Anxiety and Peri? What natural stuff should I take?

[betterleaping]

I'm 48 and in the last few months seem to be anxious a lot of the time, particularly in relation to work. I do have a stressful job but it's always been the kind of stress/pressure I enjoy but recently everything feels like it's 'just too much'. I was trying to analyse if the job or conditions have changed but they really haven't and 'on paper' it's still my dream job, so I have to conclude something is going on with me instead!

I get really irritated by petty discussions at work and chew them over and over in my head. One particular colleague (who is very underhanded) gives me the pure rage and I waste mental headspace at the weekends mulling over the last nasty, manipulative thing he said. I find it hard to relax and I'm jumpy and irritable a chunk of the time with this feeling of being 'on edge'.

It feels like my work which I have always loved, is sucking the oxygen from the room. I don't want to leave because I DO still love it but I think I need help managing whatever this is.

So I am focusing on eating well, I've upped my exercise and am wondering what I need to take supplements wise to a) help my stressed out brain and b) sleep better. I've got a trip to Holland and Barrett tonight so would welcome any recommendations!

Other than the above, I don't have any other peri symptoms, periods are regular etc. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

I use a herbal supplement called Menopause Ease from a company called Piping Rock in the US. The shipping costs are eye-watering but waiting for the BOGOF deal then getting 6 months worth makes it less painful.

And unfortunately exercise helps enormously which is really annoying as I do love to laze around!

When the supplements stop working I'll go for HRT. I can't go back to that anxious obsessiveness, it's debilitating isn't it.

Hey there,
focusing on eating well is a good start. If you have time watch Georgia Ede on youtube, she discusses the link between diet and mental health and how what you eat is vital to supply the brain with neurotransmitters etc.

And if you fancy revising your view on what healthy eating means watch Zoe Harcombe, it is eye opening. She wrote her PHD on the evidential base for the introduction of nutritional guidelines, spoiler alert- there was no evidence.

Vagus reset breathing exercises are good for anxiety - the vagus nerve resets the fight or flight response. Practice them when you are feeling calm so they become second nature;

Breath in through your nose for a count of three.
Hold for a count of three.
Breath out through your mouth for a count of three.
Hold for a count of three.
Repeat and count to four.

Hadn't heard of Zoe Harcombe until your comment but after a little snoop of her website I'm very glad that you mentioned her! I feel a bit vindicated now for plodding along listening to my own body instead of imposing "the right thing" on it.

Bio identical HRT. Don’t mess about.

What's the gist of the Zoe Harcombe stuff?

HRT. Bio identical and made from yams. Slept from the first day I started taking it.

I know you're looking for natural remedies, however it was only HRT that took away the irrational and full on rage.

Unfortunately, I'm still exactly like you with anxiety. I too have a job that was always what I wanted to do and I'm really struggling with it. I'm having therapy but only two sessions in so no solution yet.

This is why so many menopausal women give up working. It's bloody awful.