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How Female Hormonal Changes Can Contribute to Anxiety and Panic Attacks
by Deanne Repich
Some women are more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations than others. For many
women, anxiety issues appear for the first time during periods of hormonal
change. For other women, hormonal changes intensify previously existing anxiety symptoms.
“
hormonal change can trigger our fight or flight response
”
Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS),
post-childbirth, and perimenopause (the period of time before the onset of
menopause). It may take the form of panic attacks, nervousness, sweating,
intense fear, anxiety combined with depression, or other overwhelming symptoms.
Here are several periods of hormonal change that can intensify or trigger anxiety in women.
Puberty - Developing girls experience hormonal changes as they prepare
to begin their reproductive years.
Monthly menstrual cycle - Often girls and women experience PMS the
week before their period.
Following childbirth - The severe drop in certain hormones following
childbirth can cause dramatic physical symptoms and a temporary feeling of
depression or anxiety; in some women, it is prolonged.
Perimenopause - Perimenopause is the period of time when the body is
approaching menopause. It may last from two to ten years. During this time the
menstrual cycle becomes irregular as the hormone levels keep fluctuating,
causing some women to experience PMS-like symptoms.
Although many of us may use the term "going through menopause" to describe this
period of time, it is actually called perimenopause. Many women experience panic
attacks for the first time during perimenopause. Other symptoms such as
insomnia, hot flashes, rapid heartbeat, and sweating are also common.
With surgical menopause (hysterectomy), you'll likely experience perimenopausal
symptoms after the surgery, even if you did not experience symptoms prior to
surgery. Symptoms can be prolonged and are due to the dramatic and sudden
decrease of certain hormones as a result of the hysterectomy.
In non-surgical circumstances, menopause occurs after a woman has no periods for
twelve consecutive months. It lasts only one day. Many women report feeling
better than ever mentally and physically after menopause, due to the fact that
hormone levels stabilize.
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