go for modern medicine to help you through this difficult time. And as Karen states, it may take a few trials and errors before you hit on the right medicine that is the best for 'Shakti'

Either way....it is YOUR life, and only YOU, know your state of mind. Having said that, from what you have written here.....for what it is worth...I think it is time for you to persue meds for your extreme anxiety.
Good Luck to you

Dottie

I take xanax. Have off and on since the whole menopause thing started. My dose is .25 and I take it AS needed. Only when the anxiety gets to the point where it starts messing with my quality of life. On a norm, I take 5 or 6 pills a month max (some people need more, some people need less). Usually during ovulation and when my period is due to start. That's when my anxiety levels seem to peak. The xanax does the trick for me and you would NEVER catch me without my script in my purse. It's my crutch because it HELPS. I refuse to go on any HRT supplements and my doctor totally agrees with my decision not to. For me it isn't an option.

Like the two girls who posted before me have stated, it's YOUR life and YOUR body. Only you can decide if your anxiety is controllable without medications. I truly believe you shouldn't have to live with the constant fear of anxiousness. These pills were created for a reason, and if taken as directed and not abused, they can really make a difference in one's life.
HUGS

I had to start taking AD because my anxiety level was so high when I got my period, I had to stay in the house for a week after my period would finish or vice verse. After about almost a year of this I needed some help and started taking AD's. I had started with xanax as needed but that wasn't helping, I needed something that was going to stay in my system a little longer. I have been on .15mg of Lexapro almost 8 months and I have been fine. The lexapro has helped me out alot, now i'm able to make it to work when i get my period. I had even tried natural but it wasn't helping. Good Luck keep us posted.

I'm on 100mg of Zoloft and also taking bios. I still have mild anxiety in the morning, but at least it's not the all day anxiety anymore. I really don't know which one is working for me the Zoloft or the bios or both. I'd like to know but at this point I'm to scared to drop one to find out.

Shakti

When did your anxiety start??? You stated that you always had high anxiety. I suppose now with the peri symptoms your body and mind can't seem to handle the load??? Problems on the job can be extremely stressful.

Medication can be helpful, I had a similar time in my life, when anxiety took over my life. I did take xanax and it got me through. You can break them in half, smaller dosage to just take the edge off (it works quickly). But, in the end, I also had to change "me" and find a better way to cope with things. Some counseling may help you sort out the mental outlook, these would be my suggestion.

Perimenopause seems like a long road, so we all need to find what works. I did start BHRT over a year ago, but it doesn't really help my anxiety levels. Those bursts of doom, keep coming over me time and again. It's hormone surges or something wacky, but I am learning to deal with it, because it's part of my life now.

Take gentle care, Juliann

Here's the story behind my decision concerning medication for peri-related anxiety: I've been in peri for about five years and, although I have annoying and bothersome physical symptoms, by far the worst for me has been anxiety that ramps up into feelings of dread and impending doom for days at a time. This is "not the real me". I admit to a tendency to fret or worry about specific things all my life, but this constant feeling that something catastrophic is about to happen is horrible, and that much worse if something bad really is going on -- I find myself seeing it in the worst possible light, incapable of breaking out of it.

Mostly I find myself obsessing about illness and death (of others in my life much more than my own) and it only made it worse when, in 2005, two immediate family members died unexpectedly and one close friend who'd been very sick for a long time also died. I tried to convince myself that the anxiety was from that, but here it is 2007 and it's no better.

It was only about a year ago that I made the connection on the calendar. Now that my periods are coming closer together, it's worse; the days, and especially the nights, of fear are more numerous than the days without it. Oh, those days when it lets up are wonderful, though.

I asked my gyno for some medical help, hoping to find something I could take as needed, not necessarily every day, but they would only write for Lexapro. My GP wrote me a Xanax prescription which I've had filled but haven't taken yet. I'll need to try it on one of my days off. I don't want to try it for the first time at work because, if it knocks me out, I don't want everyone knowing what's going on, plus there's the matter of a 30-minute drive home! If the Xanax doesn't work out, I'll probably go back and try the Lexapro. I do know others who've benefited from it.

If it doesn't make me too sleepy and if it has the desired effect, I'll take it ... cautiously. I know it's possible to get hooked and I don't want that. (oh good, something else for me to be anxious about )

My gyno tells me every year that I have "probably another couple of years" of peri left. Every year I ask if they've come up with anything to expedite the process...of course not, I know that -- I just want to feel like myself again, before I forget how.

I agree that how one chooses to treat her anxiety/panic symptoms is a personal decision.

I have had generalized anxiety disorder my whole life, and menopause has kicked it into high gear. Many days now I struggle with panic attacks which in the past occurred only rarely.

