Dealing with menopause-related anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common symptom that women can experience during menopause and can often appear before women experience common menopausal symptoms e.g. hot-flushes or night sweats.

Often women are not aware of the link between anxiety and menopause. Instead, they notice that they are frequently worrying about everything.

Overall, women are twice as likely than men to have anxiety difficulties, but the changes in hormones during the perimenopause and menopause, can trigger and worsen symptoms of anxiety . Menopause can act like a torch shining light on issues that had already existed and were not dealt with.

Anxiety can occur at any stage of the menopause. It can appear in very early during the perimenopause before your periods have changed. It can start subtly and you may not realise that it’s related to the menopause.

The increase stress during perimenopause and menopause can further contribute to anxiety during menopause. As sleep quality declines along with other bodily challenges in the gut or immune system stress increases.

If you are experiencing anxiety you certainly aren’t alone. Anxiety can happen to anyone including those who’ve never experienced mental health difficulties. Menopause is challenging time with lots of changes that requires a new set of approach.

Physical symptoms of menopausal anxiety:

• Fast heart rate

• Heart palpitations

• The feeling of nausea

• Shaking

• Sweating

• Dry mouth

• Chest pain

• Headaches

• Fast breathing

• Panic attacks

• Sleep disturbances

• Irritability

What causes menopause-related anxiety?

During the perimenopause and menopause, a many changes happening at the same time, so it can be difficult to attribute the exact cause of your anxiety. Anxiety can be related to underline depression. Like depression, anxiety can occur because falling oestrogen levels. The oestrogen levels are also linked to cortisol levels - the hormone of stress – so that when oestrogen levels drop, cortisol levels rise. It is likely that other hormones and chemical factors are also involved.

How can anxiety be treated?

CBT (cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy) is an evidence-based approach to therapy which is used by clinical psychologists to treat a new healthy ways of thinking and to develop strategies to better manage common menopausal symptoms.

CBT Recommended by NICE for the treatment of anxiety and depression in menopausal women.

Women going through menopause often report feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed. And Many women will know just how easy it is to get caught up in a vicious cycle of anxiety, fatigue, low mood, and a feeling that you just can’t cope.

Clinical psychologist can use CBT to address specific issues such as anger and mood swings, insomnia, intrusive or overwhelming thoughts, or low self-esteem; and develop strategies to resolve issues such as problem drinking and binge eating which are common when going through perimenopause and menopause.

Studies show that menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, hot flushes and anxiety are commonly triggered in response to life stressors but by using CBT you can learn to develop healthy ways of managing stress which in turn, may reduce the incidences and severity of these symptoms.

Clinical psychologist recognises that menopause is serious and challenging. Menopause can last anywhere from four to 15 years, when including perimenopause and the years of continuing symptoms after periods stop entirely.

Menopause counselling and CBT with a clinical psychologist who is highly rated experts in their field and truly care about their clients

The benefits of talk therapy with a clinical psychologist for menopause  Menopause counselling provides a confidential and safe space to process your thoughts and feelings feel heard and understood at last around your menopause concerns  learn evidence-based techniques for handling stress, negative thinking, and low moods troubleshoot family relationship problems, work issues, or health concerns discuss your changing life roles and identity set new life goals and have support to bring them to fruition.