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Sheryl Kraft

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September 17, 2013

Menopause and Anxiety – A Connection?

Published in: Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Menopause, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Depression, Happiness, Health, Menopause, Midlife, Panic Attacks

Note: I’m bringing you this post from my other blog, MidlifeMatters, which runs on healthywomen.org. It first hit the website in 2011, and attracted lots of eyeballs and comments. And a lot of women were relieved and comforted, feeling like “it” was not all in their head.

(Midlife Dictionary: It (used to represent a vague sense of unease, only understood by women of a certain age, about to be understood by those same women, or in the immediate context, is capable of producing feelings similar to becoming completely and utterly undone): It is bothering me today, and threatens to unhinge me and everyone around me. You can recognize it by the look of absolute panic on my face.

Among the comments:

  • So, I’m not so crazy after all.
  • I can’t/won’t/don’t want to SNAP OUT OF IT!
  • Up until now, I thought it was all my imagination.
  • (Menopause) is like PMS on steroids.
Who... ME? ANXIOUS??? (Photos.com)
Who… ME? ANXIOUS???
(Photos.com)

For your reading pleasure, I bring you the following blog post:

After personally experiencing, and knowing other women who experienced increased anxiety during the menopause years, I started wondering about the link between menopause and anxiety. How are the two linked? Are women feeling anxious about menopause? Or, is it the other way around: does menopause cause anxiety? Is it a by-product of shifting, dipping, all-over-the-chart hormones? Have you tried using og cheese to reduce your anxiety? This will all be addressed in the article.

And how can we control our anxiety? As someone who has had her fair share of anxiety over the years (especially around menopause), I decided to ask an expert some key questions about it all. Is it a disorder, I wondered, or a normal life passage?

For some answers, I turned to psychiatrist and UCLA anxiety expert Jason Eric Schiffman. Dr. Schiffman is currently Director of the UCLA Dual Diagnosis Program.

Q. I’m well aware that anxiety can occur at any time during a woman’s life, but it does seem that panic attacks become more prevalent during times of hormonal upheavals: during adolescence, pregnancy and perimenopause and then menopause. In my experience, I’ve seen teens and women who never before suffered anxiety be suddenly hit with an increased incidence. Is it merely coincidence or is it indeed hormonally related?
A. Yes, there is absolutely a connection between hormonal changes and psychiatric symptoms in general, and women undergoing specific hormonal changes have increased risk for particular psychiatric disorders. With respect to anxiety, women in the perimenopausal period are more likely to experience panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms than other women of the same age who are either pre- or postmenopausal. The postpartum period is another time when women appear to be more vulnerable to psychiatric symptoms, particularly depression, which is often associated with anxiety.

Q. If increased anxiety is hormonally related, does that mean it will pass once a woman passes through menopause? And does the anxiety need to be treated?

A. Once menopause passes, many women find that their level of anxiety decreases. However, in addition to hormonal changes, there are often many other factors that contribute to the development of anxiety during menopause. For example, women who suffer more physical symptoms, experience negative life events or who are less functional are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder during menopause than women without these additional stressors. So, it is important not to ignore other possible causes of anxiety-just because a woman may be experiencing menopause. Treatment of anxiety is always warranted if there is significant distress or functional impairment.

Q. Once a woman experiences an anxiety attack does this mean she will be more likely to experience them more often?

A. Someone who has experienced panic attacks in the past is more likely to experience them in the future than someone who has never had one. That being said, panic attacks respond very well to a type of treatment called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). If CBT is carried out by a professional such as those at Citron Hennessey, it can be extremely effective. However, the patient has to be willing and keen to improve.

Q. Oftentimes women may be able to feel an anxiety attack coming on. Do you have any advice as to how to recognize the start of one and how to stop it in its tracks before it progresses further?

A. There are very effective techniques for treating panic attacks but they need to be tailored to each individual. There are now self-help versions of CBT available online which walk someone through the creation of a personalized treatment plan. One that I have worked with that is based upon the approach we use in the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Clinic can be found at Anxiety.org. Alternatively, if you’d like to try a natural approach to relieving symptoms of your anxiety, then you might want to do some research into the health improving qualities of CBD supplements. A lot of people find that CBD can help them to relax and manage their thoughts, so if this interests you, take a look at the website for Ambary Gardens for a selection of CBD products. You may even consider buying some accessories such as glass pipes to use with your marijuana when trying to get rid of that anxious feeling, but there are many forms and methods you could consider when trying this drug.

Q. Anxiety can manifest itself in many forms: sleeplessness or frequent waking during the night, nervous energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability, even depression. What do you suggest for a woman who is feeling any one or a combination of these things? Are there different therapies for different types of anxiety and, if so, what are they (from a behavioral, medical and/or psychopharmacological and/or nutritional viewpoint)?

A. It is important that menopausal women identify the symptoms of anxiety they’re experiencing so they find the best ways to allay them. As I mentioned, CBT is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. There are also medications that can be prescribed by a psychiatrist. These are often used in conjunction with CBT.

Practical things you can do to help reduce your anxiety include reducing or eliminating caffeine, exercising on a regular basis, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep and setting aside time twice a day to do relaxation exercises.