I have found that counseling along with anxiety meds works for me. I am, however, very careful with meds b/c of dependence and the need to increase dose if one uses them regularly. Antidepressants have only increased my symptoms, but they work great for my sister.

The thought that I have some in my bag is good enough for me. I usually start with a quarter, then take more if it doesn't kick in enough. I just use them when I feel that I can't go about my day to day business. Sometimes you can fill your mind and brush it off, but then that depends on how bad the anxiety is.

I take diazepam, but in my earlier years took Natracalm (passiflora incarta?).

I resisted taking any medications until life became almost unbearable and I was unable to function for days on end. The AD's didn't work out for me, but I take birth control pills and use Xanax as needed for anxiety, along with Zomig for migraines.

I agree that this is a personal decision and what works for one might not work for another. It can be a challenge to find the right combination for you.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi Shakti
you answered my post on spotting after periods on the weekend. thanks! made me feel better.
i called my doctor monday and he called back after about 3 hours of my mental anguish.
I told him my symptoms, light pink discharge after a fairly normal period. my time between periods is fluctuating wildly, too. 28 days, 34, etc. hot flashes, night sweats, insomia and anxiety.
He said he felt it was normal peri symptoms but he was worried about the anxiety and sleeplessness. He prescribed Lexpro. He told me it would take about 7 days for the anxiety symptoms to subside.
I felt better right away, once he called and said it was a normal thing for me to have the changes in period and discharge. I felt "well, i won't need the anxiety medicine." i was even able to take a nap. (i hadn't had much sleep for 4 days.) boy, was i wrong!
i went to sleep last night, but still woke up at 3 am with shaking, anxiety, etc. Still with the thinking something was wrong. so, i took my first Lexpro pill this morning.
I really hope this works. I have always been a worrier, but i could usually control it by telling myself all will be okay. I cannot control it alone this time, no meditation, yoga or anything has worked. It is almost like when i had post partum depression. I felt i lost all control. It is miserable.
I am a personal trainer and hate to take medicine or drugs of any kind, but i feel i have to this time around.
Good luck with your symptoms.
Lu

Shakti,

I understand your reluctance in choosing to take an AD to help with anxiety. I think so many women are caught up in trying to avoid medication at any cost if possible. I started having terrible anxiety 4 yrs ago when peri started for me at 40. It came out of the blue with hot flashes mixed with panic attacks. I tried some natural things that I read about but I was to the point that I could barely sleep or function and since I work full time and have 3 teenagers, my huusband and my mom who lives with me to take care of, I really had to do whatever I could to stop the horrible anxiety.

My doctor put me on Lexapro and after about 2 weeks of mild side effects, I felt like myself again. I know from reading these boards that there is not a one size fits all approach to treating anxiety, so what works for one person may not help another. However, if you have exhausted other options and cannot find relief, you may want to try an AD to see if that helps reduce your anxiety. For me , Lexapro has been a lifesaver. I hope you find relief!

Maura

I just started taking the Lexapro (2 days) but I am so full of anxiety over my health that i called my doctor back today and practically begged to be seen today. I just NEED to KNOW i am alright. they are seeing me at 5 pm.
Of course, now I am REALLY panicking because of the "what if." and going in there today......i can't win.

deep inside, i feel i will be fine, but i just cannot control the panic. I have paced my house, wrapped in a blanket and keep telling myself i will be alright. doesn't help much. relax breathing helps for about 3 minutes, then i think again and freak out.
I will insist on all the tests, even though i will still be panicking until i find out the results.
(original fear is over pink spotting after my last 3 periods, which is not normal for me. I should have NEVER looked up symptoms in the health net, i have made myself panic and don't know if it is because of my obsession with my health or panic because of hormonal imbalance with the peri. doesn't matter, I am miserable.)
Wow, this peri stuff, along with my own obsessions, is really h-e - double hockey sticks.!!!!!!

I haven't felt this terrible ever, i have had other small panic attacks with breast cysts, but nothing like this.

I hope the Lexapro helps me as well as it has helped you, just wish it could kick in a little sooner.

Thank God for this forum, it as helped calm me, even a little bit, especially at night while the panics are at their worst.
Lu

