Menopausal Anxiety: Why It Happens and How Psychiatry Can Help
Fluctuating hormones during perimenopause and menopause can cause a number of symptoms, including anxiety. Read on to learn how psychiatric care can help.
Hot flashes often come to mind when people think of menopause, but it’s far from the only symptom that can occur during this time of life. Each woman's experience is different and includes a variety of physical and emotional changes. Anxiety is one of them.
Fortunately, a variety of treatment options are available, including working with an experienced psychiatrist to help you feel like yourself again.
At Lewis Family Psychiatry, our highly skilled team of psychiatric nurse practitioners takes a holistic approach, utilizing integrative psychiatric techniques to treat the whole person. Whether your concern is anxiety or another mental, emotional, or behavioral issue, we partner with our patients to provide personalized, trusted care.
With our telemedicine platform and online appointments, getting treatment in the state of Florida is both easy and convenient.
Perimenopause and menopause
During perimenopause, the transition before menopause, as your body prepares to stop having periods, hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, rise and fall. Perimenopause can last anywhere from months to 8-10 years and ends after 12 months of no periods. At this point, you’ve entered menopause.
You may experience a wide variety of symptoms during this time, ranging from irregular periods, hot flashes, and sleep problems to bladder and vaginal changes, decreased fertility, and shifts in sexual function. Mood changes can also occur.
Anxiety during menopause
Fluctuating hormones can lead to feelings of anxiety or depression. Sleep issues, as well as hot flashes and night sweats, may also contribute. Women with severe menopausal symptoms often suffer from more significant mental health issues.
Symptoms of menopausal anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety during menopause are similar to feelings of anxiety in general. They can include a sense of worry or panic, irritability, and trouble concentrating.
Physical signs include a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tension, and restlessness. Problems with sleep and memory may also occur.
While some amount of anxiety is inevitable, it’s important to seek help when it begins to impact your day-to-day quality of life.
Treatment for menopausal anxiety
There are a variety of steps women can take to help ease anxiety during perimenopause and menopause.
Self-care
Self-care is one key component, including exercise (even a short walk is helpful), eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. Stay connected with family and friends and consider engaging in a hobby or activity that provides a sense of achievement.
Relaxation techniques
Practicing mindfulness, guided meditation, breathwork, and gratitude can help calm anxiety. Doing yoga and journaling are other options.
Mental health care assistance
Seeing a mental health care professional can help ease your anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) allows you to explore your feelings through talk therapy and develop new coping skills and strategies for managing issues.
Therapy encourages looking at life from a big picture perspective, reducing the tendency to catastrophize — thinking the worst about a given situation — and more.
Some women also benefit from medication. A psychiatrist can prescribe mental health medications, while a gynecologist can address menopausal hormone therapy.
If you're suffering from anxiety related to perimenopause or menopause — or in general — we can help. Click our contact button or call us at 561-303-0433 today for a virtual assessment or treatment appointment.
