Increased levels of anxiety may come as shock to many women at menopause. More celebrity women, such as Carol Vorderman, Mariella Frostrup and Gillian Anderson, have been speaking openly about their own experiences of menopause anxiety and that is helping to raise awareness of this issue.

The causes of anxiety at this stage of life are complex. It can be the result of hormones changes, poor sleep, low mood and stressful situations at home or work. It can be aggravated by poor nutrition and lifestyle choices.

Symptoms of anxiety include:

Panic attacks

Insomnia

Poor appetite or over-eating

Inability to cope with day-to-day living

Loss of confidence

Hot flushes

Avoidance of new situations

All of this can be difficult to cope with on top of the physical symptoms of menopause. And if you are experiencing panic attacks they can be frightening and exhausting. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Suggestions for dealing with anxiety

1 Acknowledge your feelings. The more you try to ignore and suppress your emotions the more they will keep trying to get your attention.

2 Seek help. It may be that you just need to have an open conversation with a trusted friend. But if the anxiety is impacting on your life and you are having frequent panic attacks you may need to talk to a medical practitioner or therapist.

3 Talk to your manager. If your anxiety is being triggered by workplace stress it is time to have a conversation with your line-manager before it affects your health.

4 Create some ‘me-time’. Support your emotional health through regular exercise, meditation and breathing exercises.

5 Live well. Avoid or reduce caffeine and sugary foods. Cut down on alcohol. Stop smoking. Establish a relaxing sleep routine and bedroom environment. Regular, good quality sleep is essential to easing your anxiety.

For more help with your anxiety contact me to talk about how I might help you.