Hi Lulu~


I can't begin to tell you how many of us have been exactly where you are. I remember those days of wrapping myself in a blanket, shivering, feeling dizzy, pacing, heart palps, and thinking I was going to die. And of course telling myself, I will be the exception. Anxiety and panic can't feel this terrible, surely I am dying and I will be written up in the medical journals. Well, I haven't been written up in any journals, I'm alive and feeling great (though I do have not so great days as well, usually self-induced), and those days of having panic attacks seem so long ago.
I also insisted on all the tests, and I know my doctor just wanted to pasify me so he ran them all. Everything looked good.
However, I did not want to feel like this again so I did opt for medication (Effexor). I didn't feel too great the first couple of weeks, though I was determined to stay on it and see if it helped. Two weeks later everything kicked in and I was back to my old self. That said, if I do silly things like don't take my medication, have caffeine or certain t ypes of alcohol, don't get enough sleep, I will have a setback or two. That's what I mean by self-induced.
Hang-in-there Lulu, you are definitely not alone! I (we) know what you're going through, wish we could take it all away, just know.....it WILL pass. And lets say Lexapro doesn't do the trick, there's something out there that will. Anxiety and panic will not kill you, it won't harm you, even though right now it feels like it will. Try as hard as you can not to fight it. Breath deeply, breathe slowly, and I know this sounds weird, but exercise will help somewhat.
You are NOT alone!
((((HUGS)))))
Karen

I saw my counselor last night. He is a doctor and I can't remember if he is a physcologist or a psyciatrist. He actually agreed that peri causes anxiety and recognizes the hormonal connection. The good news is: I don't need meds at the moment as he feels that my stress is situational. The bad news is the situation is my work. I am the victim of mobbing (Google search it). I have been subltly harrassed and ostrasized at work and I am a text book case. There is no current law against this in California but I will still seek legal advice. I make a very good living and it is very hard to find work in this area. He wants me to find a new job but I can't find anything that pays so well. These horrible people knowingly ruined my and my hubby's life just because of gang mentality. Now in the midst of peri, I have to change the rest of my life and I'm scared, tired and depressed.

PS: Lulu, I am concerned for you so keep us posted. I do understand how you feel. Hugs!

Ditto for me Dottie.
I have been "edgy" and easily stressed all my life, I believe it is genetic weakness plus Type A personality, as well as being mother of 2, LOL.
But I never had physical symptoms before I hit perimenopause. I have struggled for couple years, but things went out of control after my momther death. I have tried all herbal and natural remedies, BHRT, nothing worked. I was at the end of my rope, and decided it is time to do something before I lose my job, my family, and my sanity. So I decided to start benzos: first Ativan ( made me drowsy) then I switched to Xanax, which I take before bedtime (0.25 to 0.5) depending where in my cycle I am, it gets worse midcycle and before TOM. I am glad I have, it helped me tremendously. I am not longer sleep deprived, I can drive again without fear that I crush my car and lose control, I can handle work stress and loads, basically, I can carry on my life. I still have ocational anxiety, Xanax must be taken regulary, to prevent it, but nothing like before. I believe one day I will be able to tapper off or stop it, but for now, this is my security blanket, and I am not living my place without it, just in case I get overstressed or hormones swing widely, I will take 0.25.
I have read that anxiety itself is not harmfull but the side effects are. Having chest pain and pressure, numbness and tingling in extremities, tight and achy muscles and joints is a sign that blood vessels are constricted, and every time they constrict, plaque is formed in coronary artheries, major and minor (macro and microvascular). Over a time, this can lead to CHD and high BP. I already see BP jumping sky high if I let anxiety/panic attack take over, so I think it is easier and better to take xanax than treat myslef with calcium channel blockers and BP medication down the road, stress is #1 killer, independetly of diet, exercise and otherwise healthy lifestyle. I had it really bad, my digestion was completely impared, insomnia, nightmares, you name it, multiple trips to ER because of horrible chest pain and numbeness everywhere. During my last visit, ER doctor said : this anxiety is going to kill you, if you won't take it under control, you will die before your time. Finally, I relized that I can toughen up anymore, I need help, and this was best decision over the last 5 years. I wish I did it early. Could have saved myself and my family from worries and sleepless nights.
I have tried valerian, passion flower, magnesium, etc. - nothing helped much. Exercise helps a lot, especially for morning anxiety. But nothing helped with nocturnal panic attacks until I started Xanax.
Just my 2 cents, and HTH.

Hello,

I'm usually a confident, strong, reasonably intelligent person who appeared to have it all together until last fall. For weeks I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, had a constant lump in my throat, diarrhea, racing pulse, feelings of doom and thought I was dying. I was able to put on a brave face when I went to work, but broke the speed limit to get home so I could put on my pajamas and lay on the couch to stare at the ceiling. I had to be in a quiet, calm environment...no tv, no radio, no newspapers, no books, no computer...nothing. I put my pride aside and went to my physician assuming he would dismiss my concerns and talk to me as he held his hand on door knob waiting to make his escape. I was relieved when he pulled up a chair and listened to me. He wanted to know about eveything that was happening to me. He ordered lab tests inluding hormone levels which all came back normal. I was reluctant to take medications, so we talked about other options. I saw a counsellor a couple of times but it definitely was not for me. I felt better talking to my co-workers than a stranger who basically repeated everything back to me that I said. My physician followed me closely requesting that I see him every week. During one appointment he finally said that I had gone through enough and it was time to look at prescription medications. I was so utterly beaten with my symptoms that I agreed. I started with a low dose of Citalopram for the anxiety and Trazadone for sleep. It changed my life. I've had to increase the doses of both medications when I started slipping, but I was completely ok with that. I don't ever want to go down that dark tunnel again and if medications help me I will continue taking them.

