can anxiety cause this?

[jazzmynn]

I have been having mood swings, chills/hot spells, fatigue and other symptoms.  I also am on estrogen for menopause sym[toms that was recently changed.  Doctors can't decide if it's hormonal or anxiety.  Anyone relate?
I have been on lexapro for 9 years.  Have tried a couple other antidepressants with no luck.

[ingabord]

I am going through menopause, too.  I begin having bad anxiety about 7 years ago.  I saw my primary care physician who was very happy to put me on 75 mgs of effexor, which he doubled soon afterwards.  I finally weaned myself off of it after two years of migraines and sudden flare-ups of extreme anger.

I finally figured out the source of my anxiety - hormonal fluctuations.  My anxiety was always followed by a hot flash.  The more intense the feeling of anxiety - which is that  physical feeling in the lower chest area - the more intense the hot flash.  Sometimes it feels like the incidents come rapidly, one after the other.  Sometimes it's only every so often.   I just have to remind myself that it is a hormone issue, but it can be exhausting.  

The other thing I realized was that when I had the physical feeling of anxiety, my brain would come up with some reason I was feeling that way:  I had bills to pay, I forgot to do something at work, I said something to someone I shouldn't, etc.  And it was almost always at night that this happened.  Now I just tell myself it's a hot flash and hormones.  Another thing you can do is distract yourself.  I turn on the radio to a station where I won't hear agitated talk or anxiety-producing commercials.  I find that when I am active, I have these feelings, but to a lesser degree, because my brain is more distracted.

I think that  when a woman gets near to an age when menopause is likely to occur, doctors should consider that what they think of as anxiety might be related to sudden hormone fluctuations. Doctors need to ask deeper questions related to women's body and age changes.  

I would suggest you find a doctor willing to discuss your menopause with possible hormone treatments or just validating that your condition is not psychological, but really, truly physical.

Inga

[chris_anderson]

i am 99% sure that is anxiety stress less relax!

[remar]

You could be having two things going on at once. The Lexapro may need to be adjusted or it may have stopped working for you.
The menopause might be getting worse and your estrogen dose may need to be increased.
Have your Gyno check your hormone levels. Take care. Remar