Hi All,The last couple of days have been rough. I am feeling so discouraged. I have been on BHRT for a week now and while I know it may be too soon to feel their effects I keep thinking I should be
feeling better. The morning as I have said over and over are the worst. Its crazy I am lying in bed and all I want to do is sleep but the anxiety just keeps building until I am crawling out of my
skin. I just feel like crying I feel so alone. I try to relax but how much more relax can I be while I am sleeping? Thank God I am retired because there is no way I could work like this. And the
anxiety is so unfocused there is nothing I can think of of changing to relieve it. I am no longer sure this is all peri but what else can it be? Am I going crazy? Do I have to just learn to get use
to this because this is how its going to be? I feel so alone.

Nancy

quote name = Simba 2 date = 6th Feb 2008
Dear Nancy,
Please dont feel alone . We are all here on this site and know what you are going through. This is truly your hormones that are making you feel like this. Try to hold on to the person you have been. The anxiety is truly awful and is caused by your hormones, I am sure. I have just weaned myself down off an oestrogen patch and the anxiety was pretty bad but having said that I was edgy on it as well. This 'Change' if certainly a major shift and we are all on the journey here. I know what you mean about not working because I gave up my little part-time job because I was feeling so bad - what with nausea and anxiety - it is really so unfair. Some of us seem to have a worse time of it than others but keep reading Power Surge because you will draw strength from knowing others are in the same situation.

Hi Nancy,

I am so sorry you are having such a rough spell. I really empathize.

I had a terrible episode a year and a half ago (my personal page gives a few details of my whacky story) and I am still recovering day by day. Sometimes the anxiety is so awful that I just don't know how I will do the most ordinary things.

Have you considered a consult with a psychiatrist? I have been helped so much by therapy and medication. I hope I am not over-stepping; I know that some people are not keen on therapists or meds. But when anxiety is so overwhelming, so pervasive, I think it is a good idea to see a specialist. Just a thought.

I wish you the very best. Keep us posted.

Marcy

Nancy,

((((HUGE HUGS)))) for you!

I had days that started like this - so very disheartening to be lying in bed, not even know how to get going!

It passes, you'll be happy to know. This is, for whatever reason, part of the transition for us. Do your best not to be fearful of it (easier said than done!), and go with the flow. Better days are coming, Nancy!

JJ

I so sympathise because I've had the same...The last bout was before and during Christmas. I take a low dose of Inderal, to block the adrenalin from keeping my heart rate high. I took it for about four days, rested a lot and feel great, now. Almost passed out, a few weeks ago in a huge department store..went home ! I know what it's like, to feel so anxious in bed, in the kitchen, in the shower etc etc. I find it absolutely amazing, how consuming it is, when it's going on. Haven't, seen a psychiatrist. I'd never, ever had any anxiety until menopause..and I get it now only when very stressed..or too hot. For the first year after menopause, the panic attacks and anxiety were virtually continuous. It is easing off, now. I've had about two to three week anxiety phases twice, in two years. ( Very stressed). Maybe seeing a psychiatrist helps many people...but rest, helped me. A few good books, some quiet but upbeat TV, talking to friends, some fresh air, slowing up for a while, protein for breakfast, no alcohol, no sugar and no simple carbs. Plenty of water/tea to sip...and I lie in bed even if I can't sleep, when feeling anxious..to rest the body. I also have a glass of warm or cold skimmed milk, before bed or in, bed. it seems to help. Look after yourself as in pampering and resting as much as you possibly can...and when you feel better..a stroll in fresh air, with someone you trust..ie someone who won't mind if you've had enough after ten or fifteen minutes. It is worse than awful, to feel as you do, but not only will it decrease - when it starts to decrease and there are good phases as before, you will be better ready to face down the occasional, anxiety phases. I honestly know so many women who have had what you are suffering..and it does, pass. I think I've mentioned before that a dear neighbour of mine a few years ago had to be on Valium,( no thanks ! ) to even be able to sit in the church for her son's wedding and at the end of the service she had to rush outside, immediately. You should see her now - so active, so often out and about ! Some of my friends are going through our symptoms as well..and they aren't, very pleased ! ( Having to leave stores, getting bad vertigo, feeling too anxious to even phone the TV repairman etc etc. ) They are all very confident women..teachers, nurses etc..some of whom have worked abroad and travelled considerably..on their own. One, recently went to train to be a safari guide in Africa. ( She passed the course). However..had her first anxiety attack..in the airport, when she got there ! ( 40 degree heat she thinks, plus tiredness, set it off). Being very close to wild animals plus spiders as big as dinner plates didn't unnerve her at all. In fact, she said that she felt much better, once she realised that a hot flash had set off a panic/anxiety attack...ie the lion near to her tent was less scary than the HORRIBLE, hormonal anxiety !

Simba,

Thanks. I don't know who I am anymore. I really thought the hormones would fix it all. I am totally unprepared for this I had no idea it could be like this the nausea and anxiety and the depression and no light at the end of the tunnel. I am also on prozac which has helped and in my head I know I am doing a ton better then I was a few months ago but emotionally every little set back sends me over the edge.

Nancy

Marcy,

I am on an antidepressant prozac which has helped. I have considered talking to a therapist and I would if I thought it would help but I have done a lot of soul searching on my bad days and on my good days and there really isn't anything in my life that is bothering me up until recently I did not even realize that I was having anxiety I just thought I was having major nausea that was making me nervous and depressed the prozac helped enough that I realized it was the other way around. This is so not me I never had problems with depression before this I was happy and active and stressless until this all started.

Nancy

JJ,

In my head I know I am better then I was a few months ago but on the bad days it is hard to remember that fact. I get so scared that the bad feelings will not go away even though they have always have. For the last nine months I have woken up with anxiety every morning it usually passes after an hour or so but today that just hasn't happened.

Nancy

Genny,

I rarely leave the house these days I feel better just staying home and doing nothing I have my little routines and that's it. Like you I never had anything like this before this all started (sure I'd get anxious over the normal kinds of things everyone gets nervous about same as feeling down) I have always been the optimist always smiling I have no idea who this old lady in the mirror is. I have no idea where all the negative thoughts come from. I use to walk six miles a day 5-6 days a week and had been for years and I haven't been able since the end of Oct. yesterday I walked to the bank a short ten minute stroll and that was almost too much. I guess part of my feeling so down today is that I had put so much hope and faith on the BHRT fixing everying and giving me my life back.

Nancy

Nancy, statistics show that antidepressants work better in combination with therapy. Just another thought.

That said, I support you wholeheartedly in whatever you decide to do.

I hope your journey becomes easier.

Hugs,
Marcy

Nancy,

I just want to encourage you... Many on these boards will remember what terrible shape I was in in April 2004. I came to Power-Surge every day, just barely holding on. It was a rough stretch. Many days I pleaded with my husband to get me to a psychiatric hospital, as I was having feelings of "de-realization." Lost a lot of weight, couldn't get out of bed. Truly, I was in BAD shape.

These days I mostly do great, many days not even thinking of anxiety at all! Last year was one of the best of my life.

Please do not be too frightened, and yes, I know how hard it is to DO that!

One day, "Nancy" will be back, and you will feel joy and ease and huge relief!

Yes, even as hard as it is to believe right now!

(((HUGS)))

Jacquie

PS - don't know if you've read the books of Claire Weekes? She really helped me during those hang-on-by-one's-fingernails moments!