I think I am in perimenopause for the following reasons: I am 46, experience occasional nightsweats, irregular periods and have missed two completely in the past year, very heavy periods with clotting, occasional severe breast tenderness, feel a bit disassociated at times, brain fog, forgetful, occasional hot flashes, and the onset of anxiety problems.

As an aside, I have been petrified of flying for the past few years. Since I started the medication, I have been able to fly without resorting to an Ativan tablet.

Things are not perfect, but I am getting there.

Well said, Helio!

I know you eased the fears of many just by sharing your experience I know I feel better just by reading your post.

(((HUGS)))
Karen

Hi to all.
Day 3 on Lexapro, it seems to be kicking in. Friday was great. Today, I had more good moments than bad. Sleep is much better.
I know how you all feel, the feeling of dread, I have really irrational thoughts when i am feeling anxious. I hope Lexapro helps and i can get back to normal.
These forums help even more, because I know I am not crazy or alone in this problem.
Exercise does help. As a personal trainer, I have always worked out, especially with weights. But, now, I find that cardio helps these feelings more than weight training, so I guess I have to start doing more cardio (walking, cycling).
On the really bad days, I find I am fatigued in the evening, I wonder if the anxiety raises your metabolism.
Thanks Shakti for your concern! Hugs to all!
Lulubell

i am a severe sufferer of anxiety i hate taking pills even for a headache, the doctor gave me diazapam i hate taking them but now realise without them at times i become unbearable i stress i have some serious illness and cant forget it my husband gets fed up with me and i cant say i blame him. if taking a tablet gives me a better quality of life then its worth it, i am sure, i think there are time when modern medicine is needed even if its for a short time, at the end of the day we do need to live not just exist we are all different, and like others say some things work for some and not for others, whne i feel bad i need something that works instantly, as i am sure others do as well, i dont want to wait weeks for them to start working,

Speak to your Dr tell him your concerns, there are different strengths of tablets, so they maybe able to give you a small dose that can be increased in times of needs.

Here it goes again,

Sunday was a really high anxiety day. it is now almost 4 am and i am not sleeping, again.
i have a few good days, but even the good days have high anxiety in waves.

today i will see my GP, my ob/gyn was the one who put me on Lexapro and Mirtazapine(for sleep) but i still feel like i am going insane.
I called my GP on sunday during a rough anxiety attack. I guess i thought i would see him right away and he could help me. I feel as if nothing can help right

now. I am going to ask him to recommend a good psycologist, i am desparate.

I am ready to check myself in to a mental health facility. Anything to calm this down.

Listening to a relaxation tape helps calm me for a short while, then its back into high anxiety mode. They come in waves, then after about 3 or 4 waves, i get really drowsy and then i nap. This is horrible.

It helps knowing there are so many out there with this same problem. I still wish it could all stop.

My biggest anxiety is death. If i am feeling alright and something comes on tv or someone talks about someone dying, i freak. I have always been high anxiety about my health, but this is smothering and uncontrollable.

Thanks for being out here, listening, and giving me something to do at night and during anxiety waves in the day.

Will keep you posted.

Hugs and hope to all.

