I've been having issues with spotting almost daily for months and now I am dealing with anxiety. What is going on? I've not dealt with this in many, many, many, many months. Now I'm walking around feeling weepy and dealing with internal vibration. The vibration seems to come in waves. It lasts a couple of hours then suddenly stops. Then it shows up again hours later. Ativan doesn't really get rid of the vibration, it just more or less makes it somewhat more tolerable.

Anyone else dealing with this? Should I go back on AD to prevent this?

Me too - I am in the middle of a major bout with health anxiety. I was in a meeting this afternoon and - twice - had to talk myself down from a full-fledged panic attack. I took Zoloft for awhile a couple years ago, and it did help. My GP doesn't "believe in" anti-depressants, but my GYN does. I have an appointment with him in November, and if I haven't controlled this health anxiety, I may just go back on Zoloft.

Funny I was just going to type the things.

I have had anxiety all week, some boils up other times its just below the surface.

My face started to tingle by my left eye/cheek area and I have been freaking out ever since. Seems like this is all never ending. I did the whole cardiology route this summer (Nuclear stress test and all) to "make sure" my chest pain and burping was indigestion and not heart trouble. Of course I passed everything with flying colors.
Now my thoughts go to my other fear, stroke. It seems like I go from one symptom to something else??? I really don't want to run to the doctor anymore....although I am thinking about revisiting my gyno for the spotting I keep having on the birth control pill.

Doesn't that just prove its "anxiety"????
I haven't tried AD's, I am on BCP (Ortho Novum 1/35) for birth control although, I guess its used for someone my age (42) for peri symptoms. And to boot I keep spotting in week 3...........

I wish I had anxiety over something else, because this health anxiety is a real bugger. Thank god for my wonderful husband, he deals with me and all of this peri (I guess) stuff so well, he knows when to be tender and when to tell me to shake it off.
I guess I'll have a cup of calming tea and read Claire Weekes...again!!!!!!!

Well to add to this...today I had a dr. appt. so I took an Ativan before going thinking this would help with the white coat syndrome and decrease my blood pressure. Well my bp was high about 150/88 when taken by the nurse. I took my own bp machine to the office and when I took my bp it was about 155/113. When I saw this I took my second bp pill of the day. About thirty minutes later I left the dr. office and sat in the car for a moment and took my bp again and it was more in the normal range.

What can I do to stop the anxiety that I feel when I go to the dr.? I really like my dr., nurses, and office manager. They are all so compassionate and knowledgeable. I've tried the deep breathing. Any suggestions?

This is an awful time of life, isn't it? Just when you feel better, you get slammed again. I never worried to this degree about my health until this all hit two years ago. It seems constant. The complaint of the week, yes the bleeding, the tiredness, sweats at night and headache from allergies. I feel like a walking hypochondriac.

I dont' know what to say about he doctors, even when I take someone else, I feel anxious. I really developed a white coat phobia. I hope you feel better.

If you've been checked out medically, just say "bring it on" and you'll be surprised how fast anxiety will disappear! The tingling in your face is probably from hyper ventilating when most of the time you don't even realize you're not breathing normally (anxiety reaction). In addition, don't forget that anxiety floats around on a subconscious level and surfaces into our conscience. Panic attacks are a relief valves for anxiety in a sense. Better days ahead, but don't let anxiety back you into a corner.

R2

Thanks for the reply. I too believe it is from just breathing wrong, plus just plain old nervousness for no reason in this peri thing. I agree that the faster you realize what is happening and don't apply the secondary fear, you magically feel better in no time!!!

I am rereading some of the resources I had for getting through this anxiety stuff before and it is good to review because sometimes we forget.......

Thanks again, better days ahead I like that....staying positive.

It is WAY too easy to forget our breathing when the anxiety creeps in. And that darn anxiety can do a number on our bodies and our minds. It is just horrible. I am pleased to report that I never get anxiety without a reason anymore. And I can usually control it now, if it is there for a reason. I can usually tell I am not breathing properly because my shoulders are up by my ears!! I have to consciously push them back down and take some slow deep breaths and force myself to relax those shoulders. Once the shoulders are less tense, it is time to concentrate on the rib cage. If you ever get that...can't get a whole breath feeling...it is probably because your muscles are so tense around your ribs that you really CAN'T get a deep enough breath.

