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Menopause and Anxiety
Cathy Taylor
The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of
anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning
in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm
sensations are some of the physical effects you may feel under
this condition.
When menopause hits, there is a greater chance women will go
through anxiety and depression. Christian Northrop talks about
this phenomenon in her book, Wisdom of Menopause, where if a
woman has repressed something in her life, she won’t be able to
get past menopause employing the same tactics. For example,
unexpressed anger will find its way out and sometimes in unusual
or uncomfortable ways.
In what is often referred to as a ¨midlife crisis,¨ this time of
life forces women to re-evaluate themselves and the role(s) they
play as they are getting older. And, often times we are not
comfortable with what we find. A little voice in the back of our
head is saying, “If you don’t make changes now … you never will!”
Our hormonal imbalances (due to decreased estrogen levels) can
contribute to feelings of depression or make us feel plain
‘indifference.’ Even if menopause isn’t actually causing these
conditions, it can heighten underlying anxiety and bring it to
the surface.
Anxiety is an individual’s prolonged feeling of dread and worry
with no particular reason behind it. It’s uncomfortable and
causes stress particularly on the body. It can be triggered by
problems in everyday life like paying the bills and work.
Although worrying about these things for a normal person has its
ceiling of severity, menopausal women suffering from anxiety tend
to think about their problems excessively.
When anxiety finally hits its highest peak, it is often called a
panic attack. Panic attacks are debilitating episodes of fright
and fear that include chest pains, fear of death, and shaking. In
what is called being ¨psychosocially¨ depressed, women have
negative beliefs and attitudes in regards to getting older,
assuming unwanted roles such as caretaker, and responding
negatively to impatient husbands who might demand sex.
Being depressed during the duration of this condition has a lot
to do with their overall psychological well-being prior to
menopause. Women who have continuous anxiety and depression
beforehand are more likely to suffer worse cases of anxiety
during this latter phase of life. If life-long imbalances have
not been healed, menopause may exacerbate the situation. We might
feel unable to perform ¨female duties¨, contributing to feelings
of worthlessness and hopelessness. Research has found that
consistent regular physical activity (i.e. exercise) before
menopause has been scientifically proven to lessen the
possibility of anxiety symptoms during this transition. It’s also
helpful to avoid drinking caffeine-loaded liquids, sleep
deprivation, and stimulant use.
Psychiatric consultations are highly recommended for anxiety
sufferers under menopause. An experienced counsellor and/or
therapist can help us recover and evaluate our lives including
healing emotional imbalances. It is a great time to refocus our
attention toward new activities and roles. As is common with
anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, fright, and even suicidal
tendencies can occur. In this case, antidepressants may be
prescribed. Coping with all of the physical changes, assuming new
roles, possibly facing many of our fears for the first time, and
generally waking up to the fact that ¨life just isn’t what it
used to be¨ are all realizations that contribute to anxiety in
older women. In these times, it is important to maintain focus
and concentrate on the positive things in life. Although it can
be hard, it can be done.
Having a plethora of life responsibilities and obligations during
menopause can create stress, and having an ´excess´ of this
stress can cause adrenal fatigue. Anxiety in menopause sufferers
results from hormonal imbalances. In the menstrual cycle,
ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the
mind and body) to be released. Irregular cycles are grounds for
anxiety build-up, as a result of the lack of this ¨happy
hormone.¨ All of these conditions can be treated with alternative
therapies such as natural progesterone cream.
But why do some women go through menopause and barely notice a
difference? One consensus among medical doctors theorizes that it
has a lot to do with women’s self-esteem and self-confidence. One
thing is for sure, if you are having trouble with either of
these, you’ll get a chance to deal with them now. One thing
menopause is great at, and that is bringing out our unresolved
issues. And we all know how anxious that can make us.
Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years
experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and
plan development, as well as management of communications and
public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be
reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by
visiting http://www.menopauseinfo.org or
http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com
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