Lulubell

Hi Lulubell
I know what its like to feel as you do, i stopped watching the news for ages and reading a paper any words on death etc, and anxiety went mad. i didnt even watch horrible films so i could keep my anxiety low. i have seen therapists myself, they didnt help me but everyone is different i tried hypnotherapy i dont think i spelt that right, funny enough it helped me alot, but i had some major issues i needed to put to bed, with the hormone thing i find the anxiety to be a different kind, to be honest if i went to a therapist i couldnt honestly say what the problem was as i dont feel i am anxious about something in particular, my Dr Doctor gave me diazapam i take when i am anxious and it helps, once i relax the anxiety goes, i think we are all anxious at this time in our life, me i suffer withthe dizzy of balance heads they make me anxious, because they will not hury up and go quickly, i have had them over two weeks and every day think will they be gone today i get anxious when they dont what i am doing is adding anxiety to it and keeping it going, so my dr says we need to break the circle, i have two choices i try and relax and put my mind at rest i know i have no tumour etc, but anxiety tells me different, or i go for tests, but will that still convince me? after reading others stories probably not,
I am for the next few days going to focus on something other than dizzy heads, when i find myself getting anxious get up and do something, alot of it is keeping your mind busy i was like you last week i was going to do the same head for the nearest mental hospital, or if i had a tumour i wanted it to hurry up and happen so i could stop the worry, i am still here this week, and each day is getting easier, heads havent gone yet but instead of dizyy of balance they are just foggy shall we say, it will go.
Anyway heres me going on.
Take it from me you are not going mad, your hormones are on a rollercoaster, of course it will effect your thinking. we are all anxious about our symptoms. believe me wait until you get something else you will be worrying about that as well, i promise you, I would say go to the Dr tell them the pills arent working. you need something for the anxiety the sleep will come when you start to relax, focus on the anxiety first, and ask for something for that I dont know if they do diazapm there butthey have helped me through some seriously anxious times. and they work instantly you dont have to wait until they get into the system i sleep well when i am relaxed, pamper yourself and take up a hobby to keep your mind busy and stop you focusing on being anxious, things will get better i promise you, i have suffered with panic attacks anxiety for over twenty years, i have read all the books and seen 5 therapists, you learn to cope and find ways to get you through, you just need a little help to relax.
I hope this helped if you want to talk you can email me,
i hope you feel better soon
x

Hi Lulubell

I too suffer severe anxiety. I don't have the panicky type of anxiety though. It is the SEVERE worrying type. I worry about the most unbelievable things. It's like I'm afraid of living. I try to stay away from papers and the news although since I've been taking Buspar for the past couple of years it has really helped curb that anxiety. Including my phobia about flying. I fly everywhere now. However, I know when the meds are wearing off. I start to feel that nawing (is that spelled right?) fear and dread and ridiculous worry creep in. It's a horrible feeling. Anyway, go to your doctor and try another AD or something else. Don't give up on that. For me AD's cause me to feel as though I'm jumping out of my skin so I can't take them. But they put me on something else. Don't be afraid to try different "cocktails" until you find the right fit for your brain. It isn't one size fits all by any stretch and Lexapro might not be the thing for you. It certainly wasn't for me. But I'll bet there is one that will work. Don't give up on that. I have found that while therapy is nice - it doesn't work a great deal unless you are mentally stable enough to have it sink in. I found after 6 solid months of therapy that it really wasn't about my great-aunt Mildred telling me I was ugly and fat as a kid. It was my hormones faking my brain out and making me feel totally different from hour to hour, day to day, etc. Keep trying. And remember that even when you find a good med they often don't work forever so don't be afraid to go back again and say it isn't working. And if any doctor makes you feel like that isn't normal or possible, find another doctor. Keep your chin up and keep trying!

Thanks for the kind words. I am really scared as ##@&*.

I hate feeling out of control of myself. I know i have always had a fear of dying. It has now escalated to scary new heights.
I know Lexapro takes a few weeks to get into your system, the main problem is, can i make it?

I have waves of anxiety, then come crashing down and get really drowsy. If i sleep all night, the next day is usually pretty good.

My husband and son are very supportive, but i worry this is hurting them too. They both stayed home today from work/school to be with me.
I don't want to upset their lives like this, especially my son. He needs to not worry about me and go to school.

I am still trying to control the irrational feelings and thoughts, it is so hard. I thought maybe talking things out with a therapist would help me realize that these are irrational thoughts, not real. if i don't stop feeling this way, i will give myself health problems, which is what i am fearing in the first place. it is a vicious circle.

I will keep posting until something gets fixed.

thanks for listening

lulubell

Lulubell

Please know that you aren't alone. I too feel this way and I'm quite sure that many of the ladies feel that way often or have felt that way at some point during this ride. Hold on for the lexapro to take hold. Do know however that if these feelings have gotten worse that can actually be a side effect of lexapro. I had that happen to me when I took it and I even titrated it up rather slowly. I'm quite sure that if I had gone on the full dose right away I would have jumped off of my roof because when I got to a small, full does on day 4 or 5 I was so incredibly anxious and agitated that my husband sat with me constantly to make sure I didn't do something stupid. It was really scary. He called the Dr and she said that under no circumstances was I to take more Lexapro. It agitated me horribly and AD's can do that to some people. But if it's just that the anxiety hasn't changed since you started the Lexapro then I would give it time to work. Check with your Dr. too ok. It's not worth taking the risk. Please do remember that one size DOES NOT fit all. Keep posting! We're here.

Shakti,

I live in Illinois and we now have clearly stated laws against harassment on the job. In fact, we have to attend a mandatory presentation about it every year, and sign off on a sheet stating that we attended. If we try to get out of attending by calling in sick that day or otherwise arranging an absence, we must re-schedule another time to attend the presentation. It's the law. Are you certain that in California there are no laws against harassment at all?

