Psychosis

Question: Can my strange dreams be related to the start of menopause? I think I maybe be starting menopause. I do have an appointment with my gyno. But I have been having some really strange dreams lately. They are really effecting my sleep. I don't know why else I would be having these dreams. Has anyone else experienced this at the onset of menopause?

Answer: Quite possibly, yes. I find that I have very strange dreams in the couple of days before my period, so I guess maybe there is some connection between hormone levels and weird dreams! The other thing I've heard is that when your body temperature is higher than usual, you don't sleep as deeply, and so you're more likely to remember your dreams. I don't know much about the menopause, but I know one of the symptoms is hot flushes, so it could be that your night time body temperature is a little higher than usual. So maybe your dreams are always that weird and you don't usually remember them!

Question: How long do you have hotflashes after menopause? My mom started menopause a few years back and still has severe hot flashes. Her doctor doesn't want to put her on estrogen because of the increased risk of stroke. Is this normal for her to still be having hot flashes? Thanks to anyone who helps.

Answer: The years you have hot flashes for are actually referred to as peri-menopause. You don't hit menopause until you finish these symptoms. A women can perimenopausal for 5-10 years.

Question: Do you feel like you are going crazy when you start menopause? What are some of the thing that help with menopause. My test came back that I was in menopause. And oh boy do I have anger and crying and feelings of going crazy. I also have anxiety disorder. Any advice?

Answer: Just live your life as normal but extra sleep or naps in the afternoon it takes away anxiety and anger. Think of the joy you will feel never having your monthly tormentor again :-)

Question: What is a natural way to deal with menopause? I had cancer of the cervix, and the radiation treatment threw me into early menopause. What is a natural alternative to hormones?

Answer: As far as I know, and I have read all the latest info about natural alternatives to hormones, nothing really helps. The only remedy (partly a remedy) was to take some of the anti-anxiety medication like Prozac etc. Of course there are natural anti depressants (look at this site) http://www.menopause.realage.com/content.aspx/topic/17 but I am not sure how well they alleviate the symptoms. I wish I kept these medical journals I get to give you the reference. If I find it I will let you have it.

Question: I am nearing menopause, how should I adjust my diet to minimize the effects of it? Also, what changes in my lifestyle will help in reducing the effects of menopause so that I can live a healthy life into my 50s, 60s, and after retirement?

Answer: If there was a way to minimize menopause effects through diet I guess most women would have preferred that on any HRT or other ways. I would say you need to adjust your diet no matter how old you are. The sugars, starches and fast food in general are the enemies of a healthy life style. What is called the Mediterranean diet i.e. lots of fish, vegetables, fruits, olive oil those should be the main ingredients on your table. You can look it up in Google or Yahoo. Then there is another very important thing and its exercise, even just walking 5 times a week for half or one hour is so very important. If you can go to exercise classes that would be great. Sleep 7 hours a night I think these are the main guidelines. But, if you think these steps will diminish or minimize menopause effects, that would be an illusion. Some women experience very harsh symptoms and take HRT and some can live with the symptoms, its very personal.

Question: What are some natural cures or herbs to combat menopause? Are there any natural cures to comabat the symptoms of menopause like moodswings, bloating, confusion, and hot flashes?

Answer: - Nordic Naturals Omega Woman supplement - Black Cohosh, scientifically proven to work. hope this helps.

Question: when you start the menopause do your periods lessen? i am nearly 50 and my periods are now coming every two weeks, is it the start of the menopause? i thought u would have less periods?

Answer: You're probably in perimenopause http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/perimenopause/DS00554. For some women, periods lighten and decrease; for others it's just the opposite. If your bleeding is abnormally heavy, you may want to see your physician. Some doctors will do a blood FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) test to determine your hormone levels. Menstruation is a delicate balance, requiring your hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries to send signals to each other via hormones. In perimenopause, these signals aren't sent correctly and can result in menstrual irregularities.

Question: How do I help my wife with menopause? I have been married 7 years and love my wife very much. How do I help her go through menopause? I have started getting educated on what menopause is and try to understand what she is going through. Is there other things I ca do?

Answer: You're wife is very fortunate to have you. You are doing a good thing by educating yourself on the topic and learning what you can. That will help. There are too many people out there who don't know what to do and part of the problem is that they don't know what they're dealing with. Another important thing is to just support her. It's not an easy time but be kind and understanding. Sometimes women just need to cry even if they don't know why. Try to be patient with her if you find yourself not understanding.

Question: What are some of the signs that you are beginning menopause? I've always been a 28 day girl you could set you clock by my period, now it can be 25 days 23 days and then back to 28 days. I and 46 so could this be a sign the I and beginning menopause?

