Menopause in Women Who Have Panic Attacks

A panic attack during perimenopause or menopause occurs because of hormone fluctuations. During a panic attack a strong sense of fear suddenly occurs. The sufferer may start sweating, feel dizzy, have heart palpitations and experience nervousness, breathing difficulties, hot prickly sensations or cold and tingly sensations. A woman often feels something is terribly wrong with her when, in fact, she may be experiencing symptoms brought on by menopause.

Causes

• Many factors may contribute to a panic attack, such as stress, emotional problems or traumatic events, so it is difficult to know the exact cause of panic disorder. Women are twice as likely to suffer from panic attacks as men. Since panic attacks in women most commonly occur during pregnancy, PMS, menopause and post-menopause, doctors have come to conclude that hormones are typically the underlying cause.

Significance

• Panic attacks associated with menopause usually begin during perimenopause, around the age of 35, when hormonal changes in estrogen and progesterone begin. Unlike premenstrual syndrome, the hormonal shifts can be extreme in nature and last for months or years. Stress in one's life, fear of change or difficult past experiences can contribute to how extreme a panic attack can be. Some women experience panic disorder for the first time in menopause. Women with a history of panic attacks can experience them in perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, as well.

Considerations

• If a woman ignores panic attacks, they can take over her life. Once panic attacks begin, they can manifest into larger problems and become debilitating. It's much more effective to deal with the symptoms when they first surface, instead of waiting until they are out of control.

Breathing

• Whether a woman is in menopause or not, one common trait in people who suffer from anxiety disorders and panic attacks is that they breathe twice as fast than those who are not sufferers. They breathe more rapidly; use their diaphragm minimally while breathing; and use their chest, neck, and shoulder muscles when they breathe.

Solution

• If you experience these symptoms, consult with your doctor to help you find medications or alternatives to help alleviate these attacks. Alternative therapies such as yoga, hypnotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy are helpful in relieving panic attacks at any stage of life. For example, pranayama breathing techniques in yoga can help you learn to control your breathing and, as a result, discover ways to take deeper, more intentional breaths, which in turn, calms the mind.

Prevention

• Educate yourself on symptoms that can come up due to hormonal imbalances. Although panic attacks do not happen in all menopausal women, being aware that panic attacks sometimes occur can be the best way for you to stop them from getting to a debilitating stage. Each time you feel an attack coming on, allow the feelings to happen with the knowledge that you are not in any danger; it is your hormones at work. Breathe deeply and remind yourself that it is not necessary to fear the panicky feelings. Most importantly, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it will be to prevent long-term anxiety.