Hi. I am new here and am glad I have found this site. As i thought I was going insane. Never had anxiety till last year when I was 34. It started out of the blue. And just after I stopped breast feeding my son. I hadnt had a period for a year since he was born and as soon as my cycles started off again I felt the 1st panic attack kick in. It shook me up so bad as I never ever knew what anxiety and panic were. I went to see my gyn who did a few blood tests and said my FSH levels were a bit on the high side (15) and that I could be heading for early meno. Since then its been 15 months now, I have lived with anxiety and found a lot of ways to deal with my attacks and refrained from AD's. I have overcome the depression that I think came from the anxiety, but still feel really irritable some days and anxious too. The anxiety comes on for no reason just out of the blue. Anyway my question to anyone out there is 35 too young to exhibit signs of Peri or am I am suffering from an anxiety disorder not realted to my hormones?

Dear Mary Poppins,

I wanted to write as I know how important it is to hear that you are normal and that most likely it is your hormones. I had a similar experience when I was nearly 41 and suddenly stopped the birth control pills I was on for 20 years. Fatigue and heart palpitations hit within a month or two of stopping. I had no idea what was wrong with me - had no idea what this thing they kept calling anxiety was. I have been playing with solutions for three years now, trying to get my body to balance again. It has taken a lot of encouragement from the women of Power Surge but I do now sincerely feel that hormones can cause anxiety.

Each of us is different and there are many options out there - read everything you can on this website - it will help you so much.

I wish you lots of success in finding something that will ease your anxiety throught the hormonal rollercoaster.

Take Care,
Boone

Mary,

There have been other recent posts here from women in their 30's who are going through what you are. It's not unheard of for women to go through early menopause.

Given that it came on about the time you stopped nursing, it's also possible that you're simply in the process of becoming re-balanced after not having period for awhile. (This happened to me when I stopped nursing my daughter, and began having panic attacks - it took 2 years to get back on my feet.)

It sounds like you have a good doctor. It's worthwhile just to keep him informed of what's going on.

I feel for you, having a small child to tend while feeling this way. Do you have anyone who can help you get some time for yourself? It's important to take things gently while handling these feelings.

Hormones can certainly wreak havoc with our lives. It sure sounds like your anxiety is hormonally-driven.

Hang in there, Mary.

Hello there Mary...
Anxiety and Panic is one of the symptoms of peri.meno and there are some woman who start peri-meno. in their 30's. My first major panic/anxiety attack was when I was 34 yoa and went to the ER thinking something was wrong with me - racing heart brought on total panic and anxiety *yikes* that was scary. Of course, they put me on a heart monitor and everything was ok. Power Surge board messages/threads will help you immensely. Dearest was so wise, wonderful and helpful to open this web.

And Mary - I'm happy to hear that your Dr. is acknowleging that you could be going thru an early meno...thank goodness...so many Dr.'s act like your crazy and say it can't happen in their 30's..

Blessings,
Stacy

Hi Mary,
I was 32 and was changing my daughter's clothes when it hit me.. my first hot flash, then the anxiety and irritability. I had no idea what it is was..the dang doctor put me on antidepressants. My advice? You are very smart to stear clear of them. There are natural alternatives. My "depression" came from the anxiety, not the other way around. I'm 44 now and have had another baby since then at age 36. You may not be heading for "early" menopause. I haven't hit menopause and my symptoms started 13 years ago. It could just be the beginning of a long peri-menopausal state, like mine. Yippee eh?
You have one thing in your favor that I didn't have. I didn't know what was wrong with me until very recently. No doctor ever said that it was hormonal. I mentioned it a few times and got strange looks and told "you're tooo young." After reading the symptoms and looking back..I'm absolutley postitive that is what it has always been. That lessened my anxiety. Thank you Dearest!!! insane

Dear Insane,

Please tell us how you dealt with anxiety/depression without ADs. I am at this point now in this peri mess and have a hard time with AD side effects - but when the anxiety and blue mood are so persistent - what can you do to keep your life going!???


