Menopause is a big change, which can lead to stress and anxiety.
Menopause is called ‘the change’, because it brings about a laundry list of changes to the physical bodies of women, which can create all kinds of mental manifestations, such as anxiety and stress.
The good news is that anxiety around menopause is a completely normal and common thing. Studies have confirmed that stress for perimenopausal or menopausal women is as common as hot flashes or issues with sleep. As if all the other symptoms of menopause weren’t bad enough, we also have to deal with stress, which can raise our cortisol and cause a slew of health issues, as well as make our existing symptoms worse. So what do we do about menopausal stress?
Seek help. It doesn’t matter if you just reach out to other women who have gone through it, or talk about it with a psychologist or doctor, if you keep any kind of stress inside it, only gets worse. Asking your doctor is probably the first step, as they can recommend treatments like hormone replacement therapy, or various estrogen replenishing herbs.
Focus on your anxiety. If meditation has always worked for you as a way of relieving stress, try that. If this anxiety is a little worse and you may need some light medication to get through it, consult your doctor. If you may want to try herbal supplements to calm yourself, that could work too. However you choose to handle your stress, make sure you address it.
READ MORE: Unusual Ways to Relieve Stress
Pay attention to your diet and your sleep patterns. Poor diet and bad sleep will only exacerbate the issues of stress, so while there are obviously symptoms that are out of your control, your diet and sleep are two things you do have control over. Making sure you get a balanced diet and adequate sleep will lessen the burden, for sure.
Overall, it’s just important to remember that the change will pass, and menopause only lasts so long. You just have to hold onto your sanity while your hormones change, and then you can look forward to living the rest of your life without certain other monthly stressors.
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