When we’re born all girls are born with a certain number of eggs, from the moment we hit puberty we lose several a month until there’s no active eggs left to release.

This is the menopause.

But It’s not a sudden stop, it starts with the perimenopause:

Gradually the ovaries start to make less and less estrogen and periods become more and more erratic until they stop completely.

In the last few years of the perimenopause, when the estrogen sharply symptoms are noticed such as:

• Hot flashes,
• Breast tenderness
• PMT is worse
• Fatigue
• Irregular periods
• Vaginal dryness
• Urine leakage while coughing/sneezing
• Mood swings
• Sleep issues

The menopause is the point when you haven’t had a period for a year, the ovaries are no longer releasing eggs and have virtually stopped making estrogen.

Most women have heard about hot flashes and mood swings during the menopause, but anxiety, depression and panic attacks although not typical symptoms can also develop as you go through the menopause.

This is because the rise and fall in hormones like estrogen and progesterone causes an imbalance which can bring on anxiety, depression or panic attacks or make an existing anxiety condition worse.

We’ve all suffered from anxiety from time to time but when you suffer badly from anxiety it can begin to interfere with day to day life and interrupt your sleep.

Here of a few self help tips to try at home:

• Reduce alcohol and caffeine as these can make symptoms worse, interrupt sleep and can cause uneasiness
• Include complex carbs in your daily diet to boost serotonin the bodies feel good hormone
• Protein in the morning for breakfast helps to balance glucose levels, gives you energy and keeps you fuller for longer
• Drink water, becoming dehydrated can cause mood swings
• Exercise, try a few different types of exercise to find one that you really enjoy to help reduce stress and relax
• Reduce stress, as stress can cause hormone imbalance making symptoms worse
• Get outside and allow nature to balance, calm and de-stress you
• Ensure you’re getting enough sleep
• Try to keep positive, focus daily on the positive things in your life journaling or keeping a gratitude list can help, when you focus on the negative things your thoughts can spiral making anxiety and depression worse
• Eat fatty fish, studies have shown that fatty fish can help with hormonal levels by reducing levels of the stress hormones

 

Reflexology along with aromatherapy can help menopause, anxiety and overthinking as well as helping you to de-stress.

Reflexology helps by relaxing both the body and mind whilst helping to balance hormones and reduce anxiety, depression and menopause symptoms such as hot sweats, insomnia, mood swings etc helping you to make you feel more like you again.

If you’d like to find out more call me now on 07948 569 164 or message me on Facebook.