Home Menu

Menu


Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old Mar 12, 2016, 01:31 PM
LiteraryLark's Avatar
LiteraryLark LiteraryLark is offline
Crowned "The Good Witch"
 
Member Since: Jun 2009
Location: Wonderland
Posts: 11,542
This is a two-part discussion.

First, I am 23 so I don't have to worry about menopause yet, but during every major transition in my life I spiral and become severely manic. Menopause is an internal transition, but I am worried about the risks of a full-blown manic episode during menopause.

Second, my mom is currently going through menopause. She has always had very bad mood swings but no mental disorder that she or I am aware of. However, she is off the hook with her mood swings and I overheard her talking to my Dad that sometimes she wishes she was dead and that she is seriously questioning if she is going crazy.

Any thoughts?

advertisement
  #2  
Old Mar 12, 2016, 01:39 PM
TishaBuv TishaBuv is offline
Legendary
 
Member Since: Dec 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 10,258
I've heard a lot of women say they were driven crazy during menopause. I never had any hot flashes and was told by my ob/gyn I was post menopausal. I wonder if my emotional problems have been hormonal and am hoping I get better now.
__________________
"And don't say it hasn't been a little slice of heaven, 'cause it hasn't!"
. About Me--T
  #3  
Old Mar 12, 2016, 01:54 PM
unaluna's Avatar
unaluna unaluna is offline
Elder Harridan x-hankster
 
Member Since: Jun 2011
Location: Milan/Michigan
Posts: 42,181
Oh hell yes. Can she get on prozac or stg and still work? Imo if a person (e.g. me) was moodswingy before, theyre a basket case during menopause if they havent gotten the swings managed. Im pretty calm and happy now but im like ten years post menopausal and well medicated (not REAL heavily!) and stay somewhat socially isolated so i dont bite stupid peoples heads off.
Thanks for this!
lavendersage
  #4  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 09:47 PM
healingme4me's Avatar
healingme4me healingme4me is offline
Perpetually Pondering
Community Liaison
 
Member Since: Apr 2013
Location: New England
Posts: 46,298
I think it's possible and very well hereditary. I think it's better to err on the side of maintaining contact with a pdoc vs. Obgyn. I don't find gyns as sensitive to the realities of mental health. Or being in contact with someone on the holistic side of things?

Maybe there's much more than hormones and it's more than just the change of life?

Hereditary. For instance when I do ever reach that point in life, seeing I'm a late bloomer in comparison to my mom and grandmom, I can expect not much more than hot flashes based upon family history. Then told to enjoy not needing to shave so much or worry about waxy ears and all that...

Osteoporosis can affect many. Vitamin D deficiencies can affect fatigue and moods...if looking holistically.
  #5  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 10:03 PM
Raindropvampire's Avatar
Raindropvampire Raindropvampire is offline
smiling musical soul
 
Member Since: Mar 2010
Location: Indy
Posts: 43,373
I have only known a handful of women that were not complete basketcases during the change. I work with a lady going through it right now and she's more up and down than I am. AND her hot flashes are off the charts which makes her even crankier.

Most of the women I've known have done hormone replacement and that helped. Some just did herbal supplements and it seemed to help most.
__________________
I think I need help 'cause I'm drowning in myself. It's sinking in, I can't pretend that I ain't been through hell. I think I need help---Papa Roach
  #6  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 10:44 PM
IrisBloom's Avatar
IrisBloom IrisBloom is offline
Living Entity
 
Member Since: Jul 2014
Location: La La Land
Posts: 28,949
My mother woke up one day post-menopausal, no symptoms at all at 49. I had my last period at 55, and had severe mood swings and moderate hot flashes. I did think I was going crazy. Tell your mother that it will pass and she will feel normal again, but see her gyno to see if they can help her. I think you can reasonably expect to experience what your mother does, but it does not always apply. My MD gave me prozac at one point to help with mood, etc, but I didn't like taking it.

When you get to your mid 40s, be sure to let your gyno know about your mood issues and how meno affected your mother. Maybe you can head off the worst symptoms.
__________________
  #7  
Old Mar 29, 2016, 12:42 PM
divine1966's Avatar
divine1966 divine1966 is offline
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Member Since: Dec 2014
Location: US
Posts: 23,226
I am going through menopause now. It's manageable. I advise to see s doctor, we can't really diagnose on here

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  #8  
Old May 23, 2016, 11:14 PM
fairydustgirl's Avatar
fairydustgirl fairydustgirl is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Aug 2014
Location: usa
Posts: 355
I was diagnosed bipolar 1 the year I started perimenopause at age 43...the 8 years it took to finally stop having periods have been the craziest and hardest years of my life. I am now 2 years past my last period and have been stable finally and this last year, happier than I have been in years. 'the change' made me crazy for sure.
  #9  
Old May 24, 2016, 02:22 AM
julianneturner julianneturner is offline
Junior Member
 
Member Since: May 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 10
Great suggestions.. Thank you.
  #10  
Old May 24, 2016, 05:58 AM
splitimage's Avatar
splitimage splitimage is online now
Moderator
Community Support Team
 
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,859
I must have won the hormone lottery, either that or all the meds I'm on are masking the effects of menopause. It's been 3 years since my last period, and I've had no hotflashes, no night sweats, and if anything my mood has been more stable.

I'm just enjoying it.

splitimage
__________________


"I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn.

"If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba

Can you mentally spiral during menopause?
  #11  
Old May 24, 2016, 06:03 AM
Anonymous48850
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
OMG yes. I started stopping about 4-5 years ago and have now finally finished but those years were AWFUL. It's only now I realise. Didn't do HRT but did take black kohosh which worked the best. And Prozac and a job that let me work from home. Hugs to you all.
Hugs from:
*Laurie*
  #12  
Old May 24, 2016, 07:06 AM
Nammu's Avatar
Nammu Nammu is offline
Crone
 
Member Since: May 2010
Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system.
Posts: 76,719
It can cause a mental spiral if you are not proactive

As for your mom, there's a ton of supliments that can help if she doesn't want to go the RX route. I can't recall what they were but they worked well. My own experience was positive. Now post menopause I'm much more stable not going through the monthly hormone swings.
__________________
Nammu
…Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …...
Desiderata Max Ehrmann



  #13  
Old Aug 16, 2016, 02:20 AM
RoseOfSharon's Avatar
RoseOfSharon RoseOfSharon is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Aug 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 31
I have just started hrt to help with depression: as oestrogen levels plummet, so do our serotonin levels, and I preferred the idea of hrt to antidepressents, at least to start with.
At emotional burnout level right now, and just facing up to the fact that I am experiencing c-ptsd. I am sure hormones have something to do with the crisis - but a crisis has to be a way forwards into deeper healing.
  #14  
Old Aug 16, 2016, 07:07 PM
unaluna's Avatar
unaluna unaluna is offline
Elder Harridan x-hankster
 
Member Since: Jun 2011
Location: Milan/Michigan
Posts: 42,181
Also ,i want you to print this letter off and save it somewhere with instructions to yourself to open it in 30 years, not before. You will be needing a good laugh around that time!
  #15  
Old Aug 17, 2016, 11:39 AM
Unrigged64072835 Unrigged64072835 is offline
Legendary
 
Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Under the noise floor
Posts: 18,579
I wasn't diagnosed with bipolar until I was in menopause. Even hormone replacement therapy didn't help. I managed to get through it but it was a rough road.
Reply
Views: 3027

attentionThis is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:12 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.




 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.