Anxiety Attack Menopause: When you think every stranger could be Hannibal LecterAnxiety Attack Menopause Female hormones play an interesting role in mood management, and it is not surprising that the fluctuations in estrogen can make you not only depressed, irritable and moody, but it can make you feel anxious as well. It can make you feel so anxious that your fears are out-of-touch with reality. If you're walking down a dark alley by yourself, yes, you should be scared, but if you're in a shopping mall and you suspect the clerk behind the counter is Hannibal Lecter in disguise, you've got a problem. Estrogen affects the neurotransmitters in the body such as serotonin levels, norepinephrine levels, dopamine, and melatonin. All of these neurotransmitters play a role in mood regulation. So, a fluctuation in estrogen can mean a fluctuation in your feelings of anxiety. Many men and women suffer from anxiety throughout life. This is, of course, unrelated to estrogen. Anxiety can have many causes and almost everyone experiences anxiety at some level throughout their lifetime. You may have felt anxious about doing your job well, about raising your children properly, about succeeding at a test, about pleasing an important person in your life etc. All of this is normal. What is Anxiety Attack Menopause? It isn’t normal if your feelings of anxiety are prolonged, or if they disrupt your ability to function or sleep for extended periods of time. Some experts say if your anxiety lasts longer than three months, you should seek medical attention. Other experts say six months is the limit. I think it depends somewhat on the intensity of the anxiety. If you are in constant dread and are experiencing frequent horrific panic attacks, you should seek medical attention immediately. There are three main areas of functioning that may be affected by anxiety: • Muscle tension. You are unable to relax; you are jumpy, restless and tense. Your muscles ache. You have stomach aches, possibly diarrhea and headaches. • Autonomic hyperactivity. You sweat, have a dry mouth, feel dizzy, have a fast heart rate, feel short of breath and you urinate frequently. • Vigilance and apprehension. You have difficulty concentrating, suffer from memory loss, you’re irritable and impatient. You have a sense of dread and apprehension. You may suffer from insomnia. Heart palpitations are the most common symptom associated with anxiety attach menopause, followed by fatigue, breathlessness, nervousness, chest pain, dizziness, faintness, apprehension and headache. Other conditions unrelated to anxiety attack menopause There are other conditions related to anxiety, but are not usually considered to be caused by the changes in estrogen. These conditions such as phobic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatoform disorders and dissociative disorders. Can these disorders be triggered by menopause? If you understand that estrogen plays a role in all of the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, it is likely that this change can exacerbate an underlying condition that already exists in the person, and likely was experienced at an early time in the person’s life as well. Seek medical attention if you are at all concerned about your level of anxiety and how much it is affecting your life. Treatment for anxiety attack menopause
If you have ruled out the other health concerns other than menopause that may be affecting your anxiety, and you know it is only related to the fluctuations in estrogen, then relax; This too shall pass. There are many techniques to help you relax including acupuncture, massage, yoga, fitness, diet, meditation, herbs, and avoiding triggers such as caffeine, rush hour traffic and nasty people. Deep breathing and laughing are techniques that work to some degree for everyone.
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