Going Through the Beginnings of Menopause Symptoms

I felt a tad stressed as I neared 50, and went on a very low does of an anti-anxiety med for a short while. I just found I felt overall less stressed. I had never been on one before. I don't know if it's an anti-depressant. I believe it's for anxiety. I don't have classic anxiety - in that I don't get panic attacks or feel anxious. I just walked in and said "Hi, I feel stressed - more so than normal". So that's what we tried.

For me, I was going through a stressful period - a good friend of mine was going through a horrible illness, and I was helping with that and exhausted - physically and mentally. I went through a loss, etc. So that could be part of it.

I'm sure your grief has left you stressed. That can throw everything out of whack. To go on medication for 6 months to help you over a hump, is very common. During that time, they encourage you to meditate, exercise, yoga, take time for yourself, sleep, walk ... whatever you need to - talk to a counselor, join a support group - or just grieve .. and usually you can go back off the meds. Sometimes you feel better on them in low doses.

I don't know if what I was experiencing was menopausal symptoms - sometimes you do feel anxious as you hit menopause/depressed. Taking time for myself and focussing on my needs was good for me, either way. I think I started being peri-menopausal in my 40's.

I started with peri menopause in my 40s.
It's a period of gradual less regularity with periods.
I was pretty sure I was in it the first hot flash I had - my ob/gyn confirmed it.
It took about 10 or so years before my periods stopped completely - I was 51 and was so happy to have it over and done with - I celebrated it!
Estroven helped me get over the worst of the hot flashes and night sweats.
I took it for a few years and then didn't need it anymore.

Talk with your doctor about what you are feeling and see what they recommend.
HRT for a short time (less than 10 years) is not a big risk for breast cancer.
I think maybe your menopause/depression/anxiety/grief are all snowballing for you and I'm not really sure how an antidepressant would effect all you've got going on.
Your doctor can help you take a look at your overall diet/nutrition and exercise needs and maybe some short term meds might help you through it.
Sometimes some sunshine and a good yoga class can help a lot too.
Think about joining a grief support group.
Hope you feel better soon!

Good job addressing your physical health issues with your doctor. Now maybe it’s time to address your mental health issues with a mental health professional. It doesn’t sound like your symptoms are just from menopause but from other stressors in your life.

It’s best to take mental health medication with the support of a mental health professional.

Hope you feel better soon.

i sure hope you are discussing this with an actual medical doctor with a degree and taking all advice from strangers on the internet with huge grains of salt.

there are all sorts of things that *might* help. black cohosh. raspberry leaf. cannabis. mint tea. st john's wort. and yeah, anti-depressants if depression is actually diagnosed.

khairete
S.

Hi G.,

So very sorry for the loss of your mother. :(

I am also going through menopausal symptoms. Hot flashes galore! Unfortunately, my period is showing up on the same exact date each month. UGH! I can't wait for that to end!

I have discovered that essential oils are extremely helpful for my hot flashes, and I know they have helped many people with depression and anxiety. You just need to make sure you are using pure essential oils, not synthetically made essential oils.

If you are interested in learning more, I am happy to help. Just message me and we can chat.

I hope you get some relief from your symptoms, and I hope it helps to know that you are not alone. :)

Depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings are potential issues during perimenopause. Please do talk to your doctor about your symptoms to determine if a medication would be helpful.

My mother took an anti-anxiety medication for 12-18 months until things stabilized. What you need and how long will depend on your specifics.