The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm sensations are some of the physical effects you may feel under this condition.
When menopause hits, there is a greater chance women will go through anxiety and depression. Christian Northrop talks about this phenomenon in her book, Wisdom of Menopause, where if a woman has repressed something in her life, she won’t be able to get past menopause employing the same tactics. For example, unexpressed anger will find its way out and sometimes in unusual or uncomfortable ways.
In what is often referred to as a ‘midlife crisis,’ this time of life forces women to re-evaluate themselves and the role(s) they play as they are getting older. And, often times we are not comfortable with what we find. A little voice in the back of our head is saying, If you don’t make changes now, you never will! Our hormonal imbalances (due to decreased estrogen levels) can contribute to feelings of depression or make us feel plain ndifference. Even if menopause isn’t actually causing these conditions, it can heighten underlying anxiety and bring it to the surface.