Question for women with anxiety

Yep. For me it was at least a factor.

I'm menopausal right now. Well actually post. 3+ years.....

But back then, sure. When my hormones were having a hay day, my anxiety tagged along for the ride. My body was super-sensitive to those internal changes. I was already anxious and on high-alert,...the hormones just aggravated the whole system.

Not too comforting, but,...you're not alone!



M.

This is a topic that comes up often by many of our female members. 

From what I have read, up to 85 percent of women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The hormones that govern your menstrual cycle affect both your body and mind, and can lead to mood-related, PMS symptoms like anxiety and even depression.

You are not alone for sure. 

To manage stress and diminish anxiety during your period:

• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Be sure to get enough sleep; seven to eight hours a night is optimal for most people.
• Minimize your alcohol and caffeine intake.
• Avoid tobacco.
• Spend time relaxing with friends and family.
• Express your thoughts and emotions by writing in a journal.
• Consider meditation and deep breathing exercises.

This are many of the same things you would do for anxiety but you may want to be diligent about sticking to the list during PMS.

Thinking of you,

Kitt

 

Hi there, just crossing over, since although mine isn't strickly anxiety, it's just been my pmt time last week, so it's fresh in my mind, generally my emotions are abit irratic coming up to my time. This time the day before I felt really tired, dont know why that is?

I tend to be a bit negatively moody, angry and upset sometimes before, depending what else is going on I guess or maybe not.

Had an annoyance about something, plus got a little telling to do something or something, felt bad and cried openly, someone said, its not like me...I kind of thought it must be nearly that time and it was...I don't know exactly how I could have calmed myself maybe by not throwing my whole emotion into it, maybe I should have taken a walk to a different area or done one of the more physical tasks for a bit, but then I would have still had to have worked on getting back in control of my emotions, then again though maybe what happened wasn't such a bad thing.

Post Edited (HappyBean) : 2/9/2014 4:43:22 PM (GMT-7)

Hey, how about a little diversity here! I have waited such a long
time to say that.
I once fired a gyn for telling me and wife that hormones didn't
cause that, didn't like him anyway.

You might not realize it but we suffer with pms toooooooo!

Love Larry ***

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a
condition in which a woman has severe depression
symptoms, irritability, and tension before
menstruation. The symptoms of PMDD are more
severe than those seen with premenstrual
syndrome (PMS).

PMS refers to a wide range of physical or emotional
symptoms that typically occur about 5-11 days
before a woman starts her monthly menstrual
cycle. The symptoms usually stop when, or shortly
after, her period begins.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The causes of PMS and PMDD have not been
found.

Hormone changes that occur during a woman's
menstrual cycle may play a role.

PMDD affects between 3% and 8% of women during
the years when they are having menstrual periods.

Many women with this condition have:

Anxiety

Severe depression

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Other factors that may play a role include:

Alcohol abuse

Being overweight

Drinking large amounts of caffeine

Having a mother with a history of the
disorder

Lack of exercise

Symptoms

The symptoms of PMDD are similar to those of
PMS. However, they are generally more severe and
debilitating and include a least one mood-related
symptom. Symptoms occur during the week just
before menstrual bleeding and usually improve
within a few days after the period starts.

Five or more of the following symptoms must be
present to diagnose PMDD, including one mood-related symptom:

No interest in daily activities and
relationships

Fatigue or low energy

Feeling of sadness or hopelessness,
possible suicidal thoughts

Feelings of tension or anxiety

Feeling out of control

Food cravings or binge eating

Mood swings with periods of crying

Panic attacks

Irritability or anger that affects other
people

Physical symptoms, such as bloating,
breast tenderness, headaches, and joint or
muscle pain

Problems sleeping

Trouble concentrating

Signs and tests

No physical examination or lab tests can diagnose
PMDD. A complete history, physical examination
(including a pelvic exam), and psychiatric
evaluation should be done to rule out other
conditions.

Keeping a calendar or diary of symptoms can help
women identify the most troublesome symptoms
and the times when they are likely to occur. This
information may help the health care provider
diagnose PMDD and determine the best treatment.

Treatment

A healthy lifestyle is the first step to managing
PMDD.

Eat healthy foods with more whole grains,
vegetables, fruit, and little or no salt, sugar,
alcohol, and caffeine.

Get regular aerobic exercise throughout
the month to redue the severity of PMS
symptoms.

If you have problems sleeping, try
changing your sleep habits before taking
medicines for insomnia.

Keep a diary or calendar to record:

The type of symptoms you are having

How severe they are

How long they last

Antidepressants may be helpful.

The first option is usually an antidepressant known
as a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
You can take SSRIs in the second part of your cycle
up until your period starts, or for the whole month.
Ask your doctor.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be used
either with or instead of antidepressants. During
CBT, you have about 10 visits with a mental health
professional over several weeks.

Other treatments that may help include:

Birth control pills may decrease or
increase PMS symptoms, including
depression

Diuretics may be useful for women who
gain a lot of weight from fluid retention

Nutritional supplements -- such as
vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium --may be recommended

Other medicines (such as Depo-Lupron)
suppress the ovaries and ovulation

Pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen
may be prescribed for headache,
backache, menstrual cramping and breast
tenderness

Expectations (prognosis)

After proper diagnosis and treatment, most women
with PMDD find that their symptoms go away or
drop to tolerable levels.

Complications

PMDD symptoms may be severe enough to
interfere with a woman's daily life. Women with
depression may have worse symptoms during the
second half of their cycle and may need changes in
their medication.

Some women with PMDD, have had suicidal
thoughts. Suicide in women with depression is
more likely to occur during the second half of the
menstrual cycle.

PMDD may be associated with eating disorders and
smoking.

that is exactly me Weary!

Sorry Larry, definitely didn't mean to exclude you ;)