Lara Briden's Forum

Hi All,

Ugh does anyone feel this way.. I feel like we are all looking for validation. None of my girl friends or my mother have gone through what I am going through with this. I started a SSRI two months ago because I was getting bad panic attacks and was literally crying all the time. Plus my insomnia was getting so bad that I would wake up at 3am every night and literally couldn't get back to sleep until 7am.

I did not feel this bad with my hormones before December when I got Covid for the first time. Before that I definitely felt off but getting covid made the everything worst. My vertigo and dizzy feeling started in the September and insomnia, itchy back, no sex drive, painful swollen breasts around my period and two day periods. Then came the brain fog, literal exhaustion from doing the bare minimum. Then it turned into being terrified to be alone. The anxiety was getting so bad, that I felt like I had to start something take the edge off.

I saw a hormone specialist and she recommended birth control since I am 42. Has anyone started Birth control and did it help? Thanks so much!

Birth control made my mood worse and had to stop. I'm 46 and currently have all the symptoms you describe and anxiety is a big one for me. I barely leave the house now and I hate being on my own I get scared. Sounds to me like you need to be on HRT not birth control

I also had covid in December & my life feels like it has spiralled out of control … insomnia, fatigue, gut issues, anxiety … I’m still resting every day & getting nothing done. I also went off pill in Jan so have no idea if I’m dealing with long covid or menopause issues!! I’ve tried lots of things & it’s now been suggested I try hrt - I’m 54 so slightly older than you.