Cathy, I do hope your DH gets to the doctor soon - I do not understand why some men put off seeing a doctor - it just does not make sense to me, but then perhaps I pay more attention to what women tell me! The dizziness and black-out spells can definitely be related to heart or artery problems, which can be very serious. My energy level is not up to where I would like it to be, but I think I will have to work very hard on it. I've had dizzy spells all my life, and in my 20s I was told it was due to hypoglycemia, which may still be partially the case. I'm going back to the doctor in mid November, and I'll see what he suggests then. My BP lately has been still been between 113/70 and 130/84, and it depends on the time of day and what I've been doing. I adjusted my dose of Metoprolol so that I take half a pill in the morning and the whole pill in the evening. That has seemed to even my BP reading out a bit. I'll try the thigh exercise to see if that helps. I have strong thighs and am good at doing squats. I wish I did not have to sit so much at work - I should make a point to take a walk around my work table more often - I have the largest office in the building, and then I can also take walks through the warehouse and look at the furniture! I like to see what finishes and fabrics people are putting on my chair designs! Lars

I just discovered this thread. How are you doing, Deedee? I am sorry to read your story, and the others here, because I understand this tale so well. One thing that has not been mentioned is that anxiety and panic are physical; they are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and they are usually genetic. This affliction is not necessarily attached to menopause. I had my first panic attack in 1976 (I'll never forget it) and they are still going on (am now in my sixties). One thing that is crucial is a good therapist, preferably a psychiatrist, if you have insurance that will cover that. Because psychiatrists are MDs, they understand your entire health situation, and can prescribe the tests necessary to see what kinds of meds you can and can't handle. They also understand these meds in ways that no other therapist or doctor does. My first "therapist" was a psychiatric social worker. I was having trouble with a lot of anxiety most early mornings, as I was showering and doing my hair and makeup. This guy had me analyzing my "unhappiness" at being a woman and having to compete in the world while being "miserable" about myself. The makeup was the trigger, in his opinion. When I escaped from him and landed with a real shrink, the doc said, "Well of course you're having morning shakes; your system is running out of meds. Take the pill as soon as you get up, dissolve it under your tongue (gets into the bloodstream much faster than swallowing it), wait 10 minutes, and then shower, etc." And it worked. I am a huge believer in meds for those with debilitating panic. I take 1 1/2 mgs of Xanax every day, broken into 1/4 mg halves, which I work through during the day. I also take 30 mgs of Celexa, which for me is mainly a mood elevator. When I wailed years ago to my shrink of now 21 years that I was going to be on meds for the rest of my life, he said to think of it as being a diabetic or epileptic, conditions which could not be cured, but could be lived with. I had a high-stress career which I was determined to keep, teaching foreign language to the military, had to be "on" all the time in front of high-energy, hormone-driven soldiers, sailors, Marines, etc., and the meds enabled me to do that. Have been retired for six years and was dropping down on my meds. But in April I had the worst panic attack of my life, it sent me to an ER for an EKG, and since then, my meds are back up. And as others have mentioned, I am a sort of hermit, happiest at home, although I can get pretty jumpy just doing housework. Deedee - I understand about your feeling worst before you go out and then often being better once you're out. That's very common with people like us. Have no idea what the solution is, other than to tell oneself that it will pass. Oh, and being a perfectionist can also be a part of this syndrome. Since we can't be perfect, we are set up for seeing ourselves as failures. I don't suppose that going on disability is an option, is it? BTW, my husband takes Buspar. It helps, but not completely. He can be a nervous wreck, although to look at him you'd never know it. Wishing you good luck and a much improved situation...

I also read recently that lab mice that slept in subdued light gained (I think) 50% more weight than mice that slept in total darkness. Curious. It's interesting that people did fine for centuries, using only candles and (later) gaslights. Then came the electrical era and most rooms were lit only by one or two small incandescent lamps. This was a huge improvement over the earlier systems. When I was a tyke in the 1950s, our kitchen had one light in the center of the ceiling, with a single 75 watt incandescent bulb in it. We had another light over the sink. That was all, and I don't recall any complaints from my mother or father. Today just look at the kitchen designs suggested on this forum. Often they have a dozen or more fixtures, using (if they're incandescents) enough electricity to comfortably *heat* a 150 square foot room. No wonder our electrical use is rising despite efforts to promote higher efficacy lighting.

Hi Ladies, I'm new here, but was very interested to read your posts. I too have suffered depression/anxiety in the past, but once hitting the menopause, it all worsened. As my periods tailed off, it was just in blips, then passed, but once they stopped altogether (I'm now 54), I went into a full blown episode of depression/anxiety/panic attacks, thinking the most strange thoughts, being unable to sleep, lying in bed some nights thinking "I'm going mad", also feeling strange, like I was in a different world from everyone else, feeling both physically and mentally ill. What on earth was going on I wondered. I researched the menopause, and then realised that all my symptoms were down to this. The anti-depressants I'd had for years stopped working. I finally gave in and got hrt, then did something REALLY silly. As I began to feel a bit better, I stopped dead the anti-depressants. Not smart!!!! Anyway, got REALLY ill, doc said I need both, not one or other. It's been a long hard slog, some days I wished I wouldn't wake up in the morning, but I am VERY SLOWLY getting there. Have also had some blood tests done, results next Monday, also changing hrt for another type. Anxiety/panic really awful, all I can say is try your best to ride it through, eventually it will subside. Then as much as is possible, try to enjoy the time you feel better, build into your brain happiness in each day. Very hard I know. Hope this post finds you all feeling a little better. Pudd