This may sound dumb to ask but someone told me anxiety is amental illness, suffering from it with Meno thatgot me upset. I questioned that person as most people do recover from anxiety.Does anyone know for sure I searched the web and many say no while other sites don,t give a direct answer. Thanks

Don't get upset by that kind of stupidness. Just because the psych DSMV book classifies "everything" doesn't mean they are entirely accurate nor do things have to be treated with an AD or anti anxiety med. I'm 47 now and in my late 30's suffered from bouts of anxiety. I just dismissed it to a busy lifestyle etc.. Now having a comprehensive view of peri and meno and all that it potentially entails I am convinced that lots of things are being "classified" and "quantified" - it just depends upon the discipline looking at you. ie - go to a shrink and you'll hear anxiety, depression. endocriniologist will classify it as related to thryoid. Infertility ob/gyn will classify it as side effect of the hormones used for treatment, along with situationally driven anx/depression.

Unfortuantely, we still have a long way to go before mainstream medicine, and especially most gyns) fully acknowledge the misery that is part of peri and meno. They still teach in med school that ovaries are reproduction only. sheez. Another example: I went to a vascular doc for my suddenly collapsed veins in feet. Doc took a thorough intake, did blood labs, exam and concluded (without a doubt) that it happened to sudden shut down of ovarian function.

My long winded point is that you ask a great question and its a complex (yet simple answer). In regard to recovering from anxiety. I did not medicate, merely increased my exercise routine, spent a few sessions with a therapist (venting felt good but.....sort of a waste of time for me.) Eventually things settled down. Along the way I realized it was not situationally driven anxiety nor was I crazy. At one point the therapist had tried telling me I had PTSD and that was why I had anxiety. I told her there was no trauma to have driven anything of this type of anxiety. Also told her I understood her need to "label" it inorder for insurance to pay her. lol

Hang in there. Don't let the fools of the world know your business or get you down. Peri will throw you enough to handle. Big hugs to you.....my very normal - not crazy Pos sister. Regards, JZZ


In my peri/meno research I've also come across some interesting info that has said women (midlife) were committed in the past to insane asylums, some still continue to get misdiagnosed "labeled" as bipolar or schizo or depressed - when in fact they are not. Even found an interesting point on how admissions to inpatient setting for attempted suicides by females coincided with the week before periods. Also found info on how a trial of hormones can alleviate mild to moderate depression. Anyway, info is available but answers will depend upon the discipline looking into the research and results - And that will impact how you get "labeled" and if an Ad, anti anx, or Hrt will be handed to you.

My reply is a little more simplistic. I suffered from anxiety in my early 20's. There was some stuff going on in my life at the time that triggered it, I'm sure. I went to some counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and at that time did not do any medication. I got past it and was fine for many many years. Maybe a little blip here or there that I was able to push through, because I knew I could. Interestingly, that therapist, so many years ago said that it may come back at menopause. Of course that seemed like a million years away at that time! But... too bad... he was right. My anxiety is pretty bad right now and am willing to try the drugs this time, because I hate these feeling. BUT, I am SURE I will get past it again and feel like myself. You are not DOOMED to have this forever. Do what you need to to get through it. Just because it is classified as a mental illness does not mean that you are "mentally ill". WE WILL GET BETTER!

Thanks feeling pretty bad today, crying feel out of it just not right I hope the Elavil isn,t causing this!!!

I ask my last therapist if anxiety was a mental illness and she said it was not! it can be a learn behavior or trauma from your childhood, then when you suffer a illness or stressful event in your life it rears it ugly head!

MENOPAUSE!!!!!

Plus doing peri the adrenal glands kick in to make estrogen or if there is to much estrogen it exhausted the adrenal glands.
it's pretty much a no win situation right now!
If you can ride it out things will settle down!
Promise!
Hugs!

little lil>> go ahead and CRY!
Have you read susan weed book?
She has a great chapter on crying> depression etc!

I am so sorry to hear you are having a blue day... don't you hate that feeling? As to the "mental illness" label, this may sound funny but I am kinda beyond caring. I do think that the hell that we are feeling should be given serious labels and consideration... but it sounds like there is something about that label which really bothers you. You may have some deep seated ideas about what mental illness is or "means" that I don't have. When I am really anxious, I really do feel mentally ill but that doesn't bother me (the label I mean; the anxiety bothers me plenty!). I happen to think almost everybody is "mentally ill" to some degree since we are human beings and not robots. Every one of us has some glitches mentally. Despite my panic disorder/anxiety/hypochondriac stuff (which I am ready to call "mental illness") I am actually no more crazy than most people I know or have heard of (celebrities anyone?). Does this make sense at all?

Well, my real message to you is -- if you are crazy then you are in really great company because there are SO MANY of us! Lots of hugs and support to you sister!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Yes the label Mentally ill is a big anxiety for me though I know I,m not just the word Mentally Ill can set me off. I don,t know why but it does under the forum Wha triggers your anxiety many women wrote they get triggered by that also. Crazy hormones!!!!