For a couple weeks (2) I'll be feeling like I'm getting my anxiety under control and then the rug is pulled out from underneath me. I go to check my calendar and sure enough, it's one week until I start my period. I suffer bad during this week and while on my period. My anxiety just consumes me and my every move and thought. I am much more emotional, much more agitated and just feel really depressed and hopeless. There are also many times I feel spacey and out of control. Of course I experience some of these symptoms on my "normal" weeks, but just not to this extent. The PMS? hightens these feelings and emotions so much that I almost can't take it. It's a giant setback for me. I just started Celexa 1 week ago, I take a half of a 20mg tablet every day. I was also prescribed ativan "as needed" (I take a half of a .5mg tablet). I will be starting birth control in about a week or two (you know, the sunday following your period). Will all of this eventually help??? I feel like I could making a HUGE GAIN if only I could get my PMS under control! I want to get better, I just want to be normal :)
Q: Can PMS make my high anxiety/agoraphobia worse? How do I deal with it?
Thank you for your question.
PMS can most definately have an impact on anxiety. There was a previous post written about this subject: When Anxiety is Tied to Hormonal Changes.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) also has information on how hormones impact anxiety and one theory they put forth is that the connection may help to explain why women seem to develop anxiety more often than men. In the article, it states, "Although the details are still unclear on how hormones affect anxiety disorders in women, the early evidence does indicate that connections do exist."
It seems much more research is needed in this area to help women cope with an increase in anxiety during times of hormonal fluctuations.
It is a great first step that you have seen this correlation in your life. Talk with your doctor, therapist and your gynecologist to see if there is some strategies and treatment you may be able to incorporate to help you through this week or two prior to your period beginning. Just knowing and understanding there is a cause (and that the cause will soon be gone) may help you cope and develop coping strategies.
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