Ladies...Menopause Questions

Hi Janet...I'm 43 and I would place bets I'm in perimenopause.....seems too much of a coincidence that after 17yrs anxiety free now suddenly I'm a walking anxious panicky mess....getting the doctor to believe that link seems ridiculously hard ??? Anyway I don't have any answers for you because I'm in the midst of trying to get help for myself.....all I know after doing a lot of reading in various places that menopause and increased anxiety are linked...its not in your head...getting sick of blank stares from the gp!!!

I'm 54 and 4 years post meno.
I think I had a better go of it then a lot of people I have heard about. I was on the pill during peri- and other than an increase in anxiety during what previously was just PMS I sailed thru. I do remember having a period of anger. It was more like I finally realized during "my change" that I always put myself last and others feelings before mine and I was having no more of it! It leveled off and I came to terms with my feelings and learned how to better balance what people expected of me and what should really be expected of me from people and to take care of myself a little bit.
My dr. did an FSH test on me it came back that I was post meno. He stopped the pill and I never had another period again.
That's when the hot flashes started. They were worst at night- waking me up- throw the covers off feeling like I was 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The sheets felt like they were on fire. Get up= go to the bathroom- splash cold water- go back to bed. Now I'm freezing covers up to neck shivering. Oh boy here come the worries... can't sleep with all the whirling worries in my brain....
I'd say that lasted about a year. Worst month was 11 months in. Happened to have my annual GYN exam and he said that was very common and it should start leveling off. It did.
Maybe I just got used to it- I am very adaptable. But it seems hot flashes are only during stressful times (OK when are times not stressful?) Still most occur during the night. I'm thankful that I'm not one to have them overcome me in public turning bright red and fanning myself.
I think the worst of it was it made me feel old.
Ummmmm what else...I take more xannax these days due to anxiety that I think has increased but it's still not a lot. I try to take just a half to get me over the hump and I never have to ask the GYN for more than he gave me at my annual exam. My dr. was supportive and validating that anxiety increases during meno.
Advice? Ride the waves and be accepting. Ever woman goes thru this and gets thru it. It's part of our lives as women.

I wish you all the best

I'm 52 and not in menopause as of yet, I must be odd.