menstrual cycle/ panic attack?????

Well things have been going ok untill last night. I went to bed and after about 45 mins lying down I caught a panic attack. It was horrible. After finally going to sleep I woke up this morning feeling horrible, very tired, dizzy, light headed, zombie type feeling. Then I go to the bathroom and my monthly cycle had started. Now I have noticed that for the past several months I have gotten panic attacks either the night before or during my menstrual cycle. Does anyone else experience this? Could it be possible that something is going on with my hormones?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm still new to the panic attack issues, but I am trying to deal with them. Was just wondering if anyone esle experiences panic attacks right before or during there menstrual cycle.
Thanks

Brandy

Brandy,

Yes, it is very typical for panic and anxiety to worsen around that time of the month.  My symptoms always get more intense right before and during my cycle.  Just remember it is temporary or once your hormones settle back down you'll be fine.

Brandy,

 have also experienced the panic attacks right before my period. The night before, I have had a panic attack. It wasn't until recently that I found out what these things were, and when I finally found out, I was able to get a better hold on them. I have panic disorder and acute anxiety. I could not understand what was bringing them on and had to take off off work for a couple of weeks. The first week I was out, I had panic attacks back to back. Some of them lasting all day. Ironically, I had started my period that week. I have had 3 good weeks, and Sunday night I had a small panic attack, and then Monday I had started my period. I know your pain. Me personally, if I have to live through this the rest of my life, I much rather have a hysterectomy and take hormone pills. I had my tubes tied back in 1998, and a nurse told me that when you have that done, it takes away that hormone. The best way to get that hormone back is to take birth control. NOT AN OPTION!!! I got my tubes tied for a reason. Thanks for the comment though. I thought that I was the only one going through this!

melissa30

Hey Brandy!
Just wondering if you have ever heard that this may be heredity???? Almost every woman in my family started going through menopause at the age of 29-30. I am 30. I am proud of myself though. I take the xanax when I feel like I need it. But I haven't had to take any in 3 weeks. I hate the way it makes me feel, and I do have to be careful taking it, because I do have 2 small children at home that need me. But I am gonna talk to the doctor about the birth control. Thank you for writing back to me. I think I have pullled up everything I can on the computer about panic disorder/anxiety attacks. Of course they all say the same. So I didn't know whether or not the monthly cycles had anything to do with it. Never could find no information until I found your article. So now, I hoped we have finally pinpoionted it. I hope that you are doing well with yours. Thanks for talkin to me.!!! Have a great day!

Melissa30

Hey Brandy!
OMG!! Its almosst like you are telling me how I feel!! LOL!
I get the same way about worrying so much. And I think that it one of my problems. I can't stop having dizzy spells though. My mom called me yesturday here at work, and asked me what I was doing. I said, well you know. Just sitting here watching the walls in my office go round and round. HAHA!! Anyways! My doctor finally looked in my ears the week before I came back to work (I had to take couple of weeks off when I first started having these things), and he said he thinks its an inner ear thing, that is causing me to be dizzy. So I have appt next week to go ans see ear specialist. about the xanax. You said that you didn't take it. While I was out of work, I thought maybe I needed it during the day. But I immedialty got up and started doing things around the house. To keep my mind off of it. I was taking the xanax at night to help me sleep, but then I had it wing myself off. I felt dependent then. And I had only taken it for about 2 weeks. I haven't had to take any in almost 4 weeks. YEA!! Even though sometimes I may have needed one, I have really tried to fight it. I just don't like the aftermath of how xanax makes you feel. It's funny. I told my husband last night, I wish it was 6 months earlier when I didn't have to have these things. I was never like this. Hyper, happy, and always busy. But not now. I have had to slow a bit. I feel 30 kicking in. OMG!!! I am so glad that I found you on this website. I thought I was the only one going through this. Do you think these things will ever go away??
Well, will talk you later. Thanks for your time!

Melissa30

I a guy and was wondering about this issue, so I asked about it it on my blog one time. It didn't get much of a response. Even though the post is old it's still available to the search engines and if you put your two cents in it may help somebody some day.

Here's the URL:

http://anxietypanicdisorder.blogspot.com/2007/08/women-and-anxietypanic.html

Hey Brandy!
Had a really good weekend, until yesturday. Something about Sundays. I am so pooped all day. No energy. I'm sure that its my body trying to wind down from the week at work. But I have started reading before I go to sleep. That seems to help me a little. I read until I am about to fall asleep. Last night, I read and read, and read until about 3am and could not go to sleep. I started dozing, and all of a sudden I felt really weird. like I couldn't catch my breath and it woke me up. But finally it went away, and I finally fell asleep. I woke up this morning and felt very jittery, and anxious. I hate days like this because I feel like that I am going to have attack at work. And of course, that brings on another attack. trying not to take xanax, but may need to tonight. Hope not. Hope you had a great weeekend. Thank you so much for listening and writing back. I told my husband I had finally found someone going through this too. Same symptoms and all. He jokingly said, "Good, talk to her because I have no idea what you are going through". We laughed about it. anyway. Hope you get to write later. Have you had any new symptoms? I have noticed that I get really out of breath. But I do smoke and they say that smoking triggers them. I was cutting grass yesturday and felt like my heart was coming out of my chest. Well, have a great day!

