Anxiety Attacks During Menopause Symptoms

Anxiety attacks usually occur as a result of stress and hormonal imbalances within the body, so it's not unusual for them to occur frequently during menopause. Menopause causes a dramatic shift in estrogen and other hormone levels, which is easily enough to cause anxiety attacks. When these hormone changes are coupled with the stressful life changes and other symptoms that accompany menopause, anxiety attacks seem inevitable. The symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and dizziness, can feel severe but are not usually dangerous or life-threatening.

Difficulty Breathing

• Difficulty breathing is one of the most severe symptoms of anxiety attacks. People suffering an anxiety attack frequently feel like they are suffocating, and they feel like they can't expand their lungs as much as normal. While this symptom is disturbing, it usually subsides within a few minutes

Heart Palpitations

• The sudden increase in anxiety during an anxiety attack causes the body to go into "fight or flight" mode and increases blood pressure, causing the heart to beat much faster than normal. Some people report feeling like their heart is beating extremely hard or extremely quickly. This is because the heart is working to pump more blood through the veins, and this symptom usually lasts the longest, but should subside within several minutes

Dizziness

• People experiencing an anxiety attack usually report feeling dizzy. This is because their heart is racing and blood isn't pumping through the veins at a normal rate, resulting in lightheadedness, dizziness or headache. Some people report feeling like they are floating. This is all a response to the change in heart rate, and usually subsides within a few minutes.

Fever and Sweating

• This is one of the less-common symptoms of an anxiety attack, but is much more common among women who experience anxiety attacks during menopause. Menopause frequently causes hot flashes, and hot flashes often occur simultaneously with anxiety attacks during menopause. Women suffering from this symptom will usually report feeling extremely hot and may become sweaty.

Shaking

• Shaking is a result of the increase of heart rate and the release of endorphins. Blood usually rushes to the legs and drains from the arms and hands, causing the arms to feel weak and shaky.