Comments on: Menopause Is A Scary Business http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/ Mapping a course through menopause and midlife TOGETHER Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:21:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karen Schwartz http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 Karen Schwartz Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:07:04 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-1534 After realizing that I'm going thru menopause at the age of 46 and trying to find any and all information on or about the craziness that I'm feeling. This website has been a godsend. I have been having anxiety attacks over what I would consider trival issues. Along with everything else my body is going thru, its nice to have a place I can relate to. Thanks Karen After realizing that I’m going thru menopause at the age of 46 and trying to find any and all information on or about the craziness that I’m feeling. This website has been a godsend. I have been having anxiety attacks over what I would consider trival issues. Along with everything else my body is going thru, its nice to have a place I can relate to. Thanks Karen

]]> By: Lance Chambers http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 Lance Chambers Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:15:40 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-1079 Anxiety may be a scary business but menopause is not. But many women are afraid of it thinking that it is the end of womanhood but it doesn't have to. You may feel some discomfort but it doesn't always have to be that way because if you maintain a healthy lifestyle with lots of light exercise and essential vitamins then you will free yourself from the dreaded symptoms. There are also alternative treatments and therapy you can ask your doctor about. Anxiety may be a scary business but menopause is not. But many women are afraid of it thinking that it is the end of womanhood but it doesn’t have to. You may feel some discomfort but it doesn’t always have to be that way because if you maintain a healthy lifestyle with lots of light exercise and essential vitamins then you will free yourself from the dreaded symptoms. There are also alternative treatments and therapy you can ask your doctor about.

]]> By: Rae Young http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Rae Young Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:43:22 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-739 Annie and Lynette, thanks for touching on such personal expriences and giving all of us that need the hope to keep trying and not give up to make our lives better, going thru the big m can be so mind and soul boggleing that you just want to open a bottle of wine and never close it. Annie and Lynette, thanks for touching on such personal expriences and giving all of us that need the hope to keep trying and not give up to make our lives better, going thru the big m can be so mind and soul boggleing that you just want to open a bottle of wine and never close it.

]]> By: Geri http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-742 Geri Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:43:22 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-742 As someone who has had panic attacks on and off since I was a child, it has worsened so much more while passing through menopause. Sometimes I cannot leave the house without a xanax. I am hoping the panic will lesson after menopause. In any case, I still get up, go to work (I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home), go to the gym, see my daughter and grandkids and try to live a "normal" life. It's tough sometimes, but we must hang in. This too shall pass! <br /> <br />Thank you for this website. I know I'm not alone. As someone who has had panic attacks on and off since I was a child, it has worsened so much more while passing through menopause. Sometimes I cannot leave the house without a xanax. I am hoping the panic will lesson after menopause. In any case, I still get up, go to work (I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home), go to the gym, see my daughter and grandkids and try to live a "normal" life. It's tough sometimes, but we must hang in. This too shall pass!

Thank you for this website. I know I'm not alone.

]]> By: Maureen Senn http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-741 Maureen Senn Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:43:22 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-741 Thank you for addressing this area of concern. I recently encountered a woman having this problem and am happy to pass on the information. You are awesome! Thank you for addressing this area of concern. I recently encountered a woman having this problem and am happy to pass on the information. You are awesome!

]]> By: Anne Wheeler http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-740 Anne Wheeler Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:43:22 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-740 I feel very qualified to comment on this subject. I come from a family w/ history of depression and alcoholism on both sides. I work as a nurse practitioner in an internal medicine practice, and I estimate that 1/3 of our patients have mood disorders! <br /> <br />I have struggled w/ a mood disorder since my teens, and always figured it was chronic/intermittent low grade depression. It definitely intensified during menopause. <br /> <br />To cope, I tried therapy w/ an excellent therapist. My husband went w/ me for couples counseling. I tried at least 3 different anti-depressants and couldn't tolerate any of them. Several months ago, I felt I was going over the edge when I faced surgery for a big skin cancer on the tip of my nose (a potentially life altering and disfiguring process). So I tried another antidepressant, and it was like a light going on. My anxiety level dropped from 10 to 1 in 4 hours!! I was also able to stop one of my 3 high blood pressure meds! The biggest surprise for me was the realization that all these years, the source of my mood disorder (and high blood pressure) was chronic anxiety, not depression!! That said, these disorders are governed by the same neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. <br /> <br />I am taking the lowest dose of Cymbalta and am so much improved, I think I'll never go off it. I still occasionally (for brief moments) get bitchy, sarcastic and dark ,but my quality of life (and my husband's) is hugely improved and I'm so much more positive. I found out that the "darkness", worry, negativity & even part of my hypertension, were the product of my anxiety. Bottom line, keep trying to find the right tools. Thanks for you great blog, Lynette ! <br /> <br />Your much less anxious friend, <br /> <br />Anne I feel very qualified to comment on this subject. I come from a family w/ history of depression and alcoholism on both sides. I work as a nurse practitioner in an internal medicine practice, and I estimate that 1/3 of our patients have mood disorders!

