Perimenopause, anyone?

ptsdlmw · Jan 03, 2017 at 07:56 AM

Hi - Anyone out there dealing with hormone fluctuations of mid-life and how they impact our other issues? I have GAD and PTSD (and???)

My GYN is trying to work with me and some things have helped - - - estrogen and progesterone, for example.

It's hard to tease apart what biochemical is causing what to happen in my body.

I'm coming up on the year anniversary of my husband's disclosure regarding

Possible trigger:

prostitutes, porn, and his near-lethal suicide attempt.

It's been rough. I wonder if this is causing my emotional state or hormones or both?

I truly wore myself out with supporting him (and handling an out-ot-state move at the time) while he was very mentally ill. He's doing better now. I don't get much support from him, though. That's how it always had been in our marriage. He's selfish. I feel so alone. I don't want to burden my family, and I haven't re-established friendships yet as I lived in another state for almost 20 years. I am looking to try to find ways to meet other people and women friends, but it's hard when I feel like crap.

shezbut · Jan 03, 2017 at 09:34 PM

I am sorry to hear all that you've gone through recently ~ and without much support from others.

I'm sure that wasn't easy at all.

Have you worked with a T at all? You certainly need emotional support. Perhaps there are support groups of some kind that meet in your area? Like: Anxiety support? Perhaps as time passes, you will feel more comfortable sharing some of your own personal experiences with the group or a couple of the members that you "click" with. Then, friendships are born and you're no longer alone in this new state.

It does take a little bit of an initial reach out from you ~ but it's worth every effort!

I'd be happy to join your list of friends, but I live several states away from NY. *sigh* Gentle hugs sent your way....

ptsdlmw · Jan 04, 2017 at 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shezbut

I am sorry to hear all that you've gone through recently ~ and without much support from others.

I'm sure that wasn't easy at all.

Have you worked with a T at all? You certainly need emotional support. Perhaps there are support groups of some kind that meet in your area? Like: Anxiety support? Perhaps as time passes, you will feel more comfortable sharing some of your own personal experiences with the group or a couple of the members that you "click" with. Then, friendships are born and you're no longer alone in this new state.

It does take a little bit of an initial reach out from you ~ but it's worth every effort!

I'd be happy to join your list of friends, but I live several states away from NY. *sigh* Gentle hugs sent your way....

Yes, thanks, I am in EMDR therapy b/c of the trauma. It's helping a lot and she does talk therapy too. I started looking for a support group and found one for trauma and apparently, there is no interest and the group isn't happening. Maybe anxiety would be easier to find. I'm also starting to reach out locally to do "meet-ups" with people with similar interests (dogs, hiking, new to the area, etc.) This was my therapist's suggestion. I'm going to try going to yoga again too. Baby steps.

Jan 04, 2017 at 06:16 PM

Sounds like a VERY rough year. I have had similiar questions myself after a rough year. I was already seeing a psychiatrist and have been in therapy for 15 months. Having done a lot of self reflection about some very poor actions on my part, I was affected by stressful life events,depression (possibly of a bipolar type) and perimenopause but really, one can never truly know which stressor/condition is most responsible for the way we are. Isn't life just too complicated to analyze with any certainty? I am finally at the point that I'm not wondering how I got this way anymore and just trying to manage it. Wondering can drive you crazy but is a natural thing to do after what you have been through. Good luck meeting new people; now that you have gotten through the worst of it, things will probably get better for you...

ptsdlmw · Jan 05, 2017 at 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopingtrying

Sounds like a VERY rough year. I have had similiar questions myself after a rough year. I was already seeing a psychiatrist and have been in therapy for 15 months. Having done a lot of self reflection about some very poor actions on my part, I was affected by stressful life events,depression (possibly of a bipolar type) and perimenopause but really, one can never truly know which stressor/condition is most responsible for the way we are. Isn't life just too complicated to analyze with any certainty? I am finally at the point that I'm not wondering how I got this way anymore and just trying to manage it. Wondering can drive you crazy but is a natural thing to do after what you have been through. Good luck meeting new people; now that you have gotten through the worst of it, things will probably get better for you...

I am trying to tease it apart a bit b/c medical care is so disjointed. The GYN wants to treat everything from a GYN perspective. I was so traumatized at my new family practice doc (the nurse practitioner was awful - she freaked when i told her I had GAD) - I need to find another regular doc. Psychiatrists want to throw 3-4 meds at once at it (which one is really helping?). No one really looks at how all the meds/biological hormones are interacting. I guess that's my point.

Thanks for the response, and yes, I am hoping things will get better. I hope you continue to grow and mend, one step at a time.

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