I also feel like I am loosing the plot here. The anxiety is just so bad and my GP wont give me anything for it. Im sorta glad Im not alone.. I know that sounds terrible , but I cant face being alone in this. Its debilitating And its all since menopause started. I personally think Ive had a nervous breakdown.. why? I dont know. Its just me in menopause and obviously other ladies who just can cope with stuff that we use to be alright at. Now I just loose it. So tired of this. If anyone has had some relief from the Anxiety.. please let us know what worked. PLEASE.

Im crying all the time too.

I have to lay down on my bed throughout the day .. just to de-stress. Also Ive taken to taking lots of codeine to smooth out my moods. Works short term if your really frazzled. Im taking 3 tablets with 8mg of codeine. NOTE: this is a short term fix only. It leads to lots of bruise due to thinning of the blood in your body. I hope we all find a cure for this awful stress, anxiety and crying spells. Blessing to us all. Ladies.

I feel the same way. Like I've had a breakdown. It is so hard to get medication for anxiety these days. I totally understand about the codeine. I have never been one to take pills or drink alcohal, but there's times my anxiety is so bad that I will almost do anything to get it to stop. I've tried antidepressants with no luck.
I am still believing that this is temporary. There is just no way I can justify living a normal life up until age 52, to break down and be unfunctional for the rest of my life. I have got to get myself back in order.

Google these three self help options:
Hope and Help for your Nerves Dr Claire Weeks
The D.A.R.E. response
I Love Panic Attacks
They have helped me. Also aromatherapy, meditation and family, friends. Look out into your surroundings. Stay out of your head. Try to catch yourself when you are checking in on your symptoms. Focus on your breath and/or google grounding exercises. Maybe a pet would help?
Check your thyroid also.

Remember this will pass. Hormones will level off.

Been reading all the responses to this post, and am so grateful for all that I have read. I feel less alone, reading about others' experiences. Empty nest syndrome has been a biggie for me too. Thank you!

How is everyone doing? Thanks for the advice SummerBlue. I did google the first two, but I haven't ordered the books yet.
I went to a support group at our local Church last night. I learned a few thInfo, and met a few people, but this morning it starts all over again. I feel like it might be a little less intense, so I'm still hoping it is going to get better without having to be on any more medication. Or spending money on Dr.'s and therapy.
Hope all is doing well..

Good afternoon. Things are about the same. Just when I have a good day I wake up in a panic. I have the appt. With new gyn. on Monday trying to stay hopeful that she will have suggestions. I have been talking with my friend alot. That does help but when I am alonE everything seems to be overwhelming. This whole process really stinks. Ijust wish it would be over.. Take care. Stay busy.

Hi ladies! I identify with everyone here. I am 50 and hormones have rocked my world, with all the symptoms you guys describe. I've been on a low dose of Paxil for 20 years for anxiety/depression but it doesn't help with this. For those of you doing bioidentical hormones, are there any risks like with conventional hormones? Can you stay on it for life? What does it cost? I'm curious about this as well.

i am new in this group. I hope someone can help me. everything started three years ago with a panic attack. then started anxiety, stress, problems to sleep, interstitial cystitis, this year in february my blood pressure started to go high. My primary doc put me on pills but the final diagnostic is reactive hypertension so only exercises. I practice yoga, breathing exercises but somedays my BP is high and i get so anxious . yesterday night i took one pill for high BP. My Gyn says its the premenospause but because i still have my period (that is completely crazy, one month is good, the next month nothing) i do not need hormones. please please i need help. i have headaches too because i have rhynitis but i am so scared to take pills because of the possible interaction . i am under paxil 5 mg for the anxiety, and go once a month to a counselor that help me a lot ,started it B12 yesterday,magnesium 200 mg but my major concern is the physical symptoms . i am so scared to feel again a panic attack when i am driving . waiting for someone to help me . thanks!

Hi hopeful48, thought I would check in here today to see how you and everyone else is doing. How was the new gyn? It's good to hear that talking with your friend is helping some.

I have good days and bad days still. Today was not so bad. I'm still afraid to go to sleep at night because I'm not sure how I will wake up. I have actually been able to sleep lately without taking anything. I still have crying spells, but I actually feel a little better once the crying stops.

This is all just craziness though. Who knew menopause could do this much damage. I thought I was done with my monthly for good, but today it showed up again along with the cramps. I am 53! I'm ready for all of this to be over.

I'm sorry I don't have a miracle cure to share with you all. All I can say is hold on tight and ride out the storm. I don't believe it will last forever, we just have to keep pushing through it.

Wishing everyone well.. Margie

I am 51 years old and 6 months into my Menopausal hell :) I strongly recommend everyone read "Screaming to Be Heard: Hormone Connections Women Suspect and Doctors Still Ignore" by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. You can buy used on Amazon. She addresses all of the horrible symptoms described in this feed. What has worked for me is the FDA approved bio identical estrogen - Vivelle Dot patch (start low - I am at .375 mg) and 10 mg Lexapro (anti depressant with minimal side effects). My quality of life is vastly improved from 6 months ago when I woke up with heart palps, massive anxiety, brain fog and internal tremors. Good luck everyone.

Hi Margie. My gyn visit went pretty much as expected. She told me that she can try and control hormones hot flashes with Prempro which I am already on. She said the patch and cream are the same as the pill I take just distributed differently. The crying spells and anxiety have to be controlled by antidepressant (Big
Surprise) She said if I already had anxiety menopause just makes it worse. No kidding...I mentioned bio hormone. She did not really want any part of that. Only thing positive about visit was she did listen to me but still same outcome. She just said try and remember this will not last forever. I am just trying to get through each day. I would still like to look into bio hormone. Hope everyone is doing well....Karen

Hi Hopeful, I noticed your last post was from a week or so ago, but I wanted to write to ask if you were feeling any better. I just joined, and also feel like I'm completely losing my mind. Just feel like crying all the time, and unable to be alone anymore. I used to be so happy just on my own...Now it's a terror. I really hope you're getting along better. You've had a lot on your plate!!! Big hugs!