For handling it, I have found that regular exercise and the right amount of sleep (I have to use prescribed meds to get it) can help. My therapist also taught me some self-talk that really does help: "I am having the feeling of anxiety. I am having the feeling that I can't breathe/my heart is racing/etc. I feel like I am in danger but when I look around I see I am safe."

I know, it doesn't seem like it can help, but after he and I did it a number of times, I began to be able to do it on my own. Like, in the bathroom at work when I've burst into tears in front of my boss. It definitely helps me regain my center.

Anonymous wrote:What are natural ways to handle? I am perimenopause too and so moody, teary, sweats, racing heart, anxiety esp early morning. I hate this and want it to go away without ssri. Really feel it's hormonal, midlife existential anxiety?

Get a treadmill and start running. Eat nutrient dense food. Accept that we all die (albeit probably in 40 years for you and not tomorrow). What would you do differently going forward?

And if that doesn't change things for the better, see the doc.

I too get terrible anxiety attacks around the same time every night. I also wondered if it was a heart issue or hormonal problem. I'm 41 and this board has alerted me to the joys of perimenopause. I think our brains train themselves to respond this way and the key is to break the cycle. I have found that a low dose beta blocker taken an hour before the witching hour can help. Also I have low dose conazepam for those really bad weeks (I find the frequency and severity of the attacks happen at ovulation and PMS time). It's 12.5 MG of a dissolving wafer. Calms me down to sleep.

It sucks to deal with this and my symtoms flared up between age 39-41.

Has anyone tried Paxil or Brisdelle for this?

I am so glad I saw this thread. I have been experiencing pretty severe anxiety (physical symptoms) from dusk until about 8pm every night since daylight savings. It is reassuring to hear I'm not alone. I'm reluctant to take medication but my normal stress management techniques have not been working (exercise, meditation, deep breathing).

What are natural ways to handle? I am perimenopause too and so moody, teary, sweats, racing heart, anxiety esp early morning. I hate this and want it to go away without ssri. Really feel it's hormonal, midlife existential anxiety?

I recommend CBT and an ssri.

Yes. I used to get severe panic attacks everyday at dusk. Right around 5/6 when it started to get dark. It was awful

First thing upon waking I vomit/ dry heave my anxiety is so bad.

If I'm feeling more generally anxious, it's late nights, especially when I'm the only one awake. If I'm REALLY going through a rough patch, I wake up sobbing every morning. Big huge to everyone else dealing with anxiety!

Mine is Monday morning hits
Hard.0

I've had the same symptoms lately. Generally at night and when I wake up in the morning. I attribute it to peri-menopause. Sometimes, it wakes me up with a start in the middle of the night. It's quite frightening.

Middle off the night, hence my oft-shared here mantra: never trust that lying bitch in the middle of the night. I repeat it as needed and remind myself that I am, in fact, okay, even if my hormones or id or whatever is telling me differently.

Evenings generally. And then whatever hour on weekends.

Anonymous wrote:
Very early morning, like 2am.

Most people have night time periods of wakefulness which they don't even remember in the morning, because they fall back asleep almost instantly. Whenever I am particularly exercised about something, I wake up with palpitations or racing pulse, convinced that whatever was worrying me will spiral out of control (cancer, child failing in school, humiliation at work, etc), and despite all my auto-persuasions, I have great trouble falling back asleep.

Me too! I can't fall back asleep for hours, if at all. I started taking Trazodone before bed, and it keeps me asleep through my crazy hour.