Well I might be joining the peri club!

[Brandi]

Brandi, nothing bad whatsoever happened to me. Really, I never even thought about "perimenopause" or had any symptoms of any kind.

I'd be really careful about attributing mental or emotional challenges to hormones.

That is really good to know. You always hear the bad side of things like this and I know there are people who have had good experiences too. Or I should say it didn't bother them.

[shootingstar]

I didn't pay attention to this thread until now and realized what the topic was about.

So far, past 3 yrs. I haven't had bad experiences being in peri. For past few months, I just wake up with a flushed face in morning, 1-2 times per wk. and then in 5 min. the warmth is over. It's not even a hot flash for me. Just a warm cosy feeling.

Yes, am fading away period-wise.

Any emotional stuff is not attributed to that, I've had some major personal changes going on in life for past year.

[Brandi]

Sooooo not part of the club just yet. But the mental ward if I don't relax. I feel lame that I can't control this anxiety sometimes. Sigh.....They want me to take zoloft or something like it. I am going to look into natural remedies first as well as talk to my acupuncturist. He does chinese herbs for this and that. Also I am going to just relax from here on out.I know I can get over this myself.
I needed to know my body was not suffering from anything but my brain. If that makes since. PVC can be scary. But maybe now that once again I know I am physically ok I will start feeling better. Hormones are great, good LDL, all just where it should be and better so that is good. Now relax silly! And start counting those blessing's!
Thanks again for listening to me ladies. Merry Christmas!! XOXO

[owlice]

So you'll take "natural remedies" and "chinese herbs" that are not tested for safety and efficacy, but you won't take medication that is?? That seems ... ah.... backwards to me.

Sometimes I see people waving around the phrase "it's natural" as though that translates to "safe." Poisonous mushrooms and hemlock are natural, though definitely not a good idea.

I get PVCs, too, and when I feel them, I take a really deep breath and then exhale; if that doesn't stop them, I cough. Doing one or both of these things nearly always makes them stop.

I hope you feel better soon!

[Crankin]

You should keep an open mind, Brandi. Anxiety is a disabling thing and sometimes you need more than one thing to help make it go away. And, many of the natural remedies and herbs are unproven and could be dangerous. Some of the natural things that do work for many people are controlled breathing, meditation, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, as well as learning what your triggers are for anxiety, keeping a thought journal, and yoga.
What you mentioned before, about your mother is really important. Even though you made the choice to separate yourself from her and lead a healthy lifestyle, with a supportive spouse, the fact is that anyone who experiences living with an alcoholic parent, abandonment, or any neglect at a young age has experienced trauma. It stays deep inside of our brains and can affect us in the most mysterious ways, anxiety being one. I have seen this over and over again in my work. While Al-Anon is a great support group, it really doesn't address these issues.
I suggest you work with a therapist who is knowledgeable in holistic strategies, but also has connections with a prescriber who is a psychiatrist, not your GP or gynecologist. PM me if you want more information.

[Brandi]

My mind is very open. i don't believe FDA approved drugs are actually any better then natural remedies to be honest and just because they are approved really means nothing. I can give many cases of approved drugs that have caused major harm. I will go with what I believe is right for me for sure.

[indysteel]

While I have nothing against drug therapies and understand that many people find them to be helpful and/or necessary, have you considered some form of talk therapy to help you deal with your anxiety and stress levels?

[goldfinch]

No matter what, evidence is good. You do not want to be an experiment of one, not knowing what experience others have had.

Here are a few reviews of what there is of evidence on some herbal remedies and dietary supplements for anxiety:
http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/13/4/312.full
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/568309
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18281839

The NIH has a site where you can look up search herbal remedies and supplements for what evidence is known about their effects: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d.../herb_All.html

Arm yourself with knowledge.