Harassment on the job, sexual or otherwise, can cause full blown depression and anxiety, among other things, in what had been a happy and well-adjusted person. About 25% of the harrassed victims look for another job and almost all of them are less productive when they are at work, because they are upset about the harassment or they are preoccupied with trying to avoid the aggressor(s).

I lived through a four year harassment ordeal on the job, back in the 1980s. This was before we had the current harassment laws in place. My harassment was not sexual; it was from a supervisor who continually administered disciplinary action against me, sent me memos and humiliated me in front of co-workers, and arranged scenarios that would trip me up so she could give me more discipline. After one year, I had so much stuff in my file regarding my so-called "performance problems" that I could not have even dreamed of transferring within the company. They would have taken one look at my file and laughed. I tried to get another job elsewhere, but continually had to watch my back if I was absent to attend an interview, since the supervisor who harassed me was just waiting for me to do anything so she could grab on to it. Plus, just being so upset caused me to be in poor shape at an interview; I had a hard time mustering enthusiasm for another job because I was a wreck from the harassment I was enduring, yet I could say nothing about it.

Just a note: the supervisor eventually got fired, and I'm still at this same job now, going on 23 years. So it did end, but it was a nightmare to live through at the time.

Now we have laws in place against this, and as I attend the mandatory presentations, I do feel a little bitter that when I went through it, nobody would help me.

I did suffer a depression brought on by this whole thing in 1986. My depression lasted almost a year. It was a really awful feeling of detachment and sadness. I couldn't sleep at night and then had to fight sleep during the day at work. I was only in my thirties, so I could not blame this on hormones at that time. It was definitely depression brought on by my work environment.

I would encourage you to see if there is any way you can get some help. I completely understand the predicament of needing the job and having to keep quiet about what is happening, since I lived through this myself. I had my daughter to support, and she was in her early teen years and we were thinking about college. So losing my job would have been a disaster because she would have been affected. I can understand the pressure you are going through. Take care and PM me if you'd like to talk.

Hi all

Just got back from my regular doctor. He listened carefully to all my symptoms. He really cared. He said it was all the symptoms of peri menopausal depression and anxiety. He actually prescribed Effexor because he said it controls more chemicals than Lexipro. He also said to eat and try to get back to normal.
he knows how much i love to workout so he said, "get in the gym and do what you love to do." Exercise is part of the recovery.

I hope this helps.

I have been a bit calmer since i came home, but i know i am not out of the water yet.
i hope i can start recovery now. I have been suffering for a week, but it seems longer.

Hugs and hope to all

Lulubell

Hi Lulu~

I can tell you from experience, that Effexor has worked wonders for me. I never suffered from anything until Peri hit. I am also a runner and from time to time, teach a Spin class at the local club. My breaking point is when I became too fearful to even exercise. The anxiety just got the best of me.

When I started the Effexor, I did have some weird symptoms for a couple of weeks. I was told this is normal and to just hang-in-there until the medicine kicked in. It surely kicked in and I haven't suffered from any other side effects (unless I don't take it like I'm supposed to). Honestly, I don't know what I would have done without it. Hopefully it will work as well for you, though if it doesn't, there will be a right one out there for you. If you experience any weird symptoms when getting started on it, feel free to email me and I'll lend you all the support you need. Also, if you visit iVillage, many women suffering from anxiety are on Effexor and have had/having huge relief from it, it's a great place for support when going on the med.

Well....I'm off for my morning run.
(((HUGS)))
Karen

Thanks Karen!
I hope it works for me as well. I will check out that website too.
I will keep posting, this forum is wonderful. It really does help to have insight into others feelings.
I guess misery does love company.

Since i know i am not the only one going through all this, i know i am not crazy, nor dying.
I was putting off my mammogram screening, just to save me some anxiety, but, i went ahead and made the appointment,
there are no symptoms or anything, it just is always a stressful event for me.
But, if i get it over with too, then i will know for sure, all is well. Then, i can make this road to recovery.

I want to be normal again!

Lulubell

I was calmer last night before bedtime, evenings seem to be a time of calm for me. worries of this anxiety attacks still linger in the back of my mind.

Woke up this morning back in anxiety attack. Night sweats and then chills.

I took my first Effexor this morning. I really hope something helps. Anxiety, ... fears running wild, this peri is horrible.

My doctor says it is obvious signs of depression, probably brought on by peri hormonal fluctuations.
I cannot believe they don't have a cure for this, i hope the Effexor is my cure.

Going to try to be normal, go workout at the gym, come home, clean house, etc.

Will keep posting and reading, it helps keep me somewhat sane.

