Stress and menopause

Is the menopause causing you to feel stressed?

Stress, for some women, is a prevalent and troubling symptom throughout the menopause and can have a detrimental impact upon their everyday lives. In this page, our menopause expert Eileen Durward addresses the issue of stress in the menopause and its knock-on effect on other menopausal symptoms.

An introduction to stress and menopause

Everyone has experienced the feeling of being stressed at some point in their life, even if only for a brief moment. However, among some menopausal women, stress can be a prominent experience. It is a feeling of being under too much pressure, often both emotionally and physically.

Stress is the result of your body’s reaction to a specific situation. Two people can go through the same experience – one might find the position stressful and the other perfectly reasonable and comfortable.

Stress can affect the way you act and think. It can also lead to sleep problems, headaches, difficulty concentrating or difficulty acting rationally.

Why does menopause cause stress?

Your body produces cortisol to allow you to cope with stress. However, consistently high levels of cortisol can be damaging to your body. This is why prolonged stress is not good for your health.

The hormone oestrogen helps maintain the level of cortisol in the body.

As you go through the menopause, the levels of oestrogen begin to drop. This means you are unable to regulate cortisol levels in your body as effectively as before, causing you to experience stress more readily.

Can stress bring on an early menopause?

There is ongoing research around this topic. Generally it is thought that continual high levels of stress can cause you to experience menopause-like symptoms, but this does not actually induce menopause.

The reason for this is, if the level of cortisol is continually high, this echoes the effect of having little oestrogen in the body to regulate it.

What home remedies are there for stress?

Learning how to tackle your stress is not a luxury but vital for keeping you healthy. Some home remedies take a little time and dedication, but could make all the difference in the long run.

Meditation, yoga and pilates are all techniques which have been used for years to help de-stress. They can help refocus the mind and keep stress factors at bay
Make time to pursue activities that you enjoy such as baking or gardening. This will help you to relax, and take your mind off stressful issues
There have been studies to show that getting out and exercising a little every day is vital for minimising stress. Even measures such as jumping off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way could help
Remember to talk to your family or friends about things that are concerning you. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’ as they say, and it could prevent your stress levels from soaring
It is important to get enough sleep. Being deprived of sleep is a notorious cause of irritability and intolerance. Getting a good night’s sleep will mean you are rested and ready to tackle the day ahead.

Read more on how you can help yourself deal with stress.

Are there herbal remedies to help me?

Stress Relief Daytime – this is a licensed herbal remedy which contains fresh extracts of Valerian and Hops. It has a calming effect on the nervous system
Passiflora – this is a plant which originates from South America and the East Indies
Avena sativa - this is an extract of oat straw and has been used as a nerve tonic for hundreds of years. It contains substances such as Gramine and vitamin B, important for the normal function of the nervous system
Flower Essences – there is a range of Jan de Vries flower essences including Female Essence, Emergency Essence and Relaxation Essence, which are designed to help with the different emotional aspects of the menopause.

What about conventional medicine?

If you find that home and herbal remedies are not effective in calming your stress, then it may be worth seeking medical attention to help with your symptoms.

A doctor will be able to prescribe a treatment such as an anti-depressant or a sedative. Many of these have side-effects so discuss with your doctor which will be most suitable for you. You may have to try several types before finding the one that is right for you.

In addition, HRT has been used as a general treatment for a variety of menopausal symptoms.

Many conventional medicines for anxiety tackle severe symptoms. If you experience panic attacks or frequently feel overwhelmed by anxiety, then it is important to visit your doctor. If you are concerned about your symptoms then seeking medical advice is also sensible.

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Jo — 15.03.2021 13:33
Hi,I had very weird story which made my world upside down ...my periods were normal in late 2015 and early 2016 three times I tool Morning after pills after that I had some problems as I don’t use contraceptives at all my body became hot fatigued-anxiety came and by late 2016 my periods became heavy with lot of clots...by 2017 there was anxiety as I was going through lot my sister-in-law got cancer then within few months my father in law died and I became very scared of situation though I am strong person but I think a lot I researched lot about cancer and prevention then sudden bad depression with anxiety was setting in I was getting severe symptoms like fatigue and forgetful suddenly in 2018 I became very bad I was feeling scared all the time no knowing for what.. I was feeling worthless my body was looking ugly to me I felt guilt and skiped few periods and suddenly one fine morning my husbands face looked distorted and I was not understanding what was happening and thought we are under some spell and my body is alienated and everyone is planning against me and severe palpitation and anxiety took over and I ran away from home not knowing where to go and after few months my periods also suddenly stoped and I went completely crazy not able to tell anyone correctly as i was hallucinating forgot so many parts of my life couldn’t remember things...saying whatever was coming to my mind..people were confused of me I was in different world my husband didn’t want me back cause he said I abandoned him..lot of anxiety severe hot flashes which I didn’t knew about loss of memory hallucinations depression you name it and it was there for me..I didn’t had 1 periods in 2019 then none in 2020 just one little spotting but now I am back to normal and full of guilt with what I did thogh symptoms are still there and I am trying to find answers and came to your sight so I am writing to get your help and explanation is it sudden menopause just very severe symptoms for three yrs and done or it was due to stress..please let me know the answer as I am so going through so much anxiety and palpitations and guilt feeling which has made my life hell...lost my home since I have no explanation for my husband and also my family cause my mom says no one runs from home due to menopause it cant be true ...but I went through it and its real cause I love my husband more then my life..please help is it die to Morning after Pills or stress or combo of everything Kind regards
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Isabel — 20.01.2021 05:55
Am in menopaus already but l become more stressed and become fearful of death. Please help
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- eileen — 20.01.2021 07:04
  Hi Isabel This is quite a common symptom in the menopause and many women will experience this at some point. I have posted a video on this and what you can do to help yourself so please do take a look. https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/menopause/videos/crying-fear-and-worry-whats-causing-these-emotions/
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shona haley — 24.04.2017 18:32
Im in the throes of menopause and a bit of underactive thyroid. Im having a real issue trying to lose weight. Its a nightmare and is getting me down. Any advice before i explode?
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- Eileen — 25.04.2017 14:07
  If you have any existing problem such as thyroid issues, this can contribute to the menopause symptoms and vice versa. So do let the doctor know that you have menopausal developments breaking through. In case your thyroid medication needs reviewed. Weight issues are common due to the hormonal shift anyway. The digestive system becomes more sluggish and carb metabolism slows down, so try to drink more plain water to nourish and hydrate the body and I suggest that you eat more protein foods and less carbs, with plenty of fruit and veg. Molkosan can be helpful to kick start your day and reduce bloating if this is bothersome. You can look up GI Diet to help or someone like a Nutritional advisor or therapist can be helpful.
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