menapause with anxiety (Prozac, hysterectomy, hot flashes, daily basis)

[IMJAYMI]

i have been in full menapause for several years-i have handled the hot flashes with humor-i even ran into a walkin deep freezer (30 below) to cool off! last summer i started have anxiety attacks-WOW-horrible things-saw my doc who noticed the monthly cycle as 1 week per month so decided it was probably related to menapause-i take estrogen only (had hysterectomy in 2000) and hadn't been taking it 'cause i felt so good. Oops! Satarted back on it. i have been also treated for a head injury, i received in 1990, over the years which makes things a little more complicated. So, i am already on an depression meds (which have worked great) My doc tried to change these meds to include meds that help with anxiety-hello? what happened to the past year? it's a fog. i went to by ob/gyn who upped my hormone therapy (still a low dose) and now am waiting to see if it helps any-in the meantime i am still having anxiety attacks, last night was bad! Any suggestions out there? i hate this!

[Marylandkitten]

My heart goes out to you. Fortunately there are simple technics that you can adhere to, to make this process a little more bearable. Below is some reading on a few sites that I found interesting on your topic specificly.
While a lot of places will recommend medication, for hormone imbalance, i would believe you and your doctor alone are to be the judge of that - so keep these techniques in mind the next time one of them "hits".

Best of luck and God bless.

Mentality is Key

When a panic attack begins it is best to not, well, panic. It may sound like an odd statement, but increased instability during an attack can just heighten the effect of the attack. One of the most important things a panic attack sufferer can remember is that the reason for the attack is all in their head. Once the reason for panicking disappears, so to will the bodys reason for maintaining the panic response. So stopping panic attack symptoms is partly an effort in mentally training yourself to realize this important fact.

During a panic attack, besides trying not to increase the cause of the panic, it is best that a person learns to properly relax their body. Breathing techniques usually learned through cognitive behavioral therapy, can be a huge help to any victim of panic attacks. By calming your body and easing your breathing, the effect of the chemical imbalance being caused by the body can be reduced.

Tip one:
Panic attacks are all in your head. The reason why you have these attacks is probably unknown. One thing most doctors will agree on is that panic attacks are all in the victims head. Whether this is caused by a chemical imbalance, or not, the trigger for an attack has to come from the sufferer. So tip one is to remember that these attacks are all mental. Once you learn this step, and learn to believe it, then you will be well on your way to dealing with your panic.

Tip Two:
The second best tip this panic attack self help guide can tell you are that panic attacks often tend to be caused by certain lifestyles and certain personalities. People who tend to worry too much or dump too many stresses onto their own shoulders, also tend to be those most likely to sufferer from chronic panic attacks. So tip two is to examine your lifestyle; how are you living at the moment? Could your life be less stressful, and if so what is the main source of that stress?

Tip Three:
The third tip would have to be learning what exactly happens during a panic attack. Even with all the preventative medicine in the world, most panic attack sufferers will experience attacks from time to time. They will most likely not be that serious, but they will happen. So what occurs during a panic attack? When a person panics, the body is essentially triggering a fight or flight response to the source of the attack. In most cases this drastic reaction is not needed and has no outlet once it is started. Tip three is to learn about this mechanism, and the best ways a person can counter it on their own.

[MotleyCrew]

I am tired. I did manage to get through the hot flashes, but I also have very, very dark periods of depression. Sometimes it it scary. I have managed not to take any hormone replacement and I do not want anti depressants either. I hope it just goes away soon.

[Idaho]

Oh the joys of womanhood! Our mothers and grandmothers did this without ANY support . . . I shudder at the very thought of it!

[lastra]

I, myself, used to suffer from horrible anxiety attacks. My psychiatrist gave me Prozac, and I have to tell that I was taking Prozac for about a year, and combined with counseling, I am "attack-free" now. The thing that used to "**** me off" is that everything was so depressing at the time for me. I thought that I'll never be "normal" again...But, if you're determined, you can do it!!!Those are my suggestions when it comes to anxiety attacks. Go to the doctor, ask him which medication would he prescribe you, but tell him which hormonal medications are you using, because some medications ( I don't know about hormonal ) can interfere with anxiety medications...

