
Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I can honestly say that I did have anxiety growing up but nothing that left me dysfunctional. I used to call them my "adrenaline rushes" and I would have one very rarely.
Then menopause struck at the age of 40. The anxiety and panic attacks were OUT THE ROOF! Doctors didn't believe it was menopause as they said I was too young. To pacify me, they did the bloodwork but the FSH levels can be a moving target if you are peri-menopausal. They came back normal. But I knew better........... I knew my body was going thru changes that could only be explained by hormones related to menopause. My doctor sent me to a pdoc. Pdoc said I was bipolar. What??? I just wake up one morning and I am BIPOLAR? This was based on my mood swings in addition to the anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia. Anxiety brings on it's own type of hot flashes, but then had menopause hot flashes on top of it and I lived in HELL for two years until I asked for ANOTHER FSH blood test. Doctor called me with the results and was stunned. Most women who have completed menopause, their highest FSH level is 70-80............. mine was 160!!!!
I am DONE with menopause. Finished. But the panic disorder and anxiety remain the same. I never left the house for 2 years.......... but now I do get out, but I still suffer from agoraphobia to a certain degree. There are only certain places that I will go. I've given up a lot because of it.
And yes I was offered HRT........... but refused it. With all the new studies now saying it can cause heart disease, etc., I'd rather deal with this "chemical imbalance" and continue the fight as I know THAT won't kill me. For some, HRT can help with the anxiety.
And life.............. day by day............ goes on............