Lulubell

Wow, a really good day. I don't think Effexor worked this fast, but something is going right.
I had a few hot flashes, which are usually followed by the internal shaking and anxiety, but, not today!
I am not going to get too happy, my period is coming in a few days and that may or may not be the reason?
I just hope it this normal feeling stays around, I was desperate and low on the weekend.
Hugs to all who post here, we are family.
Lulubell

Hello Everyone,
I have been reading through this thread with interest as I'm due to see my doctor today & although I've strongly resisted going on AD's I am having a really rough week. I am in the process of finding out whether or not I have adrenal fatigue but this week I have been having severe hot flushes through the day & being woken up by them up to 10 times in the night, I feel so fatigued I can barely drag myself through the day, I feel dizzy, depressed & tearful, my anxiety is high, I've been having adrenaline shakes without the panic first & I am just desperate to feel even slightly better.
So, for the first time I am seriously considering AD's as I feel that when I get adrenal fatigue &/or peri symptoms the anxiety & fear of these symptoms is feeding in to the cycle & probably making everything worse.
My doctor has suggested a very low dose of Cipramil, does anyone have any experience of this? It probably has a different name in the States.
Anyway, just wanted to say that I feel for you all out there & I know exactly what you're going through, I'm just so grateful I've got you girls to support me through all of this crap!
Love Marchgirl xx

Lulubell:

I feel like we are living the same life. Everything in your posts I can soooo relate to . Putting off your mammo because of anxiety, trying to carry on each days activities normally, crushing anxiety, pushing through exercise, going through the motions. I noticed in your posts that you kind of inferred that your symptoms get better when you are approaching your period or when you get your period. Is that a correct reading of what you're saying? In any case that has been my experience but I'm new to this - my symptoms became difficult only about 3 months ago - and they are welcome to get the f* out anytime they'd like. Sorry for the profanity but I think my symptoms it deserve it. Anyway, any good day or hour for that matter is worth enjoying and not questioning too much. Hope the Effexor does it for you. Thank you for sharing. Please keep us posted.

Pookish

I too am always amazed at how similar many of our symptoms are. It's sad for all of us but at least there's some relief in knowing that we're not really crazy - just having hormonal issues that are making us act and feel crazy. And mean, and weepy, and irritable, etc. I agree with the profanity too! I feel exactly the same way!

Hi all!!
I guess the Lexipro started working today. I only took the Effexor for 2 days, it made my symptoms WORSE. I called the doc back after a miserable wednesday. he said "hang in there"

i said NO. i need off this, after only 2 days it made me nuttier, if that was possible!

so, this morning i took the lexipro, that would be my 9th dose of an SSRI.....well today i was great.
I am not looking forward to tonight, bedtime is a mess! i actually fear going to bed....
we will see.

I told him how jittery and shaky i got the last 2 days, worse than ever....so he gave me ativan in case it happens again.
it is just short term, but will help immediately and help me get through until lexipro starts working.....

I haven't needed it today HURRAY!

will still keep everyone posted and reading these posts as well!

Lulubell

Hi to all!
Last night was pretty bad. I took my first Ativan, because i woke up after only one hours rest.
About an hour later, the Ativan kicked in and i fell asleep.
it was fitfull, but sleep all the same
today, it has been tense on and off, but not too bad
I hope this stops or eases off soon, it s*cks.
i have never been so miserable.
sort of groggy today, too. but cannot take a nap, as soon as i try, the mind takes over and i wake up with weird dreams
i believe that may be a side effect of Lexipro
wish me luck for sleep tonight
Lulubell

Hi to all!
Slept for two hours, then wide awake,
then, took half ativan and fell asleep almost immediately.
slept pretty well, woke early though.
a little shaky in the morning, exercised and took a nap.
that felt good.
rest of the day was great.....until now
Bedtime and i am getting a little shaky again.
I will take the half ativan to sleep well (i hope)
hugs to all
Lulubell

I really want to thank you all for your honest and helpful replies on this thread. I found a simple solution for my anxiety. Believe it or not I have been going three times a week to yoga. I upped my exercise on the days that I don't take yoga such as increasing my evening walks and I like to go surfing. After yoga I come home and make myself a glass of warm milk with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and a bit of honey. I can't believe how much the yoga is helping me! I am surprised at how strong my body is starting to feel and the happy side effect is I'm losing a bit of weight too.

This week we had a terrible tradgedy at work and I had to go to the doctor and he gave me some sleeping pills and some Xanax. I really needed this medicine to help me through this. But in general for my day to day anxiety I'll keep you posted on the yoga.

