Menopause Discussion > Alternative Therapies

vitamins for anxiety eg St John's Wort

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jillydoll:
Hi poppi.
The only thing that helped my anxiety was antihistamines.
But they've got side effects, like drying you out, headaches, ect
But they really did help.
I'm actually back on them now for a different reason, (I've got a liver condition)so hopefully
my anxiety should lessen even more. (My hrt does help..)
As for turning into our mothers, how about mother in law,?
Think I would kill myself......lol

Jdx

sweettooth:
Poppi, not genetic but very common at this stage of life! you are not on your own that's for sure.  I have had to increase my AD as the weepy episodes were becoming way too frequent and then the anxiiety raised its ugly head! it may do good to speak to your GP

Best wishes x

paisley:
I would also recommend counseling as it really helped me when I had PND. Talking to my husband was good but not all the time as he was getting fed up of me moaning all the time & so an independent person really helped me & my marriage. I wish I could do it again actually with meno. Xx

Poppi:
Hello again,
I forgot about this question (among other things!) but thanks for your replies. I have GP appointment next week so will make a list of things to ask. I've had counselling 3 times and while it helped short term, I know I need something else now too. All I want to do most of the time is very little, read, play the piano, be in my bed (can be for 11 hours at a time as I feel safe and out of the way there) and this annoys my husband as he is a very active, fast-forward kind of man. He is super-sweet to others, it's like flicking on a switch and he goes from "bear with a sore head" to "can't do enough to help". I brought this up yesterday and he said I was exactly the same. I used to sometimes say thanks to him for being such a lovely man and helping (with chores etc) and he said he's nice to me if I'm nice to him. That's a big responsibility if him being sweet and nice to me is only as a result of me being sweet and nice to him?

Oh I'm tying myself up in knots here! Jillydoll, when you say antihistamines helped you - how did that work? I have some for when I get hayfever badly and can't sleep, so hopefully that's a potential help. I wish sometimes that I hadn't retired as I feel kind of homesick and miss the people I worked with very much. I have never cried so much for so long EVER, I'm worried about forgetting so much, being so lazy, my hair coming out, looking a mess, my nails breaking and being sore, not being able to make simple decisions never mind harder ones...........if I likes the taste of alcohol I could quite happily drink myself into oblivion.

Goodness me, I came on here meaning to ask advice for a firming cream for crepey skin on my neck/bust and hooded eyelids, sorry it has turned into such a moan.
                  Poppi x

Dancinggirl:
Poppi - welcome to MM

There are few things you have mentioned in your various posts that I feel are significant:
You are on painkillers and Amitriptyline for back pain and these could be contributing to your low mood and the lack of ‘joy in life'. Amitriptiline is an anti depressant and these will often make one feel numb or flat and detached from life.
You say you wish you hadn't retired so you are feeling a great sense of loss and probably a big drop in self confidence.
You are also spending more time with your husband and even the happiest of marriages can struggle when they spend too much time together.
You say you often spend 11 hours in bed each day - this is not good for your health and well-being - physically or mentally.

What is actually wrong with your back? I know from my own experience that GPs are very keen to simply kosh patients who have back pain with heavy duty painkillers and ADs when in fact there may be other options. I have degeneration in my lower spine with a bulging disk but I had to see a rheumatologist privately to get this diagnosis. My GP just wanted me on amitriptyline which gave me horrid side effects. Co-codamol is very addictive and difficult to come off, it can cause bad constipation, so is really not good to be on unless absolute necessary.
Appropriate exercise, physiotherapy and perhaps socialising a bit more might really help you. I know this won't be easy - the rheumatologist told me to keep moving and not sit down too much and many of us want to hide away at this time of life. 
Have a really good at your lifestyle choices.  Don't try to change everything at once and don't be ambitious but perhaps set a simply routine that you can easily do e.g.
eat small highly nutritious meals regularly. Cut out as much sugar and saturated fat as possible.
Take three, ten minute walks each day and walk as fast as you can.
Get out in the sunshine to increase your vitamin D absorption. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are, low mood, low immunity, aching joints and fatigue.
Be kind to yourself and do things that you enjoy to boost your confidence.
There is only so much your husband can do to help you - I think your job was a very important part of your life so maybe you could get involved in a local charity or club that uses your skills and experience. Don't waste your talents.
The answer is probably not more pills and potions but just some simple changes in your lifestyle.
BTW - the Clinique Smart creams are great for dry, sagging skin - they gives a radiant glow.
DG x

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