Peri menopausal and cry at the drop of a hat

I am peri menopausal and I cry at everything. I am on this emotional roller coaster and I want off. I have always been a positive person but I just feel down. I burst into tears at nothing and I hate it. This happened a bit back but I got over it, taking a bit longer this time. I don't want to take medication for this, I am open to herbs or something natural. If I am not crying I am a royal nightmare in my moods and I do recognize this and let my husband know.

I know I need to get back on the exercise wagon but I just have no motivation to do anything. I like to sleep, then I feel like crap.

I would love advice or someone to come and drag me out and make me hike, get on my bike or just plan do anything. How do I snap out of this?

Are you sure this is totally related to peri symptoms? What you are describing are the symptoms of depression.
Please go to the doctor and get yourself checked out; hormonally, emotionally, and just a general check up, with blood work. And don't let your doctor tell you its "just part of getting older."
Exercise, any exercise would go a long way in helping the way you're feeling. Even going out for a walk.
There really aren't any well validated studies on the effectiveness of herbal remedies on peri symptoms. Some things work for some people. But exercise and good nutrition *are* things that work.

I've found that using hemp protein powder goes a long way toward helping to alleviate perimenopause symptoms for me. The essential fatty acids in hemp help to balance my hormones naturally. Also, the EFA's in hemp are in almost perfect ratios to what the human body needs. The protein helps build muscle which contributes to insulin control which influences estrogen and other hormones.

I'm fortunate that I haven't suffered much from emotional swings through perimenopause so I'm not sure if EFA's help out there. It wouldn't hurt to try though. Hemp is relatively inexpensive and good for you on many levels. You may have to use it daily for a month or more to notice any difference if your EFA's are really low right now.

I use Manitoba brand and keep mine refrigerated.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

And don't let your doctor tell you its "just part of getting older."
Exercise, any exercise would go a long way in helping the way you're feeling. Even going out for a walk.
There really aren't any well validated studies on the effectiveness of herbal remedies on peri symptoms. Some things work for some people. But exercise and good nutrition *are* things that work.

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Ditto!

One of the things that motivates me to exercise when I really don't want to is to remind myself that I've NEVER been sorry that I exercised.

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Originally Posted by Lauralyn

I am peri menopausal and I cry at everything. I am on this emotional roller coaster and I want off. I have always been a positive person but I just feel down. I burst into tears at nothing and I hate it. This happened a bit back but I got over it, taking a bit longer this time. I don't want to take medication for this, I am open to herbs or something natural. If I am not crying I am a royal nightmare in my moods and I do recognize this and let my husband know.

I know I need to get back on the exercise wagon but I just have no motivation to do anything. I like to sleep, then I feel like crap.

I would love advice or someone to come and drag me out and make me hike, get on my bike or just plan do anything. How do I snap out of this?

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at age 50 I am in full blown, dripping with hot flash sweat menopause and I am pleading with you- get to a Doctor! While mood swings are normal to a degree, what you are describing is WAY more drastic and warrants checking into!
As far as menopause goes......any and all exercise helps, even if you don't feel like it. I lie to myself all the time, "you only have to do 10 minutes"...but once I am going I always feel better (:

I went through the crying phase a few years ago. It was awful. when it started impacting me at work I went to my doctor. I can't hormones and the herbal remedies weren't cutting it for me. So I ended up on a low dose anti-depressant to get through it. My focus also improved. and everyone else is right - exercise definitely helps, as well as nutrition.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Please go to the doctor and get yourself checked out; hormonally, emotionally, and just a general check up, with blood work. And don't let your doctor tell you its "just part of getting older."

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+++1. If it's something simple, like a sluggish thyroid, it can be correctly easily. Try to be open to any modality that helps. If nothing else, it will be easier for your husband to live with you :p

I've been in meno-hell for awhile now. I've done lots of work around my emotional stuff with a therapist, so I can usually move through the ups & downs. For me, all of the unresolved stuff in my life did a U-turn & hit my upside my head in menopause.:( I see this happening to a lot of my friends as well.