[burrell]

Originally Posted by IMJAYMI

i have been in full menapause for several years-i have handled the hot flashes with humor-i even ran into a walkin deep freezer (30 below) to cool off! last summer i started have anxiety attacks-WOW-horrible things-saw my doc who noticed the monthly cycle as 1 week per month so decided it was probably related to menapause-i take estrogen only (had hysterectomy in 2000) and hadn't been taking it 'cause i felt so good. Oops! Satarted back on it. i have been also treated for a head injury, i received in 1990, over the years which makes things a little more complicated. So, i am already on an depression meds (which have worked great) My doc tried to change these meds to include meds that help with anxiety-hello? what happened to the past year? it's a fog. i went to by ob/gyn who upped my hormone therapy (still a low dose) and now am waiting to see if it helps any-in the meantime i am still having anxiety attacks, last night was bad! Any suggestions out there? i hate this!

Hi hun,

I know exactly what you are going through, I’m typing you this message in the buff, due to my hot flashes I often walk round the house naked lol. I too have in the past suffered with anxiety attacks that were pretty dreadful and very frightening, I have been on medication from my gynecologist which have suppressed the anxiety attacks to nil I am now only taking them every other day as I would like to wean myself off them even though I have been reassured by my doctor that they are not addictive. I am 48yrs old and have been going through the menopause for the last 3yrs I was initially on HRT but they did nothing to help other than stop the hot flashes which are a nuisance but I can live with these but not the panic attacks. The medication I have been prescribed (Effexor XR) is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNR) used to treat depression, generalized or social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor, I don’t know what I would have done with out them as I was having several panic attacks on a daily basis before I started on these.
Hope you get yourself sorted soon and find something that works well for you.

[VillageLife]

Try meditation,I practice Transcendental Mediation,have been practicing since 1985.20 min will cool you down,when you touch yourself,you will feel your arms & legs real cool,it's also very calming,helps concentration.

[jonigee]

Hi, this is my first post. I'm 54 years old and went through menopause 2 years ago.
I have been experiencing terrible menopause symptoms for about 5 mos. I cannot take hormones due to hep c (bad for liver) or I would be on them! Doc changed me from 60 mg.Prozac (on it 10 yrs.) to 50 mg. Zoloft. It helped the hot flashes within 10 days, but I've increased to 75 mg. as some flushes came back and for depression. I have panic attacks. Not bad ones, just "sighing respirations". I'm unaware of any phobias so it's got to be anxiety. When I concentrate on breathing, it gets worse. Self hypnosis helps me along with trying to keep occupied. Unable to sleep without 2 Lunesta. Only get 5 hours, but it's better than nothing!
My symptoms could also be due to withdrawal from meds. I detoxed myself from 120 mg. oxycodone and 1 mg. xanax/day. Now taking lyrica for the nerve pain. It's been 3 months now, but I think that's part of my anxiety.
Does anybody have any similar condition or symptoms?

[KarlaT2]

Burrell-
Did you have any negative side effects with the Effexor? My doctor prescribed that for me several months ago, but I have such a fear of taking anti-depressant medications I haven't started it yet. Yes, a panic attack at the thought of taking the anti-anxiety medication-how's that for irony? LOL. Anyone else have positive experiences with anti-depressants? I see so many horror stories it's not helping. Thanks!

[Ruralgalnebraska]

I used to be on all kinds of meds for depression and it only made me worse and in the need for even more meds. I got off them all.
Since starting menopause I discovered natural progesterone cream and flax oil. (2T twice a day) I don't have the problem as much with depression/anxiety and all the rest that goes along with it.
But can I ever relate to what you've all shared! I also notice that when I'm eating better and less sugar and junk/ exercise and sleep set times I do much better.
Hope this helps someone!
God bless!
Jean