Ok,here goes-anyone who has read any of my posts knows I am young,32,and have been having peri symptoms for around three years. One of the first clues was a horrible panic episode that landed me in the Er a few years ago.Well,now I have been doing so good,I am on low dose BCP,and feeling so much better.Then on wednsday I took the kids back to school shopping,(school stars this coming Monday) well,while at the store I can feel myself tensing up-literaly my muscles were getting super tight and I felt so on edge.I got home,did the normal stuff,got everyone in bed and then it happened-I got so anxious-my palms started sweating,I felt sick to my stomach my body hurt like when you are running a fever/flu.igot so scared-I sarted having major health anxiety.Finally I took a .25 xanax I had left over from before and went to bed.I still feel bad two days later.My muscles feel so tight and tired-I want to cry and cry.Ladies,is this normal?Is it just back to school stress?I used to be able to deal with things and now I feel so incapable.What should i do? Has anyone else had this hit them with no warning?All responses appreciated-I just need some support.I am so tired of people saying,Oh you just need to stop worrying".I am not worrying,it just comes on me like a tidal wave-I cannot help it.GOD-bless

Hi Lady E:

It sounds like maybe you like overwhelmed. You are not only preparing the kids for back to school but you are preparing yourself for a whole new season of stuff going on.

I have these moments that drive me crazy. I will seemingly be doing fine and suddenly, I am not fine anymore. And you are so right it hits like a tidal wave and can take quite awhile to completely go away.

I am sorry this is happening to you but it sounds like normal ole anxiety. I hope that you are feeling better.

(((((((((((((((Lady E)))))))))))))))

Thanks and GOD-bless for your quick reply.I feel as if I have been hit by a truck.I just want to curl up in a ball,but my insides feel all revved up.sometimes this stuff makes me so angry,I just want to cry and cry-but that gives me a headache.Thanks again.

Hi lady E,

I'm feel so bad for you, you are just so young. I was about 36 when I started to have "panic" espisodes. Do you think that is what your having??? For instance, I would (busy working mother), run to the market and grocery shop, suddenly out of no where, I begin feeling hot, then my palms start sweating, I feel faint and dizzy. I have to leave the store and go outside and sit in my car. My heart is racing, I feel strange and cannot go back into the store. Then after experiencing these "panic's" comes the exhaustion, feeling completely wiped out for the next day. This would repeat several times a week or month.

I never connected all of this to hormones back in those days. But I did start taking a small dosage of xanax, which helped a great deal.

And it did get better with time, I hope this get's better for you also. Please take care, I know that it's hard to be going through all of this and trying to cope with the kids and all that goes with raising a family.

Take care, Juliann

Oh Lady E,
My first panic attack was at age 34 and I am 52 now.
Diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks.
I, too, was/am a 'worrier'.
Make sure that you take care of yourself. I know that you probably put the kids first, but remember, you need to treat yourself
with care. Relaxation, proper nutrition, limit caffeine, limit alcohol and regular exercise. And there is also medication, if you decide to go that route.
I feel for you. It is not a disorder that is easily treated....many panic attacks come out of the blue.
I take lorazepam when I am in distress....last year I ended up taking it twice daily for two weeks to "stop the cycle" of panic. It worked.
I will think of you and hope for healing.

May you have a panic free day.

janeann

Hi Lady E,
I'm alot older than you (47) but peri also started for me a year and a half ago with a major anxiety attack (never had anxiety or depression before) that landed me in the ER. Even now, after a year on HRT, I start feeling anxious if my estrogen drops when I am under stress or exercising heavily. I tried a few different bcp's for my symptoms and they worked for awhile, but after a few months, I started having symptoms again. I think it's the high ratio of progestin to estrogen in alot of the oc's that causes problems. The progestin actually blocks the estrogen. Maybe you should try a bcp with alower amount of progestin (I think Brevicon is one) or switch to some other form of HRT. I definitely think what you experienced is hormonal--even though it could be exacerbated by stress. School shopping should not trigger a panic attack. Hope you are feeling better. God Bless.

