Part of puberty

That is definitely caused by hormones. It could be signs of a hormone imbalance.

Yeah, it probably is a hormonal thing. Same thing happened to me at about the same age. I went to the doctor for it, and he put me on zoloft (which I don't recommend). The drug not only didn't help, but it was very difficult to get off of it because it is addictive. Anyway, the dizziness and all of that was very upsetting for me, but it eventually passed on its own by the time I was 24. That was a while ago though, and a doctor might have a better treatment for it now.

Zoloft is for depression not hormones

yes it is, and some types of depression are caused by hormone imbalances.

that is true. But hot flashes and night sweats don't have anything to do with depression.

Actually, since hot flashes and depression can both be brought on by an hormonal imbalance, they are very much related. I only mentioned the zoloft anyway, because that's what was prescribed to me when I had the same set of symptoms (dizziness, hot flashes etc.) several years ago. Like I said, it didn't work, and since it happened so long ago, there may be better methods to treat such an imbalance now.

Let me rephrase what I said:

hot flashes and nightsweats are caused by hormonal imblances.

Anti-depressants do not cure hormone imbalances.

While anti-depressants will help to treat the depression that can sometimes be caused by hormonal imbalances, it will not work for nightsweats and other physical ailments that come from hormonal issues.

If you were prescribed zoloft, it was for your emotions not the physical affects of what the hormones were doing.

The 'cure' for hormone imblances is to regulate the hormones with something like hormone replacement therapy or even birth control pills.

I just thought the original poster might take some comfort in knowing that another person went through the same thing. I can't attest to what my doctor was thinking when he prescribed me such a thing. There are several drugs that are earmarked for one thing, but used in other areas as well. It doesn't matter much anyway, because it was about 8 years ago, and still, it didn't help.

Yes, the original poster will feel better knowing they are not alone in their feelings.

But the original poster would not be the only person reading this forum and post.

Therefore, the best thing to do is point out facts.

Zoloft is for the treatment of depression - if that depression is caused by a hormone imbalance the zoloft is going to be much help as that would treat the symptom - not the cause.

To get better you have to treat the root cause and in the case of a hormone problem depression is not the root cause.

Nawtaprincess you need to stop worrying hunni - your 18 and your body is developing into womanhood - during that time it will produce odd random unrelated aches, pains and fears.

So long as you eat healthy, exercise sensibly and generally look after your health you'll be right as rain.

As an analogy people get headaches all the time from stress, or for no reason at all - it doesn't mean they have a brain tumour - it's just that - a headache, unless these headaches become frequent they won't look for a cause - because there are so many of them.

Back to you - a skipped period, and ache here and there, waking up sweaty or feeling dizzy on occassion do not mean menopause. - it means you are human.

The definition of menopause is 12 months of absence of the periods with no other known cause (ie pregnancy, mal-nutrition, other hormone problem, birth control).