I have struggled w/ a mood disorder since my teens, and always figured it was chronic/intermittent low grade depression. It definitely intensified during menopause.

To cope, I tried therapy w/ an excellent therapist. My husband went w/ me for couples counseling. I tried at least 3 different anti-depressants and couldn't tolerate any of them. Several months ago, I felt I was going over the edge when I faced surgery for a big skin cancer on the tip of my nose (a potentially life altering and disfiguring process). So I tried another antidepressant, and it was like a light going on. My anxiety level dropped from 10 to 1 in 4 hours!! I was also able to stop one of my 3 high blood pressure meds! The biggest surprise for me was the realization that all these years, the source of my mood disorder (and high blood pressure) was chronic anxiety, not depression!! That said, these disorders are governed by the same neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

I am taking the lowest dose of Cymbalta and am so much improved, I think I'll never go off it. I still occasionally (for brief moments) get bitchy, sarcastic and dark ,but my quality of life (and my husband's) is hugely improved and I'm so much more positive. I found out that the "darkness", worry, negativity & even part of my hypertension, were the product of my anxiety. Bottom line, keep trying to find the right tools. Thanks for you great blog, Lynette !

Your much less anxious friend,

Anne

]]> By: Betty Zahler http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-738 Betty Zahler Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:43:21 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-738 To know that we are not alone during our menapausal time is both reassuring and important. It is fortunately, temporary and will pass ultimately. I urge you goddesses to consult your health care partner and do research as well.Those who help, like Lynette are our salvation. You are great, Lynette! To know that we are not alone during our menapausal time is both reassuring and important. It is fortunately, temporary and will pass ultimately. I urge you goddesses to consult your health care partner and do research as well.Those who help, like Lynette are our salvation. You are great, Lynette!

]]> By: Lynette Sheppard http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2008/08/09/anxiety-may-literally-be-the-most-unnerving-of-the-emotional/comment-page-1/#comment-737 Lynette Sheppard Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:43:21 +0000 http://test.dev/?p=298#comment-737 Outstanding and heartfelt comment - I was wondering how to bring up the issue of neurotransmitters and anxiety/depression - especially how it MAY be the best answer for some. You've said it all, better than I ever could have. <br /> <br />My younger brother had a "breakdown" a couple years ago - they found he had almost zilch serotonin and another neurotransmitter. His therapist wisely prescribed one of the drugs to boost them and he felt like he "came alive again." Another nurse friend struggled for years with depression before she took what she has come to call Vitamin P - Prozac. She no longer needs it, but feels it was life-saving. Bottom line: while pharmaceutical help is not the first answer, it may very well be the optimal one after the others have been tried. <br /> <br />Thanks for sharing your personal experience with us - at the risk of sounding like a broken record (CD?) that's how we get through this - learning from and connecting with one another. <br /> <br />Thanks again Anne, <br />Lynette <br /> <br /> Outstanding and heartfelt comment – I was wondering how to bring up the issue of neurotransmitters and anxiety/depression – especially how it MAY be the best answer for some. You've said it all, better than I ever could have.

My younger brother had a "breakdown" a couple years ago – they found he had almost zilch serotonin and another neurotransmitter. His therapist wisely prescribed one of the drugs to boost them and he felt like he "came alive again." Another nurse friend struggled for years with depression before she took what she has come to call Vitamin P – Prozac. She no longer needs it, but feels it was life-saving. Bottom line: while pharmaceutical help is not the first answer, it may very well be the optimal one after the others have been tried.

Thanks for sharing your personal experience with us – at the risk of sounding like a broken record (CD?) that's how we get through this – learning from and connecting with one another.

Thanks again Anne,

Lynette

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