It takes practice and should be practiced while you are feeling good, so you know what you are doing. During anxiety and panic attacks is not the time to try and learn!!!

I had to chime in here .... this health anxiety is to much! I know exactly what you're talking about. I go from one fear to the next...all the time! Just when you think you're getting past ONE THING, something else pops up, and makes you terribly anxious now about THAT! Yes, this really IS a bad time of life, and that's a shame too, because really, at this point, we have so much to offer .... we have lived through so much, had families, dealt with so many issues in life, that by now, we really have so much life expeience to offer, and yet it's so hard to even LIVE! The anxiety about my health is the worst!
That takes the cake! Yeah, i practice the breathing thing too, and you're right, it's better to practice when you're relaxed, dont' wait till the anxiety hits!

HUGS to all of you!!! Sincerely, MyDarling

If I could have 2 wishes in peri it would be to get rid of the health anxiety first and foremost then the general anxiety and then I'm sure I could cope with all the other stuff a lot better cos my mind wouldn't get carried away with the health anxiety what if's..... For me if there is no health anxiety then there would be no anxiety no anxiety at all then no down feelings of frustration and utter depletion

Rox

Dear'My Faith'

Sorry to hear you are dealing with such Anxiety,very common during this stage of life.I am on ADs but you really need to talk with a Psychiatrist about this.The question always remains "What comes first the Anxiety or the Depression it leads to .ADs take a while to kick in and often Zanax will be added as Anxiety will be hightened even more at the beginning.

The good news is that you can always taper slowly off the ADs when you feel the time is right,under supervision of course.Also I now rarely need Zanax which is very good news.

Some ladies use breathing exercises to calm down.I have also got good results from the practise of Yoga.Behavioural Therapy is also another idea that might help..

I still spot occassionally and am 57!All Gyno.checks are clear so try to ignore it as much as possible and spend a fortune on Panty Liners!

Stay strong.Consider all your options and keep us posted

Blessings
Elizabeth

And cute 'sox
If I could have just one wish!It would be that there is no such thing as Menopause.We just 'Pause' and move on


Blessings
Elizabeth May our wishes come true

Boy, I sound like everyone else. What is with the freakin health anxieties? That is the worst part. I think I am going to breakdown and end up taking the Lexapro. It is only 10mg, which my dr says is a low dose. I think I will start out with 5mg every other day for a week, then every day for two weeks until I get up to the full 10mg. I am driving my poor husband nuts. Although I have to admit, the past 3 days I have felt great. Don't know why??? Weird, weird, weird!! Right now I do half of a .25mg Xanax. It helps a little. I am a woos with drugs, so for me, that half helps!! Any other suggestions besides exercise? What I really would love to hear are some postives on the Lexapro cause I am really 'on the fence' about taking it, but then again and I am so sick and tired of feeling like ths!! How bout it? Anyone with positiive experience on the Lexapro??? Thanks gals!

Hi there,
I have tried various AD's several years ago when my panic attacks and anxiety were the highest ever...although right now they're starting to reach this level again. I had an okay experience with Wellbutrin in the beginning, but it ended up increasing my anxiety and I didn't have any Xanax at the time to counter the effect. I did lose weight with wellbutrin. I had a positive experience with Zoloft but I gained too much weight so I opted to come off. I tried Lexapro, but honestly, I couldn't make it through the first week due to the increased anxiety...my dr. explained that it had that effect on some people but I just couldn't wait it out, I was crying constantly and experiencing more panic. I think each person reacts differently to these drugs, I know many people who tolerate Lexapro very well. It certainly doesn't hurt to try, anything that can make a difference is worth it.

I too am experiencing a very bad time with health anxiety and overall anxiety. Sometimes I just don't know how I'm going to make it hour by hour. I'm looking for a psychiatrist now, my pcp wants me to get counseling, plus I need the medication again.

I hope that you and everyone else feels better soon,
Tracey