This is a long post, but I need help. And this board is often educated and helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I have been reading your posts with interest and I can feel your distress coming through. Here’s a couple of suggestions. They focus on CBT-type strategies for managing panic and obsessive thinking.

1) Compartmentalize. Write down your worries, and put that pad of paper aside for right now. Later today, set aside 20 minutes to worry about what you’re feeling. Think through—what if it is something bad? Will I be able to survive that news? Have I survived something bad in the past? What things helped me? How do I feel in my body when I’m scared? Does my stomach hurt? Is my heart racing? Notice those things. Write them down. When 20 minutes is up, take that piece of paper and crumple it up and throw it away.

2) Practice breathing exercises. Do alternate nostril breathing or box breathing. Box if you are already breathing shallowly. Do this for 5 minutes. Time it. Did you know that you only inhale out of one nostril at a time?

3) Focus on sensations. Go outside and identify 5 things—something you feel, something you smell, something you can hear, and something you see. Take your shoes off and feel the mist on your feet (if you’re in the DMV).

4) Spend 20 minutes with extended heat or cold. Can you access a hot tub? Do you have a pool nearby? Even sitting down with a heating pad under your legs.

There are other tools, but hopefully this gets you started. Your body is in an extended fight or flight mode and you’re searching for danger. Until you’re able to see your care team, there are strategies to help with calming down the parasympathetic nervous system.

Also, I think you should try and see someone who can do a more thorough medication review for HA/panic. You don’t have to figure it out yourself, but you can and should say “this is not helping enough. I need better strategies.” If you’re in the DMV I can provide suggestions.

Also, I’d step away from work unless it feels like it’s a good distraction. Getting ready for a trial sounds like it would ramp up anxiety for anyone. And you have leave, and FMLA, and you should use it.

This is a very very kind and helpful post - for many of us! Not to highjack this thread, but you mentioned you could provide some DMV suggestions and that would be hugely helpful. Many of us have been where the OP is now (I am dealing with a current HA issue today) and would love some help.

[Anonymous]

I have had several rounds of mid-cycle and even post menopausal bleeding/spotting. Always was checked out but either there was no cause or I had fibroids/polyps. Most likely not cancer so do not think that is the only explanation.

[Anonymous]

Could someone please explain what actually is causing pink or rosy brown blood during mid-cycle, if you're not actually getting your period??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I have been reading your posts with interest and I can feel your distress coming through. Here’s a couple of suggestions. They focus on CBT-type strategies for managing panic and obsessive thinking.

1) Compartmentalize. Write down your worries, and put that pad of paper aside for right now. Later today, set aside 20 minutes to worry about what you’re feeling. Think through—what if it is something bad? Will I be able to survive that news? Have I survived something bad in the past? What things helped me? How do I feel in my body when I’m scared? Does my stomach hurt? Is my heart racing? Notice those things. Write them down. When 20 minutes is up, take that piece of paper and crumple it up and throw it away.

2) Practice breathing exercises. Do alternate nostril breathing or box breathing. Box if you are already breathing shallowly. Do this for 5 minutes. Time it. Did you know that you only inhale out of one nostril at a time?

3) Focus on sensations. Go outside and identify 5 things—something you feel, something you smell, something you can hear, and something you see. Take your shoes off and feel the mist on your feet (if you’re in the DMV).

4) Spend 20 minutes with extended heat or cold. Can you access a hot tub? Do you have a pool nearby? Even sitting down with a heating pad under your legs.

There are other tools, but hopefully this gets you started. Your body is in an extended fight or flight mode and you’re searching for danger. Until you’re able to see your care team, there are strategies to help with calming down the parasympathetic nervous system.

Also, I think you should try and see someone who can do a more thorough medication review for HA/panic. You don’t have to figure it out yourself, but you can and should say “this is not helping enough. I need better strategies.” If you’re in the DMV I can provide suggestions.

Also, I’d step away from work unless it feels like it’s a good distraction. Getting ready for a trial sounds like it would ramp up anxiety for anyone. And you have leave, and FMLA, and you should use it.

I’m not the OP but who in the dmv were you going to recommend for HA? I’ve taken an ssri for years but I don’t think it really helps.

[Anonymous]

I am 43 and started having breakthrough bleeding years ago (38?), always the week before ovulation. It’s brown spotting and highly predictable…and predictive. If I spot late, I ovulate late, and then my period is late. I have had 2 ultrasounds and all is normal. Most likely a symptom of endometriosis due to some other indicators, but without opening me up they can’t say for sure. I was offered an iud, but I can’t tolerate hormones so I live with it. I hope this helps alleviate your fears a little!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could someone please explain what actually is causing pink or rosy brown blood during mid-cycle, if you're not actually getting your period??

Hormonal fluctuations, polyps, fibroids, endometriosis are all possibilities according to my OB.

[Anonymous]

I Hate when people on this forum constantly say " you need therapy" but I'm a CBT therapist and this post screams would benefit from cbt. I see you tried it but wonder how truly cbt the person was if they're not having you do work on reassurance seeking ( this forum, googling, calling drs a lot) and making sure you are doing lots of exposure. I find often people come to me saying previous therapist did cbt and it quickly becomes clear they weren't doing much of the behavioral work and therapist was giving reassurance target then having the patient practice Cognitive restructuring

[Anonymous]

Agree with a combination of CBT and ketamine infusions. You should absolutely explore this further.