Yep that all sounds very familiar - I don't hesitate to bet that it's your hormones or lack of them. Dancingqueen and Jillydolls stories kind of support that. The issue is that some hrt can exacerbate that anxious feeling or not diminish it - you have to find the right one for you. As I said I was certifiable in another post on Provera (I knew it wasn't the Premarin because that is the oestrogen in PrempackC - now discontinued which I had had before). My anxiety, panic, nausea all disappeared on Oestrogel and Utrogestan but I haven't nailed the lethargy, motivation or problems I get with progesterone generally..yet! I have a plan though!
I personally would say get back on hrt Dr's (especially men) really have no real idea just what an impact hormones can have on anxiety in menopausal women, they seem to think it is all about hot flushes and dry bits! - but you will have to wait for it to settle - patches probably a good way to if you think they are ok get back on the Femseven Conti (what do you have to lose and it will give you an idea of whether they were working before you gave them up - a bit like a before and after) or go and ask for another type of regime that you feel may help from what you have read here.