Panic Attacks: Brought To You By Menopause

Hi, gals! Never had a panic attack before? Feel left out? Well, all good things to those who wait.

One of the things they don’t tell you about menopause is that you often get gripped with sudden, irrational panic attacks. Oh, they tell you about the night sweats, the sudden hair growth on areas of your body (except the top of your head) and the chocolate cravings, but the panic attacks are not often mentioned. The bad news is that panic attacks are never a thrill ride, no matter what your age. The good news is that they don’t last and can often be managed.

Hormone Rollercoaster

The older I get, the more I’m wish my parents had me spayed when I was six months old, like we do with dogs and cats. It would’ve saved me a lot of bother. Although technically I’m not menopausal yet, I am in the pre-menopausal stage (often called perimenopause). When the hormones in your body surge (like when they do right before your period), you get a lot of emotional affects — one of which is often anxiety or panic attacks. It’s annoying, but normal. It doesn’t mean you’re going crazy or have to spend a fortune at the therapist’s talking about your childhood.

Women diagnosed with depression or who have had a history of panic attacks will most likely get even more attacks during menopause.

Common Symptoms

Although people have variations with symptoms, a panic attack usually feels like this:

It comes on suddenly
Your heart races
Your breath comes so fast you might start panting or hyperventilating
There is an overpowering feeling of doom
Strange prickly sensations of either hot or cold in various parts of your body
You often feel filled to bursting with energy (however, I root to the spot)

Treatment

You should tell your doctor about your panic attacks, especially if you:

never had them before
are on any hormone replacement therapies
are taking any herbs to reduce menopause symptoms

You may need an adjustment in your medication. And please don’t use this article in the place of your doctor’s advice.

Whne you have a panic attack, you need to take deep breaths, look around and remind yourself that nothing bad is actually happening and that the attack will end. For some more details, check out "Dealing with Panic Attacks".

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