Hey Brandy!
Been waiting for you to post. Funny how you really don't meet someone and you find that you have some things in commin with them.
Well, last week was ok. Until Sunday. I don't know what it is about Sundays. I went to church and was trying to listen to the message, and caught an attack right there in my chair. It only lasted about 10 minutes. I had to get up go in the nursey, and rock in the rocking chair. Sometimes that gives me some relief. I know it sounds silly. But afterwards, I was so drained! I felt like I hadn't sleppt in a week. I went home and then started crying all day. i have never been one to worry about being by myself. And I really wasn't. My kids were outside, and my husband ran to cut someones grass for them. I cried the whole time he was gone. THAT JUST ISN"T ME. I was fed up. I got angry becuase I couldn't understand what was wrong with me. I was so desperate to find someone to talk to on the phone. I needed so badly to talk to someone right then that had been through this. Depression runs in my family. I was determined to talk to someone. I even called the hospital that I work at, and asked them if they had some kind of support group for this. The first thing they did was send me to the Rose Center. (psy ward)
Hello???? They don't have any groups at this place for nothing. That's really sad. I have seen people worse coming out of that place than they were going in. Anyway. I was at my witts end. I ended up taking a xanax taking a bath and going to bed. Usualyy I am knocked out. But I still couldn't sleep. I guess I was worried. I have had all types of blood tests within the last week. Medically there is NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!! I know this. I have prayed continously since I started having these things in August that God would heal me from them. Besides the day I found you on the computer, yesturday was the best day of my life. I felt so good. I had this lady come up to me whom I didn't know. She works in the same building. I have seen her before though. But when I was out of work when these things first started I guess she noticed I hadn't been here. She stopped me in the parking lot after work and asked me if I was ok. I had been asking God continously to please send someone to me face to face that was going through this. All she said to me was that I was not dying and I was going to be ok. I just looked at her. She talked to me like she knew me all her life. She began to tell me that she has suffered from these things for 13 years. She does take prozac. She wasn't telling me that was what I needed, but I can't tell you the feeling I had afterwards. GOD had heard me. I big wave of relief and come over my body! I felt like myself again. I didn't go home and sit on the couch. I just believe it. You have helped me, just by telling me your story, and this lady was sent to help me too. i went to library and got info on these things. She also told me to keep a journel. Write in it on good and bad days. Read it when you are having a bad day. Her husband helps her too. When she feels like she is about to have one, she has him sit in front of her, he holds both her hands, and makes her only focus on him. Nothing else. He talks to her about something fun and happy about themselves. It calms her down. I just thought maybe this might be my breakthrough. And because you have helped me too, I wanted to share this story with you. Sorry I have went on and on! But I needed this. You might too! Thanks for posting back. Hope you are having a good week so far. Write me back when you get the chance. "GOOD DAYS TO COME IF YOU JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF"!

melissa

 Hey Brandy! I hope you are feeling better today. I am from South Carolina. A town that looks like a hole in the wall.   I think that my attacks were turning into depression also. The crying all the time, feeling worthless, etc. I had no idea why I was crying or why I felt the way that I did. I am like you. Happy all the time,living life to the fullest. But I do believe on ething. Not that I ever douted GOD, but I can't describe the peace I felt on Monday. It was like it sudden;y just left my body. It was weird. I knew that was only GOD. I have had 2 very good days. See, mine always seemed to hit me at night. So nighttime was very hard for me. I couldn't rest, because I am so afraid I am gonna have another one. Sometimes its 1 or 2 in the morning before I get to sleep. I have slept good the last 2 nights, its just taken me awhile to get to sleep. I went to library, but I may have told you that already. But I have been reading these books to better understand these things. I too, am not taking any medicine permantly. I feel like that maybe I need to though. Just until these things pass. But I am just so afraid of taking medicines. I hate to take tylenol. Well, I am so glad we can help each other. You have helped me alot by listening and replying back. You just don't know how much. I am working on getting a computer at home. Maybe we can talk at night especially if neither one of us can sleep. My husband use to keep me awake snoring all night. VERY LOUD!! Now I have to deal with these things! Go Figure!   write again soon. and thanks so much.

