Is it perimenopause or is it anxiety?

Is it perimenopause or is it anxiety?

Is it perimenopause or anxiety? Sometimes the questions we ask ourselves can become overwhelming why am I feeling this way? Why am I so anxious? Why can’t I sleep? Why do I feel so emotional?

The constant questioning can become its own source of stress. That inner voice can make us doubt ourselves and wonder whether what we are experiencing is anxiety, hormonal changes, the pressures of midlife or a combination of the three. The uncertainty can be just as difficult as the symptoms themselves. The answers can be less straightforward, as the symptoms can sometimes look remarkably similar.

Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause, and hormonal changes can begin earlier than many women expect. Some women begin experiencing changes in their 30s, while others notice them in their 40s. Because every woman’s experience is different, there is no single timeline or set of symptoms that applies to everyone.

This can make it difficult to understand whether changes in your mood, sleep, energy, or ability to cope are related to anxiety, hormonal fluctuations, life circumstances or perhaps a combination of all three.

Your Experience Is Unique

Every woman’s journey through perimenopause and menopause is unique. Family history may play a role in when menopause begins. While other factors, including smoking, certain medical treatments, surgery and overall health, may influence a woman’s experience.

At the same time, midlife can bring on significant emotional and practical pressures. You may be balancing a career, relationships, parenting, financial responsibilities, or other major life transitions.

When these demands occur with hormonal changes, it can become difficult to identify and understand, why you are feeling differently.

Perimenopause And Anxiety Can Overlap

Some symptoms associated with perimenopause can feel very similar to anxiety, as you may have trouble sleeping, a racing heart, irritability, difficulty concentrating, or becoming more emotional than usual.

Then those thoughts return, I’ve never been this anxious before, why am I feeling this way?

For some women, these changes can feel particularly unsettling, as hormonal fluctuations can affect your mood and sleep while poor sleep can, in turn, make feelings of anxiety, irritability and overwhelm more difficult to manage.

Recognising that these factors can overlap may help you approach your experience with greater understanding and less self-blame.

Why It’s important to Listen to Your Symptoms

It is also important not to assume that your symptoms are part of menopause. Speaking with your doctor or another health care professional can help you explore physical and hormonal factors and determine whether further assessment is appropriate.

Therapy can also be an important part of your support. A therapist can help you explore the emotional side of what you are experiencing, including stress, anxiety, relationships, self- esteem and major life transitions.

You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone

Midlife can be a time of significant change, and it is completely understandable to feel uncertain, overwhelmed or unlike yourself. What you are experiencing deserves to be taken seriously not dismissed or minimised.

Seeking therapy is not a sign that you are not coping, it can provide a safe space to help you slow down and help you make sense of what you are experiencing and reconnect with yourself. It’s a place to speak openly about your emotions.

Sometimes having someone besides you can make your journey feel a little lighter.