Could it be hormones?

[written]

I feel like I've experienced a HUGE increase in anxiety and panic. It used to be that I would have episodes of panic (tears, quickened pulse) that could be directly traced to a cause (usually involving social anxiety). Out of nowhere I think I started experiencing panic attacks.

On a random day in mid-January I found myself crying and breathless with a RACING heart for no particular reason. I had no idea what was going on. It honestly felt like a spontaneous explosion in my body. I really think my feelings of worthlessness came AS I was experiencing this and were NOT the cause. I was sitting alone in my room. It hadn't been a particularly bad day. Just BOOM.

Next thing I knew, this was happening EVERY DAY. At work I would go to the bathroom to cry and as soon as I got home I would cry until I fell asleep. I used to have no problem sleeping through the night. Once this started though I began waking up at 3 and 4 in the morning. Sometimes in a panic but usually for no reason.

I broke down, told some friends in the medical field and they said I should try bupropion. I went to the doctor, got lab work, and got the prescription. I also saw a psychologist. She said I should get ALL of my hormones tested. I didn't think to ask her what she meant because I haven't been as sharp lately. Anyway, lab results come back and everything looks normal, I'm just slightly anemic.

The thyroid test was only for TSH. Should I ask for a T3 and T4 test too?

I'm also worried about cortisol levels after looking up anxiety online. Should I ask to get that tested too? Also, vitamin B levels? Does anyone have any experience with hormone induced anxiety and/or depression?

I guess I just want to make sure that this all didn't stem from a separate condition. Maybe I just want to be able to take a medicine or get a procedure and be rid of it. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

I've been on the bupropion for two weeks now and either the episodes have slowed down or I've gotten better at holding them in. I'm not sure.

Anyway, any advice?

[written]

Hi kirsty,

Thanks for telling me about your experience. I know how hard it is.

And you’ve been dealing with it for a year? I wish there was a magic pill we could all take to be rid of this.

[written]

No birth control, no medicine at all before this began.

I’m confident it started mid-January around the 15th. Everyday felt so awful that after two weeks I HAD to see the doctor. I couldn’t take it anymore.

I’ve now been on bupropion for two weeks as of Saturday.

On Friday and Saturday I experienced it again and it was AWFUL.

I just want to go back to normal.

Which vitamin levels should I have checked?

[written]

That’s terrible. I just want to go see the doctor and get everything done all in one go.

Also the psychologist said to see a psychiatrist about getting something to keep me asleep all night.

I hope you get a proper and correct diagnosis and I hope you feel better soon too.

[dore13]

You might want to see an endocrinologist, they can do tests other doctors don't. Also, sometimes a medicine is needed to fix a problem like a hormone imbalance, but other issues no medicine can cure. It has to be handled through therapy and learning coping skills, in psychiatry medicine is suppose to subdue the issues so you can learn techniques to get control. I kind of hope it is a hormone imbalence, because it would be so much easier to fix.

[written]

I’d rather it be a hormone imbalance too. I don’t see how I can get out of this state of panic otherwise.