severe panic and anxiety at night

[susie girl]

Hello everyone! I am going through perimenopause and I'm having a tough time with anxiety. I have always been a very anxious person but with my changing hormones it is worse than ever. Last night I woke up around 2 am in a panic attack. Not so much of the physical symptoms, but more of a fearful feeling, like I was losing control or going crazy. I could not even think straight and my mind was racing with uncontrollable thoughts,( some quite disturbing like I might lose control and hurt someone) which made me even more anxious. After finally calming myself down, I was not able to fall asleep because my head was racing with thoughts that did not even make sense. I was even afraid I might do something in my sleep and not remember. I consider myself to be a very sensitive and caring person and do not like feeling like this. Has anyone else had this type of anxiety during perimenopause?

[Hopefully]

Susie I replied to your other post, but I just had to let you know that I've been there. Please see your ob/gyn or an endocrinologist if you haven't already. Help is available, you are not alone, you are not going crazy, there is a physical reason for these symptoms and you will get well. I'm once again speaking from my own experience .

Here's a great big {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} to help you through.

[susie girl]

Hopefully, Thank you so much for your kind and supporting words. It really helps to know there are other people out there who understand how I feel. I have always been a very caring and outgoing person but somedays I get so caught up in my anxiety and these disturbing thoughts that I find it hard to get through the day. Everyone thinks I am the perfect wife and mother and so I have a hard time telling people about my problems. I have become an expert at putting on a happy face and pretending there is nothing wrong. What type of help is there for anxiety and ocd that you know of ? thanks again!

[Guest]

When women tell me they're 'doing fine' with menopause, i.e. no hot flashes, I always ask them about their mood and their anxiety level. And I often find that they are actually not so fine, but minimizing their anxiety levels and mood changes.

The brain is full of receptors for estrogen, and falling levels has profound effects on function. Perimenopause is a very common time for the onset of panic attacks. Persistent disturbing thoughts are probably not OCD (unless you've been diagnosed as having that previously) but rather part of the mood disturbance.

There is definitely help. You may well benefit from the use of antidepressants and/or estrogen, not necessarily for the rest of your life (that is an entirely different discussion), but for right now. There is nothing surprising about your troubles, and, as you've heard, you are definitely not alone. You should ask your doctor about seeing a specialist in menopause and mood.

What a lot of energy you're putting into maintaining. You must be exhausted. Let us know how you're doing, and don't take 'it's just menopause' as an answer.

Best wishes,
Judy

[drjudy]

I somehow lost my log in when I checked my messages. The above post is from me.

Judy