Panic, anxiety, hormones, ok this is a mess.

[Kat-attack]

Hi everyone, I have a new nickname.  I posted a couple of days ago as Kathyq12wq12w  , now I am Kat-attack.  As previously mentioned, I was cutting back on lexapro 10mg to 5mg and I went off a birth control pill in January for irreugular bleeding.(It's true you really do write stuff on the internet you would never tell people to their face.)  Anyway, I started having panic attacks again.  So back on the 10mg lexapro and 1/2 clonazepam before bed.  I'm discouraged because I thought I would feel better by now.  Such a mind thing.  I also started on Lybrel.  Now I'n noticing that I'm feeling weepy.  Is it the hormone? Plus, I'm having some heat flashes too?  Before on Lexapro I was not having those.    Periomenopausal women - Help.  I guess I'm not being very patient.  Thanks, Kathy

[JSGeare]

Let's just suppose that there WERE studies that established -beyond any doubt- that there WAS a relationship between hormones -and panic.

So now, do your panics magically disappear? I doubt it. It has already been established that panic is ALL ABOUT your chemistry. How can it NOT be?

And so, the question is ... where do we go from here?

And the ANSWER is (are you paying attention?) IN YOU. The anxiety and panic came FROM your brain, and therefore, they will be tossed OUT by your brain. Make sense? Of course it makes sense.

What I'm telling you is to get in front of a psychiatrist SOONEST and get the meds that help with the rough spots -and the therapy that takes care of the problem -so you don't have this anymore. Stop messing about with theories about the hormones and the panic. You may be right-but so what? At then end of the day, you still have to deal with the panic, so let's get going, OK?

Oh. Did you say, "Everything in my life is the same?"

I doubt it. And if you DID say that, then there is something that changed, which you'd rather not discuss right now. Think about it.

Summer, we -I- want you back: happy, feeling good and lively; and soon is good.

Let's get going, OK?

[Summer123]

Hi.  I am about your age.  I've had panic attacks and anxiety all my life, but he last year has been the worst.  My hormones have recently run amok and I have no other known reason for my increased anxiety.  Everything in my life is the same.  I have gone thru menopause.  I did notice that even when I was doing good and living pretty much free of panic attacks except for in certain situations, that around that time of the month, or if I was physically ill, the anxiety level increased.  I would really like to know if there have been any studies done, etc. about hormones relationship to anxiety.  I really believe there is a link, but don't know what can be done about it.

[JSGeare]

Oh -KAY! NOW I've got it, and yes, you sure have got visits from good old Mr. P. When you get a moment, check out some of my journal entries, but for right now the deal is that some medication WITH therapy does much more than either by itself. And if you can manage it, get BOTH meds and therapy from a single provider, your friendly local psychiatrist. The meds will help you get throught the rough patches, and the therapy will help you dig down and root out the causes. I know 'ZACTLY what you are talking about because I am the poster child for the BTDT (Been There Done That) Club, when it comes to panic AND complete recovery.

Oh yeah, and hang out HERE, to ask and answer questions: you obvioulsy have the menatl muscle and experience to be of enormous benefit to us and make yopur contribution to the "collective wisdom" of the forum. As you HELP, you will BE helped.

Were riding with you on this.

[Kat-attack]

I changed my nick name so that it would be easier to remember.  I've never been in a "chat-room" before.  I suffered some panic attacks when I was 20 (32 years ago) but I didn't realise what was going on.  I had moved to another town and I walk into the apartment and had an overwhelming feeling to run, so I got in my car and 20 minutes later I was like "What am I doing"  anyway.  I realize now what was going on because 6 years after that I had them again.  Moved to new states.  I just kinda struggled through them.  Then three years ago I was really hit.  I thought I was going crazy and tried for two months to just get by, finally doctor and I did go to a therapist.  I am going back to the therapist this next week.  I guess it is not uncommon for heat flashes to kick off anxiety for some people.  But I also know I need to talk to someone and understand what stresses me out.  thanks, am feeling less weepy.

[JSGeare]

Ahem. Prithee, could you untangle a few things here for me? You posted as Kathy %^&()&%%&() or whatever, and THEN you post as Kat-attack. Wassup with that?

I've got the meds story -I think I do, anyway- but what about the therapy? Are you getting any? Are you assuming that the meds alone will bring about a cure of some kind? Fill me in, here, what's the back story, when did things start, originally, and how, and even why (if you know). With all that in hand, we'll see if we can make some sense of all this, OK?