Extreme Sadness - Menopause Message Board

poslusny55 · 09-05-2005, 06:42 AM

Hello everyone. I posted before regarding skipped periods for 8 months, then here it came out of the blues. My problem is this extreme sadness that makes me go into a state of despair. It seems to take over my whole body and is scaring me to death. I feel like theres no future, no past, no nothing, just doom. I was doing so well with Wellbutrin 100 mgs. per day (I tried the 300 but made me so nervous) and an over the counter menopausal pill. I also take clonopan as needed. Every time you get your period, do you return to your original state of being. I want to be normal again. I also have quit smoking, which is probably a wrong move at this time, with that I feel like I lost one of my best friends. Any other suggestions please help. I wish there was a chat room to talk to people when you're feeling this down.

armadillo pie · 09-05-2005, 08:21 AM

I am sorry to hear you are feeling so sad. I know from personal experience how you may feel.
From what you wrote it seems natural that you are going through this. First your homones out probably all over the place. Have you gone to a Dr. to have them checked? This is very important. You may need some progesterone. I take natural progesterone compounded for me and I feel great on it. But before that I was like you at times, very sad and low energy. I did not get any relief after my period ended, I still felt awful. Now that has changed and I feel much more stable. So if you haven't please check that out ASAP.
The ending of smoking can put you over the top. Smoking masks a lot of feelings and when you quit it can trigger feelings and make you feel out of control. it also causes your internal body and chemicals to be out of whack as well. I know- I quit many years ago and still remember how awful I felt for awhile. In fact I never took it up again because I remember vividly how terrible I felt when I quit and I will not put myself through that again. I became extremely depressed and anxious and never was before. I was very sad and low energy. Smoking changes the brain chemistry- it is a feel good drug. I now can recognize that and you will to one day when you have perspective. There is a lot on the web about the chemical and drug inducing effects of smoking. It is a very difficult addiction and some say harder to quit then heroin.
Are you on the Wellbutrin for smoking cessation? I do not know your level of activity, but when I quit and was vain about gaining weight ( which I did not gain an ounce) I would drag myself out and walk for at least an hour everyday- it was an amazing therapy to ease the anixety I had. If you do exercise now is the time to notch it up a bit and stay with it no matter how bad you feel. It kicks in endorphins in your brain which help you feel better.

Anyway, I know when it is happening in the moment it is hard to imagine it will pass, but it will. I am lving proof of that. The anxiety is from the not smoking. That will go away.

I think there are 12 step progams for people who quite smoking- check that out on the web. Also there is a depression board here- maybe you can connect there.
I know you'll be OK- I promise you'll feel better soon.

poslusny55 · 09-05-2005, 12:08 PM

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad to hear there is an end somewhere down the road. About 2 months ago, I have my hormone level checked. It was low for one, but I don't remember which and he didn't do anything for it. Also the Wellbutrin, I started taking months ago to help me stop smoking, which I never did stop at that time. I recently had pleurisy and that is when I decided to quit. I keep trying to look things up about smokingt, but no seem to go into great detail like I'd like to hear. I even tried to post in the smoking section here and none of the replies had anything to do with the side effects of smoking. I never thought to go onto the depression board. You don't know of any chat rooms anywhere for people to really talk about things do you?

thanks

armadillo pie · 09-05-2005, 05:17 PM

Check out 12 step programs for nicotine cessation. Even though they may say for people trying to quit. they are for people who have quit and need support. I do not know of any chat groups=- you need to do a search on the web for that.

Sounds like your hormones are out of wack ( with your age and also the stress of not smoking) this is causing your depression and anxiety. Plus as I said smoking masked feelings, so depression usually follows when you quit. But it goes away too.

Think about walking or exercising if you can- it was a life saver for me. Also deep breathing- meditation, yoga, anything that gets you moving and out of yourself. Therapy if you can afford it and also there are herbs you can take for the anxiety. Keep busy and occupied if you can.

I also slept alot during the time I quit. I really pamper myself to get over it. Like I said it was not easy, but I am so glad I no longer have this addiction. Once it leaves your body and you no longer crave it, you will see how much it had a hold on you. It is a terrible drug that causes you body and immune system to collapse in so many ways. It ages you- look at older people who smoke- they look so bad.
I know you don't know me- but trust me on this- thank goodness you quit- you are more then half way to becoming healthy and whole again.