Shakti

I had to take meds to survive. The anxiety was overwhelming for me. Without them I am a wreck and unable to sleep. I used to get panic attacks in my 30's and early 40's. Then I drank a lot to dull the anxiety. That only caused me drastic mood swings so I now take meds, Xanax and/or Klonopin and Ambien to sleep. Some days I don't need anything, but those are few every month. As I am still getting periods, I get extremely PMS'd and suffer awful nite sweats. My gyno says they can end any time because I'm going on 53, but I don't know if the PMS or the stop of the periods is worse and dealing with menopause. Like someone else said here, for me it's quality of life and trying to not feel as miserable. I have enough symptoms going on, the meds help me keep from going off the deep end. Oh, I did try the natural route, herbs, etc. and nothing worked for me. It such a horrible feeling this anxiety, I want it to please go away as fast as possible.

It seems we're all desperate for some relief from this disease no one told us about. I have 32 of the 34 symptoms on a fairly regular basis. They started probably 4 years ago, and progressively worsened until 6 months ago when I ended up in the emergency room with "stress". It was only through many Google searches of the plethora of symptoms that I found this site... Thank GOD I'm not dying.

Thank you to all who are sharing your stories. Knowing that all these symptoms are "normal" alleviates some of the anxiety. Well duh, knowing I'm not dying does that!!!! I mean, how many of us kept quiet about the wierd **** (can I say that here?) we were and are experiencing. Electrical jolts when startled, oily hair when before you maybe had to wash it once every three days and now you're lucky if you can wash it at night and have it make it through the next day without looking greasy... there's more... give a minute... psoriasis - you didn't know you had, brain cramps... I had to go out somewhere for an errand tonight (thank GOD only one), I had TWO different shoes on, conversations you can't remember having, wondering WHY you threw away for your fat pants when evidently that is all you can wear now, but knowing there was a reason because anxiety won't even let you eat and you realize days go by and you haven't eaten. My brother was always thin and I asked him why once...at the time I thought what kind of answer is I forgot to eat!!!!! Was he human???? Now I know. I forget to eat, don't want to eat, then all I can do is devour everything in site. HELP...Where are my FAT pants? Tired of wearing dresses to work cause that is all that fits.


I am all for Xanax. Without it I would not be able to function. I am a single mother of four and while my fiance is very supportive I have to keep working to support my family. Without Xanax I would be a basket case. Just the thought of not having Xanax on hand produces its own anxiety. I'll worry about coming off of it later. No one told me perimenopause is so awful. I'd never heard about anything but hot flashes. Criminy... if that's all it were I'd be in hog heaven!

Worse is the internal tremors, anxiety, waves of vertigo, all which exacerbate themselves. Thankfully, I finally found a doctor who doesn't have a problem prescribing Xanax. Most say here, take this and when it works "we're sorry, you can't have anymore".

I see my OB/GYN on Wednesday and hope he can help even more. Sadly, I've been dealing with all these wretched symptoms for months/years, not knowing it was hormone related. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure I'm half-way into this and possibly further.

Anyway... just barely coping and ONLY because my fiance is very supportive, he's my best friend, understands my stress at work (we work together), and is truly my only support system until I found this sight. No one I know is of an age to be experiencing this. Sympathic, but don't have a clue as to how awful and crippling perimenopause is.

Rambling... for what it's worth I would take ANYTHING to feel better. Trying the Revival shakes (making my fiance drink too for cholesterol), but too early to tell if it will help.

Ordering Magnesium Citrate and St. Johns Wort tomorrow. Heck, I'll try anything at this point. I just can't believe something like "hormonal imbalance" causes so many bizarre and vastly different physical symptoms.

Vicki

I agree, the anti-anxiety drugs are saving me from a total breakdown.
It all started with spotting after my period.
that came out normal, after tests and checkup. well, then came the mammogram.
a cyst showed, and was drained, benign. thank God

but, now they want ultrasounds on both breasts because i am so "cystic"
just to be sure....

.little do they know, it has thrown me back into deep anxiety attacks.

I am glad they want to be sure, but this "not knowing" until the 18th will make me insane.

both the surgeon and my ob/gyn assure me the mammo shows nothing serious.......

if that is so, then why the double ultrasounds????
I want them to just give me a double prophalactic mastectomy and get rid of the anxiety about it once and for all.
the surgeon thought i was nuts,. maybe i am, but this fear of the unknown is making me nuts,

peri s*&^$ks, being a woman s&^$ks as well!!!!
hugs to all
lulubell

I had periods of anxiety throughout adulthood and I never took any meds. When I hit 48 (I think), I was heading up a new music group, my youngest daughter was getting married and moving across the country and I was anxious and just so tired of the physical feelings and sleep issues. The stress seemed to always affect my intestines and they hurt. So I got Ativan. I take a very low dose (.25 - .5 mgs) at night so I can sleep better. My dr. is fine with that because he can see I'm not increasing the dosage or abusing it in any way. I wish I didn't feel like I need it, but I think I do. I have no side effects from such a small dose.