As if the hot flashes, dry skin, and heavy menstrual periods aren't enough to deal with during perimenopause, anxiety can make all your other symptoms feel even worse.
It hits without warning. You suddenly feel nervous, lightheaded, short of breath, your heart races, and your legs feel like jelly. Anxiety, always an unwelcome guest, arrives at the most inconvenient times and can affect the quality of your life.
Since perimenopause can last for several years, learning effective ways to cope with anxiety is an important part of helping you navigate perimenopause like a pro.
First things first
If you've been experiencing feelings of anxiety and think you may be entering perimenopause, you should consult your gynecologist or family physician to rule out other causes for your anxiety. Other medical conditions such as hyperthyroid can also cause anxiety.
Since hormone levels fluctuate daily, it may be difficult for blood tests to confirm perimenopause. However, your age and symptoms will help your physician determine if you have entered perimenopause.
Knowledge is power
Knowing the reason behind your anxiety often brings some relief. When you first experience anxiety, you may be fearful that you have other serious health conditions causing your racing heart and or causing you to feel lightheaded. When you begin to feel an attack of anxiety coming on, simply reassuring yourself that you're just experiencing anxiety is often enough to reduce your level of discomfort.
Ditch the caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant and can aggravate anxiety. Consider switching to decaffeinated coffee, tea, or colas. If the thought of giving up your daily coffee makes you anxious, at least consider cutting back on your intake of coffee.
Ease your anxiety with exercise
You don't have to belong to a gym or exert great effort to reap the benefits of being more active. Walking is a great way to relieve anxiety, and it's easy to add a few extra steps into your daily routine. Wearing a pedometer and aiming for a specific amount of steps each day can be a great motivator to keep moving.
Sip some chamomile tea
Whether you drink it iced or hot, chamomile tea is known for its calming and soothing effects. It's also inexpensive and can be found in the tea section of any grocery store. Adding a few cups a day to your diet may reduce your anxiety levels and help you sleep better at night.
Establish good sleep habits
The importance of good sleep habits is often overlooked as a way to ease anxiety, but sleeping well is healthy for the entire body. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
Eliminate watching TV and using computers or tablets prior to bedtime. The glare from electronic screens can overstimulate the mind and make it difficult for you to fall asleep. Resist the urge to check text messages or use your cell phone when preparing for sleep.
Keep the bedroom temperature comfortable to provide an optimal sleeping environment.
You don't have to let perimenopause make you a nervous wreck. Some women notice improvement in their anxiety levels just by implementing good health habits, exercising, cutting back on caffeine, and understanding what anxiety is and how it affects their bodies.
To learn more, contact a company like Psychological Associates of PA.
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