Perimenopause video transcript:
Can perimenopause make you feel scared? It can, and it's for a very physical reason. Dips and fluctuations in the hormone levels happening in perimenopause affect the nervous system.
We've got oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the brain that influence chemical messengers controlling things like mood and brain function. So, we've got serotonin, which makes us feel happy and GABA, which is calming. The parts of the brain, like the amygdala, the primitive part of the brain responsible for things like fearful memories and emotions can get really overexcited, especially if we’re tired, stressed, or wired.
Now, we want to look at reducing scary feelings from kind of two angles. So, we want to help keep the hormone levels as stable as possible by including plenty of plant oestrogens in the diet. So, really good sources are things like flaxseed, cabbage, spinach, beans, and sprouts.
We also want to get enough relaxation and sleep and find ways of just reducing stress and becoming calmer.
So deep breathing works. It's really, really good to practice this when you are not feeling panicky so that you know what to do if panicky feelings come on.
A valerian complex such as Stress Relief Daytime is something you can drop into a little bit of juice to help you take the edge off mild, anxious feelings just when you feel them coming on.
A.Vogel Stress Relief Daytime Valerian-Hops Oral Drops
- USED TO RELIEVE SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AND MILD ANXIETY: Stress Relief Daytime is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms of stress such as mild anxiety.
- EXTRACT OF FRESH VALERIAN AND HOPS
- HOW TO TAKE: Adults and the elderly to take 10–20 drops in a little water or fruit juice once or twice daily.
"Has gone a long way to easing my symptoms."
For more information and advice head over to Eileen's blog 'Feeling fearful during menopause & how to overcome it' where she looks at this symptom in more detail as you go through menopause.
You may also find these topics helpful:
5 oestrogen-rich foods for menopause
Types of anxiety in menopause & what can help
Signs your nervous system is struggling & how to support it better during menopause