Menopause Support Group
Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.
Hi Ladies,
I have found this peri-menopause chapter to be rather mysterious and scarey. I am 48 years old and experiencing some changes in my period. Initially I was bothered by insomnia that made me feel like I could hand plow a field at 3am and now it feels like panic has ushered in. I get a racing heart beat that puts my mind in an anxious state and I find myself obsessing about any potentially stressful topic. Both symptoms are new in this chapter.(I have had anxiety but not the heart racing). I also get depressed for about 2.5 weeks out of the month. When I feel good, it's like I black out the depression because I feel so normal and then, the dark storm comes. I am just realizing this pattern so it makes things less scarey and unpredictable. I would love to hear others experience though.
I do walk everyday and eat well, have good supports and have a solid therapist. My doctor won't test my hormone levels so I am contemplating seeing someone else.
I have found this peri-menopause chapter to be rather mysterious and scarey. I am 48 years old and experiencing some changes in my period. Initially I was bothered by insomnia that made me feel like I could hand plow a field at 3am and now it feels like panic has ushered in. I get a racing heart beat that puts my mind in an anxious state and I find myself obsessing about any potentially stressful topic. Both symptoms are new in this chapter.(I have had anxiety but not the heart racing). I also get depressed for about 2.5 weeks out of the month. When I feel good, it's like I black out the depression because I feel so normal and then, the dark storm comes. I am just realizing this pattern so it makes things less scarey and unpredictable. I would love to hear others experience though.
I do walk everyday and eat well, have good supports and have a solid therapist. My doctor won't test my hormone levels so I am contemplating seeing someone else.
I don't have time to read the other comments, so I may be repeating things that were already said.
I am 47 and experiencing the same things. A couple of months ago, I went through a period of one month or so where I was having terrible hot flashes. I also had no period for about three months. The hot flashes were all consuming and were making my life miserable. On top of that, I was so moody and was experiencing, as you noted, extreme anxiety. I was falling apart. I am a lot better now but live in fear of it returning.
There were only two things that I did. First, I started taking Black Cohosh, which is over the counter. I was told it wold stop the hot flashes, and it did. The other thing I did was just start some relaxation things. I also started some relaxation things, like deep breathing and trying not to think past the day that I was in...sometimes the moment that I was in. I started eating three meals a day, even if I wasn't hungry and attempted to go to bed a a reasonable time each night. I don't know which of these things, if any, did it, but my period returned, and my hormones fell back into a normal rhythm. It was like cool water on a hot day. Now, I have skipped a couple of months with my period again, but the hot flashes have not returned. I am not taking the black cohosh now and won't unless the hot flashes return. I homeschool and have been stressing about getting things prepared and ready for the next school year, which we started yesterday, so I think that has something to do with my periods skipping again. I am hoping they return again.
So, I hope this helps in some way and that you are feeling better soon. Hopefully, you already are.
Sherri
I wanted to say that I read your post and my heart goes out to you. I wanted to say one thing in particular: When we feel anxious or depressed it impacts the way we see everything including how people feel about us. We feel so bad, and sometimes we feel bad about ourselves, and so we project that everyone is feeling the same. I don't know if that applies to you at all but thought I should share. Love is action--so please give yourselves lots of loving care whether that's taking a nice bath or reaching out to women. Keep the Faith! This too shall pass.