Melissa

Hey Brandy. To answer your question about death? Yes I think about it all the time. I am so scared something is going to happen to me. GOD says you are not suppose to be scared to die. But I am. I am 30 and I ain't ready to go yet. I want to grow old and see my grandchildren. I don't know why these panick attacks make you think like that. Yesturday I had a moni panic attack. I was on the couch, and I had been having a sharp pain in my chest on and off all day. i had to keep in my mind, that I have already had lab work done, and I'm fine. But it wasn't a constant pain. Just every now and then. When I would feel it I would burp. So I'm guessing its trapped gas. I am drinking a coke right now, which I don't drink coke, and sitting here in the lab that I run here at the hospital (outpatient lab) just burping away. I am having to explain to my patients, sorry for the outburst, but I've got gas somewhere, and I'm trying to get rid of it.They laugh at me. LOL!!! The panic attack only lasted about 2 minutes and it was over. Not a very bad one. Really just got real hot. Do you ever feel dizzy when you aren't having the attacks? Somedays I feel dizzy all the time. I've had ct scans, and everythings fine. I feel kinda like you do though. I feel like sometimes I am going crazy. Well better go for now. Will werite again later. Hope you have a great day. Think positive!

Melissa 

Hey Brandy,

I know I haven't been active on this thread between you and Melissa, but I just wanted to jump in quickly and give you some feedback. You asked whether or not people can be depressed for unknown reasons...the answer is absolutely! Even if there seems to be no major "trigger" event for the depression, if you take a look at everything that's going on in your life you might be able to shed more light on the problem. First of all, you have had to deal with anxiety/panic. As we all well know, dealing with this DD is tough and sometimes it seems unfair. It's frustrating and often causes us to feel isolated and misunderstood. Could dealing with the DD and those feelings contribute to depression? I certainly think so. You also mention in a post that your husband is away traveling a lot and you are left alone with the kids. Even if you are used to this routine, dealing with things are your own must not be easy...yet another possible factor in the depression. I think the fact that you feel much better when your husband is around (whether it's because he distracts you or because you just feel more comfortable and relaxed with him by your side) is a great indicator to the fact that his absence may be affecting you more strongly than you realize. I don't know a woman out there, even without anxiety, that wouldn't feel some level of depression about being left alone with the kids! Although it is certainly wonderful that when he can get home to be with you he is understanding, and not resentful of the way you feel.

On to my next point (sorry I'm long-winded LOL)...for some people, anxiety/depression can have completely unknown causes. I think certain people have chemical imbalances in the brain, which triggers these disorders. My doctor told me this was possible, and seems to be the case for me, as I have suffered with both since a very young age (10) and had no real trigger events. In this sense, anxiety/depression actually are physical disorders. You mentioned that your anxiety gets much worse around the time of your cycle, which is why it would seem possible that you have a chemical thing going on...horomones are a chemical too! My anxiety definitely gets much worse around that time of the month...in fact, whenever I call my Mom to vent about my panic the first thing she asks me is "Do you have PMS/your period?" Usually the answer is yes...

I know it can be tough to consider starting on the meds. I know for me I felt like a failure for not being able to deal with this on my own. But my doctor had a great way of explaining things to me. He said "What if you had another medical disorder that was effecting your quality of life, like cancer or another chronic illness. Would you sit back and deny treatment because you felt like your body was failing you, or would you do whatever you could to cure it?" Made sense to me! I took Paxil and then Lexapro and had very good results with both. Once I was on them and my life was back to normal, I was so glad I hadn't refused them any longer. I was on them for a total of 3.5 years...I came off of them because I felt like I was strong enough to make a go of things alone and so far have had pretty good success. I still have anxiety, and I still get panic but I am no longer depressed and I have much greater control over the panic. So if your doctor suggests an anti-depressant, certainly don't rule it out! You do what you need to do to take control of your life again, for both yourself and your family.

Well that's my 2 cents (more like 25 cents this was so long LOL)...I really hope you get a great therapist and you two can work through your issues together and come up with a plan that works for you. Things can and will get better!

Hey all i just wanted to add to all these posts and say i know how everyone feels i have been having panic attacks before during and after my period. and it sucks. I have had to call out of work. Not do things that i like to do. And its random things that trigger them. I went to a halloween ride the other day and i had a panic attack there.. Random??

Alright well
Hope everyone is well

Marissa

Hello

My name is Nadine , and i am from Egypt . Thank god i can find people that are feeling the same way i feel . Brandy and Melissa i have been going all through your notes here and every single word you said about how you feel and the symptoms of panic attacks and hormone raging problems during PMS , this is all happening to me and had happened to me . It all started when i was sitting with my friends , and we were having a good time in the club and suddenly i dont know what hit me , and my  heart started beating like i was running a Marathon .. i started sweating and my legs felt so light , i was too scared to move . i had a problem breathing and thoght my life was about to end !! . i quickly asked a friend to take me to the bathroom , cuz i started pee-ing every 3 minutes ... i cried and cried screaming to her " what the hell is wrong with me ?" my husband took me to the a doctor , and he said i had a " panic attack " :) . he said its normal to have all thes esymptoms like you were about to have a heat attack !! he said it may be over -stress , or i had a bad thought while i was just sitting there OR it was accumalitive depression and anxiety that just piled up and then my body just said " i had it " !!" time to burst  " !! and i just had that panic attack . the dr said that our nervouse system is more clever than us .. even though u may sitting smiling or having a good time ..ur nervouse system knows ur lying and that u are stressed or putting on a show thats not true .. so the brain gives all th emixed wrong signals , and u get these attacks .