Anxiety question for WOMEN only

[little_blue_jay]

I have had really bad anxiety and panic attacks for about 16 years now, funny lately the panic attacks seem to be getting less frequent, only happens really bad when I'm standing in line at the bank but nothing new there! But the general day to day anxiety is getting alot worse. (Which I sort of know why - I just recently ran out of Unemployment Insurance, I found a job but they've got me switching shifts alot and I'm having trouble sleeping, I've had intermittent insomnia since the anxiety started, it's always situational, like when I've been on afternoons and I have to wake up early for dayshift, I just can't sleep, and the lack of sleep makes me anxious - vicious cycle, I know!) Anyway, to my question for all you anxious women out there~~

Does severe anxiety affect your period?? Make it shorter in duration, or less frequent? I've been noticing this.

I only just this week found myself a family doctor, I'm seeing him 3 weeks from now. (We have a severe doctor shortage in Ontario! Took me years to get this one.) I've been seeing a naturopath who told me "my adrenals are shot" and also got me to get bloodwork done (multiple times) at the walk-in clinic and he told me I also have mild hyperthyroidism, so he gave me both adrenal and thyroid pills and the last blood tests I had the thyroid came back normal. So shouldn't my periods be getting back to normal?

It just seems like as my general day to day anxiety gets worse, over the last few months or so, my periods have been buggered up more and more. Like, they're getting shorter, not that I'm 'complaining' about that per se, but just that it isn't normal for me. Does anxiety affect a woman's cycle like that?

[ladyblue22]

Yes, it can affect your cycle. Any type of stress or physical change does. I can tell right away if i had a stressful month emotionally or physically  just by watching my cycle. No worries about that, but you should get some relieve for your anxienty...its a terrible thing to go through for so many years.

[WendyLady03]

Yeah I've been reading up on fibroids, and it certainly sounds familiar. I'm really hoping that it's just the dang stress from anxiety, but it has been way too long so I'm not so sure anymore. But seeing as how anxiety messes basically EVERYTHING up, I'm holding out hope that that's all it is.

Good luck with your new family doc, keep me updated on how you're doing!

[little_blue_jay]

Thanks for replying back!

Wow - sure sounds like your cycle is nasty, only a week or 2 in 3 months NOT menstruating!?! I don't know how common they are at your age, but have you been checked for fibroids? My mom had/has that, her periods were really heavy/went on for ages, etc. (She's past the change now, so she didn't bother to get anything done about it.)

Yeah I gotta wait 3 weeks till my appointment with my new family doc:(   I'm going to see my naturopath tomorrow so I'll see what he says.

I just really wasn't sure if anxiety could affect the cycles - I'm already well aware that it affects your heart, your breathing, your digestion, your muscles, your vision, your balance, need I go on ;)

[WendyLady03]

I believe that anxiety can definitely affect your menstrual cycle, just like any kind of stress can affect it. And anxiety is for sure STRESSFUL. I noticed that the few months leading up to Panic Attack 2010, (the official name I've given the occasion), my period was very light and didn't last long at all. I was starting to get worried about that, then the great Panic Attack 2010 came along and now my period has gone in the opposite direction......as in it's way too heavy and way too long. I think I've only had a week or 2 in the past 3 months where I wasn't having a period, or whatever it has now become.

I was told numerous times that it was due to the anxiety, but I have an appt next week just to make sure everything is A-Okay with my body. Having anxiety can definitely throw every out of whack, but if you want to be sure it's not something else you may want to make an appt with you doc. In my non medical opinion I think it may just be due to the anxiety, but it never hurts to make sure. Take care!!