Is there a link between menopause and anxiety?
If you’re going through the menopause and wondering why you’re experiencing an increase in feelings of anxiousness, you’re definitely not alone. Menopause and anxiety often go hand-in-hand due to the physical and emotional challenges that come with this stage of life. In this blog I have highlighted some of the symptoms and causes of menopause-related anxiety, and how hypnotherapy can help.
Perimenopause
Anxiety relating to the menopause can begin in the years leading up to the end of menstruation, a period known as perimenopause. Studies have shown an increase in anxiety symptoms during this transition period. For some women feelings of anxiousness might be the only sign of perimenopause that they experience. Many women don’t realise this and might just feel that they’re not managing things as well as they used to. If you can relate to this, know that you’re not alone. Anxiety can affect anyone, even if you’ve never dealt with mental health issues in the past.
Symptoms of menopause-related anxiety
Worrying a lot about your life, other people, the world or the future and feeling stressed by things that never used to bother you.
Feeling fearful or unable to do things that you used to, such as driving, work tasks or social activities. Many of the women that I have helped with driving anxiety were in the perimenopause or menopause stage of life. Often it’s not wanting to drive on the motorway anymore or feeling under-confident on journeys that would have been no problem in the past.
Problems with memory or concentration (brain fog).
Difficulties sleeping. Lying awake at night negatively analysing the day, ruminating about the past or over thinking things.
Feeling overwhelmed or finding it hard to keep up with usual routines.
Experiencing low mood, mood swings and low self-esteem.
Having panic attacks, often at night or at the same time as hot flushes.
Experiencing phobias which are new or worse than before.
Menopause-related anxiety can also manifest physically through symptoms such as night sweats, palpitations, headaches, nausea and chest pain.
What can cause menopause-related anxiety?
Hormone Changes
Mood changes are mostly due to hormonal shifts in the brain. Anxiety can happen because of the drop in oestrogen levels which can change how your brain works. Oestrogen is connected to serotonin levels, the happy hormone. There is also evidence that links oestrogen to cortisol, the stress hormone. So, when oestrogen drops, cortisol can go up.
Some people’s brains are more sensitive to hormonal changes than others. If you’ve had postnatal depression or premenstrual syndrome, you might find that these mood changes affect you a bit more during menopause.
Emotional Challenges
The emotional side of menopause can be a lot to handle. Accepting that you’re ageing and reaching the end of fertility can bring up some anxious feelings. On top of this, you might be dealing with changes in your personal or professional life which can add extra emotional stress. Menopause can often coincide with significant life events like children leaving home or taking care of elderly parents. Such changes can intensify feelings of anxiousness.
How can Hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can be really helpful in processing the thoughts and emotions that come up during menopause, helping to increase feelings of calm and confidence.
I work with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy which is a combination of talking therapy and hypnosis, hypnosis being a wonderful state of deep relaxation. The therapy helps you to form a more useful perspective on events and circumstances in your life, helping to reduce negative thoughts and feelings so that you feel less anxious, more relaxed and able to sleep better. The solution focused approach helps you to find ways to manage stress and get you back to feeling more like yourself.
If you are struggling with symptoms of menopause and would like some help please call 07514 931 096 or email me. carolynspillerhypnotherapy@gmail.com
Appointments are available at my practice in Tiverton in Devon, or online.