Boone

Hi Boone,
I didn't deal with anx/dep at first without them. I was on zoloft and then celexa. I hated the side effects of both of them. The withdrawl from celexa was particularly hard..(brain zaps and other things..) I was freaked.
For me, anxiety CAUSES my depression. I think it's true for most people. I take small amounts of xanax when needed. I was able to considerably lower the xanax since I began taking Omega3 (1-2 per day 1000mg each) It helps with a lot of problems. ie: heart palps, arthritis, muscle spasms, memory, depression, inflammation etc... I get the toxin free ones from Iceland Health. I also take 1000mg of calcium with 500mg of magnesium daily. I have greatly improved!
I have always had problems with getting to sleep at night. I use tart cherry juice. It contains natural melatonin and helps me to fall asleep. It's also packed with tons of antioxidents and is also great to reduce inflammation too. Inflammation causes all sorts of problems. I take the tart cherry juice for the melatonin though. It tastes like cherry pie..It's concentrated..so you just put a tbsp or 2 into water and drink before bed. I get that online too.
Now....if I could just get this cycle to shorten.. I bleed beginning at ovulation (spotting) up until my period comes which is heavy now. This stinks. I have to find something to balance out this problem. Have you ever tried vitex?

Don't get me wrong please..I am sure that AD's are good for some people. I am just opposed to doctors giving them out for anxiety.. They seem to give out antidepressants for everything. They make me VERY hyper. There are natural AD's though...like St' John's wort. It works well but sadly, for me...it makes me hyper like the rest.
You know how it feels when someone comes up from behind and scares you? That's how I always felt. It was exhausting both mentally and physically and sent me into depression because I was so on edge.. I couldn't even think straight. Once I got the anxiety under control, the depression left. I still have "blue" days now and then but nothing too bad. It lifts. The anxiety is the killer.
Nice to meet ya Boone.


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Insane,

I agree with just about every word that you said. I too think that my "depression" like symptoms are caused by anxiety. Thanks for all the information on supplements. I think I will try some of them!

It is amazing how much we all sound alike!

One of my most persistent and annoying symptoms beside anxiety is tiredness!!!! That is the reason I wanted to try ADs - but like you they just made my anxiety worse.

I have not tried Vitex. I am on natural HRT - but the only thing it really helped was the hot flashes and vaginal dryness. The rest of the insanity, including short cycles and spotting at the beginning is still there

My project right now is to work harder at keeping a positive attitude until this is over. I kind of got out of control with the frustration factor over not being able to feel normal. These wonderful women on Power Surge have finally convinced me that I just have to accept this until its over.

Take Care and thanks for sharing your experience.
Boone

Hey Boone,
I highly recommend trying the omega3. You'll feel clearer headed the very next day. It boosts energy AND helps you sleep better. cool, eh? What else does that? I don't know of anything. You'll see a difference in your eyes too..if they are puffy, they won't be after taking it for about a week. I have hardly any muscle tension anymore either. I can't say enough about it. If you decide to try it, make sure you get one that you are sure is toxin free. I gave it to my husband who couldn't believe how much it cleared his mind. I didn't say anything about that to him ahead of time. That proved to me that I wasn't having some placebo effect.
I'm sick of bleeding too much. It's ridiculous. I going to give the vitex a shot. I know it may take up to 6 mos to work but hey, it beats nothing. If it works, I'll let you know. I'm sure that I have had a hormonal imbalance most of my life. Vitex is supposed to help with that. Time will tell, I guess.
Good to talk to you too. Take care. insane

Thanks Insane,

My doc recommended Omega 3 last week - so I am on my way to get some afterwork. I hope it helps me too!

Boone

wow....you have some doctor! i wish i knew him. My docs just wanna shove AD's down my throat. Make sure it's toxin free!!!! That's very important because omega3 is from fish which are very polluted these days. You don't want to solve one problem but add another. If you can't find it at the store you can order it online. Take 1000 mg a day to start and you can go up if you want to. I take 1 or 2..it depends on my cycle and how I feel. You go girl!


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I was lucky enough to find a good doc - but even with that he has not been able to cure my peri woes!!!! I am still trying to solve this revolving door of anxiety, cry urge and tiredness!!!

I started the Omega 3 last night - my husband is taking it too!

I am working on my attitude - positive thoughts - positive thoughts - sometimes hard to do when you feel hormotional!!!!!

Hugs.
Boone

MP,

Don't let anyone tell you that you are too young for Peri. I am 35 going on 36, and my hormones are definately telling me that things are changing. I too started feeling some symptoms early in my 30's. It's very real.

Best thing is to find a good doc, that actually "gets it" about Peri and meno.

Hang in there.

From a fellow young-un...

Michelle K

Hi! Just started using the Omega 3 about 5 days ago, as Insane recommended. I don't know if it is just power of suggestion or if it's really working, but I DO feel better! I am sleeping better, and have a little more energy, which is helping my mood somewhat. I am even having a little less hot flashes, but that part might be due to the Revival I started taking. Anyway, thanks Insane. Hoping everyone gets the relief they are after. Tess