Menopause Panic Disorder
It is a turbulent time going through the Menopause for most women, with hormone levels dropping quickly and periods starting to slow down and eventually stopping altogether, some symptoms are not so welcomed. Often the changes can affect the chemicals in your brain and that can have a huge effect on your mood. Going through Perimenopause and Menopause can cause lots of women to feel anxious or depressed, this is down to the changes in hormone levels but anything that is severe and ongoing should be investigated by your GP. With Oestrogen and Progesterone fluctuating in the body at this time, you can be left feeling anxious and depressed, but frequent panic attacks and high anxiety are normal and can develop during the Menopause, often this will go once you are through Menopause.
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What causes Panic Attacks/ Panic Disorder during the Menopause?
The changes in hormone levels may influence the Neurotransmitters in the brain, and with additional factors such as sleep problems and hot flushes, this can lead to anxiety and low mood. Always speak to your GP if you find that you are feeling depressed daily or more than a few weeks. Audible has some very informative podcasts explain what Panic Attacks are and how to deal with them!
When to ask for help?
If your relationship is suffering or work becomes an issue because of anxiety or panic attacks and there is no other obvious problem there, it is a good idea to speak to your GP. If you are having thoughts of self-harm or negative thoughts for few weeks and cannot talk to anyone about the way you feel, either your GP or a therapist would be the best professionals to seek help from. Especially if you cannot understand or make sense of how you feel, do not leave it for weeks, get an appointment booked as soon as possible.
Treatment:
- HRT – (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can help with emotional symptoms as well as physical ones. It will not treat more severe mental health issues but can work well during the transition though the Menopause.
- Eating Healthily – this can change your mood and ease lots of Menopause symptoms. There are lots of great recipe books with healthy meal ideas in on the Waterstones website.
- Sense of Achievement – Find a new hobby or interest that gives you purpose and set realistic goals. Goal tracker journals are great for keeping on track with goals that you set!
- Exercise – This is great for changing your low mood into a positive one as lots of endorphins are released whilst exercising and therefore increase your mood.
- Talk to Friends or Family – Communication is important if you are feeling low, often just having a listening ear and someone with good positive advice can lift your mood instantly.
- Supplements – These can aid your mood, and you could be lacking in certain nutrients if your diet is not as healthy as it should be. This supplement from Natures Best has been said to be great for having a calming effect as well as Vitamin D, Iron and L-Lysine HCL.
Irregular Heartbeat and Heart Palpitations
I know some friends and a family member that have suffered with this and thought they were having a heart attack and were scared to death! Going through the Menopause can cause some strange symptoms, always seek advice from a medical professional if you develop these symptoms.
A fluttering or pounding heartbeat are called palpitations, they can happen if you are having a hot flush or can be tied to lots of other Menopause symptoms and happen for no reason. They feel like your heart is beating much faster than usual and can miss the odd beat or flutter, and you can sometimes feel the pounding in your throat or neck.
What can cause this?
The rise and fall of Oestrogen during the Menopause can cause heart palpitations or an irregular heart function. If you are having a hot flush your heart rate can increase its beats per minute, but it is not just this that can cause them. Stress, exercise, caffeine, alcohol, asthma, thyroid issues, low sugar, low blood pressure and dehydration can all cause palpitations.
When to seek help?
Suffering the odd time and on occasions lasting a few seconds is nothing to be too alarmed about but see your GP if you are concerned. If they last longer than a few minutes and get considerably worse over time then speak to a medical professional.
Always seek medical advice if you have shortness of breath, chest pain or feel dizzy or faint, as this could be a more serious issue that needs urgent medical attention.
Your GP may send you to a Cardiologist for further investigation and you may have to wear a heart monitor to check your heart function for a few days or so. It may be worth making a note of when these episodes happen, how long they last for and how it makes you feel.
Palpitations/Irregular heartbeat caused by the Menopause, is usually temporary and most women find their heart rhythm goes back to normal once they are post-Menopause. Your heart disease risk rises after the Menopause, some doctors think this is because Oestrogen was protecting the heart and once production is reduced, your risk of a heart attack or stroke goes up. Smoking, bad diet and alcohol increase your risks significantly, so now is the time to address those issues.
How can you avoid Palpitations/Irregular Heartbeat?
Avoid things that can make your heart race, this includes…
- Caffeine, chocolate, fizzy drinks, energy drinks and any other products that contain caffeine.
- Hot and spicy food.
- Smoking, alcohol.
Try relaxation techniques…
- Yoga/ Pilates.
- Reading a book.
- Meditation.
- Have a relaxing bath whilst listening to relaxing music.
- Have a massage.
- Use breathing techniques.
- Listen to white noise
Keeping your heart healthy before, during and after the Menopause is so important, eating healthy foods, exercising daily (even if it is a brisk walk), cutting back on salt and excess sugar and maintaining a healthy weight are all key to a healthy heart.
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*DISCLAIMER*This page does not provide medical advice; it is intended for informational purposes only and is based upon my opinion and experiences. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Executive Menopause Coach website. Always seek professional medical advice.
[…] Panic Disorder – Anxiety may contribute to panic attacks, these are more common during menopause. […]