I forgot I had anxiety!! ...and hormone problems

[QuietTimePlease]

I've been having a really good month.  Last October I went of my anti-depressants.  I have  a few weeks of major anxiety, but it kind of died down.  The holidays were fine, with a mild bout of depression, but totally manageable.  Then, since Christmas, I've been feeling completely normal. No panic attacks, no unreasonable fears.  But, I have been having these weird hot flashes. They usually hit when I'm sleeping, and I wake up drenched in sweat.  Once, they hit while I was cooking dinner, but I just focused on the task at hand, blamed it on the hot stove, and it passed.  But last night was a doozy. I woke up drenched in sweat and shaking.  I normally can just tell myself at this point that I was just having a bad dream or something, but last night was out of control. Being half asleep, sweaty, and then so chilled I had the shakes sent me into a full blown panic attack. I couldn't sit still, I thought I was dying or had some serious illness that was causing me to have the sweats--like they were a symptom of something.

I don't know. I don't know of I should go to the Dr. and tell him about these attacks, or if I should just chalk it up to my anxiety.  Then I was telling my mom about it and she suggested that it's a hormone imbalance. I've been on the same birth control for 2.5 years and it may be time for a switch. My body is doing some very strange things that (to her) all sound like hormone spikes.  She's going through menopause and my symptoms sound eerily similar. 

So, anyone have any input on hot flashes/night sweats?  Or hormone imbalances that affect your anxiety attacks?
Is this just me?  Should I go see my Dr.?

[LindaRK]

Not sure what your age is, but you could be in perimenopause.  I had really bad hot flashes - 99% of them came at night and I would sweat through the sheets.  In the winter time, I would sweat and then start shaking with chills.  It was horrible.  I would sometimes have to change my pj's 3 x at night and sheets, too.  I went in and had a fsh test to check estrogen levels and mine were way off.  Got on hrt (estrogen only) and everything was good.

Could be your birth control did a number on your hormones as well. I would definitely see your doctor, as it's important to get a good night's sleep, as lacking that can cause a whole other set of problems!

[Mandyc]

I too am suffering from the night sweats.. i would wake up and my shirt is wet my hair is wet.. and it would only be after a couple hours of sleeping. i googled it.. shouldn't have but did.. saw everything it could be and it freaked me out and sent me into a full blown panic attack.. and to this day.. i still freak out about it daily. it is getting less and less instense.. but i am on birth control too. and noticed on my really sweaty nights it will the day before or a few days before my period.  also i can be getting ready in the morning and be sweating.. and i am usually always cold. i will need to open a window for air.. I am 35 and i think it really could be pre menopause.  to have night sweats. hot flashes, chills, anxiety, trouble sleeping and i have all of the above. so very well could be hormonal..

[MJ5]

Check the web for other people who are withdrawing from the same anti-depressant.  You will find that often it's just a bad withdrawal side effect.

[QuietTimePlease]

Interesting thought on withdrawals...but I've been off them since October.  Isn't that too much time to be suffering withdrawals.

About the peri menopause, the crazy thing is that I'm only 28! There's no way I should be having these symptoms yet.  Hence, my conclusion it's a hormone imbalance...

Thanks for all the comments.  I guess I'll try to switch up my birth control..

[LindaRK]

Never say never on peri - it can happen as young as 28.

Definitely get a check on your hormone levels.  You might need a change up on your BC.