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Comments

  1. Kris says

    September 17, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    Oh, they joys of aging. 😉 I am so ready to just be done with the hormone fluctuations.

    • SherylK says

      September 20, 2013 at 3:53 pm

      I’m with you, Kris. The fluctuations certainly keep things changing up, don’t they? And not always in a good way, either.

  2. merr says

    September 18, 2013 at 9:12 am

    It does make sense since the body is releasing hormones at a different rate than it was before (a rate we were used to).

    • SherylK says

      September 20, 2013 at 3:54 pm

      Yes, Merr, just when you think your hormones are in control there they go changing again…

  3. Donna Hull says

    September 18, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Good information. Fluctuating hormones can do a number on us.

  4. ruth pennebaker says

    September 18, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    I’ve been anxious all my life until the past few years. I do think aging has a pleasantly numbing quality to those of us who have always been too tuned in.

    • SherylK says

      September 20, 2013 at 3:54 pm

      So, you’re saying that now your anxiety has dissipated? Love to hear that. I’m sure you love it more.

  5. Jane Boursaw says

    September 18, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Well, thanks to my husband’s liver transplant and ongoing health issues, I’ve been taking an antidepressant for the past many years – so I’m good to go there! I think about weaning off them, but then … nah … why mess with it…

  6. Jennifer Margulis says

    September 18, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    I am curious if DIET plays a role in the anxiety American women feel during menopause. I know that in some other countries hot flashes are non-existence and that is thought to be due to lifestyle and diet choices. Would love a follow-up article on all the natural ways to reduce hormonal changes. Does eating more turmeric help?

  7. Living Large says

    September 30, 2013 at 8:08 am

    I have a friend who is a vegetarian and had been for a good 15 years before menopause and she had hardly any symptoms at all. I went to an all plant based diet a few months ago and have hoped that it would help me. To date, I’m still experiencing some depression and anxiety along with sleeplessness, but I believe it has gotten a little better as my diet improved.

  8. Penelope Silvers says

    October 30, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    Hi Sheryl, Thanks for the great post and pictures! I discovered, quite by accident, that vigorous exercises and changing my diet were helping to control my perimenopausal symptoms.

    My husband and I starting doing Jillian Michaels’ Body Revolution weight loss program, 30 minutes a day, and as I changed my diet and exercise, my symptoms were virtually disappearing.

    Anxiety? Gone! Heartburn? Gone! Hot Flashes? Reduced! I was so amazed by it that I wrote a book about the experience. I do think our western diet full of fat, salt and preservatives contributes to a lot of our problems. Women should try eliminating anything but the most natural of foods–and make sure they sweat on purpose–at least 30 minutes at day and see if they don’t feel completely different.

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What’s this so-called midlife, anyway?

It’s a time of tremendous change, growth and opportunity. A time to re-evaluate our choices, our experiences and ourselves. A time to take what we’ve accumulated up until now and put it to work.

When I turned 50, many things changed... read more about me.

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I think your website is GREAT!  It's hard to find an online space that speaks realistically about what happens when we approach our 50's and beyond.  Keep writing, and thanks for your support."
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A High School Student and Aspiring Writer from Australia Reaches Out…

I would love to hear a few things on the prospect from a first hand-perspective, and would be thrilled to learn more about it from you. Your advice is well valued and I’m very grateful to have such wise words from someone with such first hand experience.

I will be looking forward to reading more of your wonderful articles in the future!

Best wishes,

Mikayla

 
Sheryl Kraft
2017-01-17T13:37:55+00:00
I would love to hear a few things on the prospect from a first hand-perspective, and would be thrilled to learn more about it from you. Your advice is well valued and I’m very grateful to have such wise words from someone with such first hand experience. I will be looking forward to reading more of your wonderful articles in the future! Best wishes, Mikayla  
https://sherylkraft.com/testimonials/high-school-student-aspiring-writer-australia-reaches/

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Sheryl Kraft
2018-12-07T02:46:56+00:00
On behalf of our entire organization, we'd like to thank you so much for featuring our product in last week’s Parade Magazine. Due to your article, traffic and sales have been great this past week.! We are a small business that prides ourselves on excellent product quality and customer service. We work hard to make quality products and market them effectively but then sometimes you get a gift like your article which really takes us to the next level. We will be eternally grateful to you for choosing us as one of your eye product recommendations.  
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I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I am hoping you can share some advice, tips, or guidance as I work on this, my lateral career change!

Thanks for taking the time to read this - I know you probably have much more exciting things to be doing, but just know that your work is inspiring me to continue down this writing path.

 
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I'm a young medical writer trying to get a foothold in the industry, so the portfolio you have on your website showcasing your accomplishments is something that I'm aiming to achieve. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I am hoping you can share some advice, tips, or guidance as I work on this, my lateral career change! Thanks for taking the time to read this - I know you probably have much more exciting things to be doing, but just know that your work is inspiring me to continue down this writing path.  
https://sherylkraft.com/testimonials/im-writing-to-express-my-admiration-for-the-work-you-are-doing/
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