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Ovulation & Anxiety #2

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Posted 9/12/2009 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have started a new thread on this topic as the old one has gotten too long.  Below is a link to the old the thread.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=751895

Thank you,

Gail*Nanners*

Posted 9/12/2009 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
I did have anxiety when I was still having my period (had hysterectomy). I was either in full rages or totally depressed and anxious, it was miserable for me for about 3 weeks out of every month. I also have a chronic illness, and that triggered too when I ovulated. The birth control pill helped in my case, then I had my tubes tied and it all broke loose after that. It was definetly a miserable time for me.
Posted 9/12/2009 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
So my OB told me it was very normal to feel increased anxiety/symptoms with my cycles, especially after having a baby because our bodies become so much more sensitive to the hormonal changes.  She told me I have 3 options....Increase my Zoloft to 150mg 2 weeks prior to my period although she was doubtful it would help any; try to get pregnant soon since we want a 2nd child so my hormones will level out, or go on The Pill for about 6months to relieve the symptoms and then try for the baby.  Hmmmmm......don't want to go on The Pill so I'll stick out feeling miserable 2-3 out of 4 weeks a month?????!!!!!!  I've been practicing my breathing exercises daily and it seems to help some; I've also cut back drastically on caffeine intake as I didn't even realize I was drinking so much.  I think I might look into acupuncture!  Has anyone tried it???  I think I have now had every imaginable anxiety symptom possible over the years. ARGHHHHHH!
Posted 9/12/2009 10:02 PM (GMT 0)

Posted by kybluebird

Hello Everyone-
I am also new to this site and have found some information on this thread and the older as well.

I have been to several different doctors and no one seems to have a clue. At first I was diagnosed with PPD, then just plain old depression and the latest was bi-polar. I've been to 2 pych. drs and neither one were much help. I am 33 years old, I have 3 kids under the age of 6, I am a stay at home mom and live in a small town so resources aren't very good.

I have anxiety, depression, headaches, irritability, etc., all related to ovulation and the start of my period. Like others I have about 1 week of "normal" feelings. I have been on most of the antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Prozac, Cymbalta and others. I have been on Lamictal for bi-polar and also a mild tranquilizer. I am currently taking Citilopram without much success. For me, it seems that all the meds worked for 1-2 months and then they were completely ineffective. Does anyone else have this problem? I have told the doctors that it is hormone related but so far they don't agree with me.

I also tend to binge eat during this time. I have to really watch my food during my good time in order to not gain an enormous amount of weight. I am already 40lbs overweight and just can't get it to come off. Anyone else have eating issues? I don't drink caffeine, smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs.

I feel like I'm sinking into this black fog with not light in sight. My husband tries to understand but he doesn't really get it. I know my kids would like a mother who was present all the time. If I didn't have my little ones, I would just sleep all the time. I would love to try acupunture or anything homepathic. Any ideas from anyone?

Posted 9/13/2009 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I am new to this forum, or any forum for that matter. I am trying to post correctly but I don't understand the "thread" concept. I hope I am finally getting this message in the right place!!!!

I wanted to start doing some research because I too have noticed a link between when my anxiety hits and when I ovulate and menstruate. In January of 2008(about 9 months after the birth of my third child), I suffered a panic attack and severe anxiety. I did not understand what was happening and I ended up spending 2.5 days sleeping in my room. My husband called in his family and my family to help him with me and our three young children. From that point on, I have been seeing a therapist and I have been on and off 10mg of Lexapro. I can be in the middle of a totally relaxing and fun activity and the anxiety just strikes. Sometimes it lasts an hour or so and sometimes the severity lessens but the overall anxious feeling lingers for a few days. Then I feel decent. Then PMS strikes and I get irritable and sometimes the anxiety sets in. I too feel that I have one "safe" week a month where I truly feel myself. I have some thyroid issues and just recently met with an endocrinologist who wants some tests run to check things out. So far, I have not talked to one doctor(Primary care, therapist, endocrinologist) who can tell what I can do to alleviate these symptoms. Only my therapist so far has even acknowledged that my anxiety could possibly be triggered by my menstrual cycle. I am a stay-at-home mom and I am very dedicated to my family and other activities within the school and charity organizations. I want to plan to go back to school for another degree once my children are all school age. However, this anxiety makes me uneasy to make any big comittments for fear that anxiety will strike when I can least afford it to. I just would love to hear that a doctor knows what my triggers are and how to help. But, for now, I am just so happy that I found a group of people that can totally relate!
Posted 9/15/2009 1:41 PM (GMT 0)

livehappily-

I'm having the same issues learning the forum :)

there is a lot of great information & support here.

comforting to know so many others have experienced what we're going through!!