Lady E: I developed panic disorder at the age of 28. It got worse during peri menopause. Try to get a hold of this NOW. Xanax is the only currently approved med for panic disorder; you are taking a very low dose (.25 mg)...a great many people take .5 mg 3X a day. You can develop a dependence, but a good doctor will help you wean off it when the time is right. And it's okay if that time is never. Xanax, used properly, is very safe.

This condition is doubly awful, because it not only debilitates you, but puts you in a reactive, rather than proactive position. And trust me, hon, you need to take the bull by the horns and be as aggressive as you can with this. That means doing this every day, before you get an attack, that will hopefully prevent one from occuring. Meditation, relaxation techniques, yoga, journaling, exercise (this is SO important; those tight muscles need to be stretched and worked)...the resoures are endless. Just google "panic attacks" and you will be deluged with info how how to help. Only you can develop your own personal presription to battle this, but battle this you must. Panic disorder just snowballs if you don't nip it in the bud, but it responds quickly to any intervention you force on it. Even just taking a daily one hour walk will make a difference...try it..you'll be amazed.

Good luck.

Robin, may I offer you a giant round of applause? You hit the nail right on the head. And so articulately.

I have taken klonopin three times a day for years. I am a better and more functional person for it.

May we all soon see the day when we will reminisce about these symptoms!

Hugs all around,
Marcy

Thanks to all who took the time to answer.i am feeling better-i feel like I am recovering from being really sick! i think I was pushing myself to hard this past two weeks.I had been exercising more and not taking any time for myself.Well,yesterday and today I have been praying and just listening to my body-I even took a two hour nap!! I do not take regular meds for anxiety,as I do not have it all the time.My BCP has helped tremendously,but I also need to just take care of me. I started a b and c complex vitamin yesterday to build myself back up,and so far so good,much less tense.I am so glad to have this board to vent,to cry,to talk to all of the wonderful women.GOD-bless

Hi Lady E,
My body cannot seem to handle stress.....even things like noise.....This time of year is stressful! Getting the kids clothes.....picking up on their anxiousness about starting school....someone else mentioned the change that is coming up for us as the schedules change. What use to seem so easy and normal now seems huge for me.....I must DAILY remind myself to take it easy....REST when my body says rest. You are wise to listen to your body.....I just started using the xanax. My doctor gave me .25 and I just take half and it seems to help! One day at a time.....I'm looking forward to the kids starting school....the house will be quiet....gives me more time to reflect....I think I might even take a yoga class
Oars

Yes my schedule,sleep included is so messed up from summer break.I am glad school is starting,but they make it so difficult with the huge lists of things the kids need that cost so much.I have three kids in school!!! I will be glad to have the mornings to myself again,but I also worry about them with the world being so ugly-school shootings and all.I truly hope that I will feel "normal"soon.GOD-bless

My guess is that you're reacting in fear to your anxiety, which will make it worse. You're panicking before anything actually happens (which is usually won't <smile>). I bet you're doing the internal "what if" scenario, expecting the worse. When you tighten up, tell yourself - big deal, so what if my muscles tense up, it will go away. You probably have stress on an unconscious level re: school starting up. Rather than going to bed and being anxious, how about going outside, take a short walk.....whatever you need to do to change your focus. I had that crap beginning when I was 27, and one day I just finally said to myself "enough"......and I faced my fears, one little step at a time. My guess would be that you can too!!!

Better days ahead <smile>............
Retriever2

One more thing, recognizing the problem is half the battle - and you've recognized it, haven't you.....you're stronger than you think, kiddo. Don't let this rule your life - try living with anxiety and you'll be amazed how fast it will go away!

Retriever2

Exactly right! My panic attacks started at 27, I'm 55 now and proud to say I overcame them (when no one knew what they were back in the 70's) and now know how to handle my symptoms, should they occur.

You can do it
Retriever2

Yes,learning to deal with panic is important,however it can still knock the best of us off our feet.My mild anxiety attack was due to stress and being worn out,I know that now as I look back.I really just need to listen to my body more.Thanks again to all who answered.GOD-bless