The physical stuff - not so great. In fact, I'm seeing a naturopath this week because I'm really sensitive to medications. I have dripping wet hot flashes. Night sweats are worse - I don't recall the last time I had a night of complete rest without waking up sweating. And it's winter. Ugh.

just empiric experience, but I found that extra vitamin e helped my night sweats through peri, meno, and meno re visted because of endocrine therapy (estrogen blocker) post breast cancer. Don't expect instant results though it takes a bit of time to add up.

marni

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Originally Posted by Lauralyn

I am peri menopausal and I cry at everything. I am on this emotional roller coaster and I want off. I have always been a positive person but I just feel down. I burst into tears at nothing and I hate it. This happened a bit back but I got over it, taking a bit longer this time. I don't want to take medication for this, I am open to herbs or something natural. If I am not crying I am a royal nightmare in my moods and I do recognize this and let my husband know.

I know I need to get back on the exercise wagon but I just have no motivation to do anything. I like to sleep, then I feel like crap.

I would love advice or someone to come and drag me out and make me hike, get on my bike or just plan do anything. How do I snap out of this?

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You are describing classic depressive symptoms. The proper medication with supervision can be very helpful. "Natural" really doesn't mean much and in fact some "natural" remedies can be more dangerous than correct medication.

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Originally Posted by Irulan

You are describing classic depressive symptoms. The proper medication with supervision can be very helpful. "Natural" really doesn't mean much and in fact some "natural" remedies can be more dangerous than correct medication.

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"Natural" drugs are still drugs...only they are untested and unregulated. Lots of natural things are actually toxic or have dangerous drug interactions. Natural ≠ safe, even though many people wrongly assume this.

I echo everyone else's pleas to see your doctor. There could well be something unrelated to perimenopause at play. There's no need to suffer if there's something to be treated.

And please let us know how you are doing.

Thanks so much all for the input and support! I so agree with the comments about the herbs but I do know there are some out there that will help out and I thought I might get some insight.

Many of you also spoke of the night sweats those are such a blast! It is also so much fun when I am at work and want to rip my clothes off cause I am starting to sweat!

Artista, thanks for the information on the HEMP I will try that!

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Originally Posted by Artista

Ditto!

One of the things that motivates me to exercise when I really don't want to is to remind myself that I've NEVER been sorry that I exercised.

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Lauralyn

Thanks so much all for the input and support! I so agree with the comments about the herbs but I do know there are some out there that will help out and I thought I might get some insight.

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If you are set on going this route, get a subscription to ConsumerLab.com where they test supplements in an independent lab. I'm sure you know that supplements are unregulated & can contain all kinds of things. Sometimes they contain only a fraction of what they advertise.

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

If you are set on going this route, get a subscription to ConsumerLab.com where they test supplements in an independent lab. I'm sure you know that supplements are unregulated & can contain all kinds of things. Sometimes they contain only a fraction of what they advertise.

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Thanks for the tip on consumerlab.com!

Lauralyn
My two older sisters are in the throngs of menopause, one is on HRT, the other is managing with diet. I have scattered symptoms.

My mom had symptoms much like yours and she said she just took it one day at a time and then one day everything was all better.

Hang in there.

Sent you a pm. Let me know what you think.

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Originally Posted by Brandi

Sent you a pm. Let me know what you think.

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Hi Brandi I did not see anything from you.

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Originally Posted by ACG

Lauralyn
My two older sisters are in the throngs of menopause, one is on HRT, the other is managing with diet. I have scattered symptoms.

My mom had symptoms much like yours and she said she just took it one day at a time and then one day everything was all better.

Hang in there.

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Hi ACG,
Thanks so much I would like to manage with diet or a natiral way. I so go one day at a time.

Diet is important. So is exercise.
But, you still need to go to the doctor and get everything checked out. Be armed with information!
Please don't rule out anything that may help. There are some women, with the severe emotional symptoms you have, who have found great relief with a very low dose of an anti-depressant. So, if the normal starting dose would be 25 or 50 mg, they might give you 10 mg.
I am 10 years post menopause, so I do understand. I didn't experience the symptoms you describe, but I had plenty of hot flashes. I just drank a lot of water and went on.
But, when the symptoms are impacting the quality of your life in the way you describe, you do not have to suffer. Peri-menopause can last 5-10 years, so think about how you want to feel in your daily life.

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Originally Posted by Lauralyn

Hi Brandi I did not see anything from you.

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Ok that was strange! I wrote this big long message and it is not there! hmmm? Ok will try again.