Posted 9/15/2009 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hello livehappily-

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P forum.  We are glad you found us and hope that we are able to meet your expectations.

Please do feel free to start a thread of your own if you would like too.

You can just choose the "new topic" button which will open a screen for you to post into.  Be sure to hit the submit button at the bottom of your post to make sure it is posted to the boards.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

Posted 9/15/2009 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
My anxiety is normally elevated during ovulation and then the beginning of my period. My GYN agreed to check my hormones because of the Crohns, however they were still pre-menopauseal (which I am only 36, but he said the autoimmune disorder can cause them to kick in). I tried birth control pills, however they made it worse and my heart beat even faster. Now I just use Xanax during that horrible time. It does help relax me and be able to do what needs done.
Posted 11/10/2009 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new to this forum as well.
I've never joined one but felt compelled to upon hearing so many people experiencing this one good week a month situation which I thought I was alone in! The worst for me seems to be during the days around ovulation when there is heavy cervical mucous. My anxiety goes through the roof around this time. I've been charting the anxiety for a few years now and it seems like anxiety starts climbing around day 5 of my cycle all the way through ovulation. days 18 - 25 is my "good week"

A few things which have noticeably helped me are Omega 3's , a liquid softgel multi-vitamin by Nature Made, a hormone leveler called Estrotone that I have found at health food stores and Whole Foods and Bach Flower Remedies.

To respond to Livehappily's decision regarding return to school, I highly recommend it. I entered a graduate program during the worst of my anxiety and there are certainly bad days when I go through sitting in a classroom with my heart pounding and even teaching an undergrad class feeling panicky but there's nothing like having something to focus on or even some mild distraction to control my anxiety.
Posted 11/15/2009 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
OMG! I can not tell you how good I feel right now, knowing I'm not alone. (Not that I'm taking joy in our situation) but I have been told by so many to just get over it; it's just in my head.

My anxiety developed after the birth of my 2nd child....pretty mild and it was mostly stomach symptoms....therefore I was not diagnosed with anxiety.
After every GI and internal test one can imagine the Dr.s basically said it was all in my head.
I tried to help myself by changing my diet and forcing myself to do things but I still withdrew a little from the world for fear of getting diarrhea while out of the house.
Then I had a whopper attack; heart, stomach, thoughts of death. I decided to see a therapist.
She listened to all my symptoms (being an organizational freak, I had made a chart) and after some time she suggested I might have estrogen dominance. I had my hormones tested and I was indeed low on Progesterone. The new hormones seemed a miracle cure....for awhile. The symptoms returned but not as severe.
I now live in France, which seems to have worsened the anxiety (no public bathrooms in France tongue ).
My lifesaver has been the "Happy Camper Pill". It's an herbal remedy that I take when I feel anxiety coming or I suspect that impending circumstances/monthly cycle may bring on one and it works wonders.
(I do have my emergency Xanex in reserve, like Linus's blanket, but I have only taken it a few times)

Unfortunately, my anxiety has driven me to be almost housebound in France but I look forward to returning to the US in another year....if the transatlantic flight doesn't kill me smilewinkgrin
I'm thankful for all of you and your willingness to share your stories.
Posted 9/19/2012 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. My name is Angie and I have anxiety/depression before I ovulate. I am 34 yrs old. I have been struggling with anxiety for years. Been off and off medication in the past. The medication does work for me. Birth control sends me into a very dark hole that never ends... Since my last birth (19months ago), I have noticed that the "PMS" comes before and during ovulation. A couple days after ovulation I am usually a better person for the most part. During the ovulation time I am a total wreck though. I also thought I was alone. I am glad that I have found a place/people that are experiencing the same pain that I feel.
After reading...reading...and more reading for help, I am going to try foods high in tryptophan. I really hope that this will help. I lost my job a few yrs back. So that means no more insurance for me. And the cost of insurance for my family is over $2000 a month. No way can we afford that off our meager 1 income. So I am left to trying home remidies. Raw spinich is about 690 mg per 1 cup. So maybe 2 cups of raw spinich with dinner tonight. and then another 2 cups tomorrow morning. I will give an update tomorrow or the next to notate any change that I feel. However...My ovulation is just about done. I use cyclepage.com to track my monthly cycle. I have been using it for almost 8 yrs now. Great resource for those gyno appointments when they ask all those personal questions. :0)
Posted 9/19/2012 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
JumpinOmega

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  I am going to start you a new thread and lock this one down as it is 3 years old.

Look for the thread with your name in the title.

Kindly,

Kitt

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