Anxiety

Anxiety in women during menopause is quite common. The symptom appears as early as during perimenopause where women experienced feeling of nervousness and panic attacks. Some women may already have these problems even before menopause and most are not aware of it. However, the onset of menopause had pronounced effect on this symptom and this is why most women beginning to recognize that anxiety are affecting them when they are entering menopause.

The cause of anxiety can be direct and indirect. The direct cause is due to hormonal imbalance often associated with menopause. The absence or low levels of estrogen and progesterone that have soothing and calming effect due to missed periods can cause mood swings that trigger anxiety. The indirect cause is due to low energy levels or fatigue resulting from the other menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and sleeping disorders that leave the body with insufficient rest and heightened stress levels.

Anxiety is generally categorized into severe or generalized disorders. Two examples in the severe category include obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). Medical diagnosis and proper treatment with your doctor can treat severe disorders. Generalized disorders or mild to moderate is more common and usually described as having compulsive worrying and related physical symptoms for more than six months.

If you are experiencing more prominent menopause symptoms, you should try to tackle these problems first. Often anxiety is casualty of war between your body and the symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and sleeping problems. You may discover that once you are in control of these problems, your body is more energetic and the anxiety feeling subsides or disappears.

You should also minimize caffeine and sugar consumption that will cause elevated adrenaline levels and causes feeling of anxiety. Alcohol and smoking should be avoided as it damages your health. Certain drugs especially antidepressant can cause anxiety problems and should assess these side effects with your doctor. Moderate exercises not only help in reducing anxiety; it is also beneficial in alleviating other menopause symptoms. Fresh air, plenty of sleep and spending time to relax will also helps in calming your feelings and mind.

Anti-anxiety medications should not be used over the long term and some might even lead to worsening conditions. If you decide to take this route of treatment, it should be used as a temporary solution in order for you to work on your nutritional and lifestyle changes. You would be better off focusing on your healthy diet and good lifestyle rather than to be dependant on drugs. There are also herbal solutions that may be of benefit to you in dealing with anxiety. Common herbs such as black cohosh, ginseng and dong quai targeted at menopause should also be useful. This natural treatment is often sold in market in a combination of herbs extract that make it easy for consumers.

It is important that you should engage your doctor as early as possible. You should discuss with your doctor whenever you plan on taking any treatment whether synthetic drugs or natural alternatives.