Answer: Menopause is the transition period in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stopping altogether. Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Once menopause is complete (called postmenopause), you can no longer become pregnant. The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman. In some women, menstrual flow comes to a sudden halt. More commonly, it tapers off. During this time, your menstrual periods generally become either more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for 1 to 3 years before menstruation finally ends completely. A gradual decrease of estrogen generally allows your body to slowly adjust to the hormonal changes. When estrogen drops suddenly, as is seen when the ovaries are removed surgically (called surgical menopause), symptoms can be more severe. Because hormone levels fall, changes occur in the entire female reproductive system. The vaginal walls become less elastic and thinner. The vagina becomes shorter. Lubricating secretions from the vagina become watery. The outside genital tissue decreases. This is called atrophy of the labia. Symptoms : The potential symptoms include: - Hot flashes and skin flushing - Night sweats - Insomnia - Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety - Irregular menstrual periods - Spotting of blood in between periods - Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse - Decreased sex drive - Vaginal infections - Urinary tract infections In addition, the long-term effects of menopause include: - Bone loss and eventual osteoporosis - Changes in cholesterol levels and greater risk of heart disease

Question: What is the earliest age that a woman can get menopause? I heard that my aunt had menopause at age 35 and was wondering if this could be true.

Answer: You can get artificial menopause if you have both ovaries removed.

Question: Psychosis? Can anyone tell me about psychosis? How and why it manifests, and it's treatment? Is there a term for a short burst of 'psychosis' (potentially reccurring again at a later date) in which the person loses total control for only a few hours, or a day?

Answer: Psychosis is basically losing touch with reality. You may be describing a brief psychotic episode although more likely, since it is so short lived, drug induced psychosis. Psychosis is commonly associated with schizophrenia, but can occur as a reaction to stress, drug use, depression, bipolar mania, personality disorders etc.

Question: What's the difference between psychosis and schizophrenia? If your a psychosis sufferer and you keep having relapses does that mean you are schizophrenic?

Answer: Psychosis is a general term for a mental abnormality, which may involve a loss of reality within the patient. Patients may experience hallucinations, or delusional beliefs. Schizophrenia, however, is a specific illness. However, it is very complex, which has hindered the diagnosis & treatment processes for many years. There are many varieties of schizophrenia, such as catatonic (which causes disruption in movement - patients may find themselves "locked" in strange physical positions for hours on end, or make unusual facial expressions & limb movements) and disorganised. Patients with schizophrenia may show symptoms of psychosis - such as hallucinations etc. However it is their other symptoms - depending on which sub-type they may fall into - that cause them to be diagnosed otherwise. It is entirely possible to relapse, regardless of what mental abnormality you may suffer from. If, in this sense, you suffer from psychosis at some point - then suffer it again, with no other symptoms of any other illness, then it is likely that you have suffered an unfortunate relapse into psychosis. Not all patients with schizophrenia suffer relapses, so it's not right to assume one is suffering from the illness if they relapse. Hope this helped.

Question: what is the difference between psychosis and schizophrenia and are they related? I have been trying to read up on these mental disorders, however I am still confused. Psychosis involves hallucinations and hearing things. Schizophrenia also involves these symptoms, yet I have heard that a person can have psychosis while being schizophrenic. I want to know the differences between then and if they are related in any way.

Answer: Psychosis is a break from reality that can include hallucinations, delusions, etc. Psychosis is a "symptom" of schizophrenia. It is also a symptom of Bipolar and other mental illnesses. Think of fever and flu. Flu(Schizophrenia) is the disease and fever (psychosis) is a symptom, yet it can also be a symptom of other disorders as well.

Question: What could happen if professionals were to let psychosis run its course? I've had several psychotic episodes. The first two each lasted just two weeks. Since then I've been put on atypical antipsychotics. I suspect that they have worsened my underlying condition, which is believed to be an oversensitivity to dopamine. Could letting psychosis run its course amount to exposure therapy? Projects like Soteria put the afflicted in a kind, attentive environment. I don't suggest anything whereby an afflicted person could harm someone - more like a place like Soteria where people care.

Answer: Psychotic episodes are very serious mental disturbances. The oversensitivity to dopamine that you are speaking of is called "Schizophrenia". Unfortunately, your best chances of living a normal, healthy, and productive life revolve around strict adherence to your medication regimen. It is important for you to realize that psychotic episodes can be very dangerous for both yourself and those around you. Many individuals experiencing psychotic symptoms often feel threatened and may lash out in violent ways in order to "protect themselves". Letting these episodes play out on their own often results in devastating consequences, such as assault on loved ones and self-mutilation. I suggest you work closely with your psychiatrist to assure your safety and mental well being. Good luck in everything. I hope you are able to tackle this disease with a positive attitude.

Question: How is Post Partum Psychosis different from Post Partum? A friend of mine suffered from PP.Psychosis many years ago. She told me that it is more serious than just post partum. Is there anyone that can address this subject, and if there is indeed a difference?

Answer: there is a huge cifference.PP depression means the mother gets depressed in the months after giving birth. they lose interest in life, dont want to do things they normally enjoy, and dont want to be around people amoung other symptoms of depression. PP psychosis means that the mother loses touch with reality in the months after giving birth. they can hallucinate, hear voices, and just lose touch with the real world. this is much more serious than depression. both are very serious conditions and need to be treated before they cause any damage to the mother or makes her do something that injures someone.

Question: What is a good job for a person with an unidentifiied psychosis? I manifested a psychosis when I turned twenty. There's not much I can do about it. I see and hear things and sometimes have fits. Are there jobs out there for people like me? Please be nice, only serious answers.

Answer: A home based job would be good. You may have to do research to see what home based jobs involve. But about your psychosis, did you ever get tested for high blood sugar? If you have hyperinsulinemia, it may be why you are like you are.