Is this menopause

[Isthismenopause]

Posting for traffic

I will be 53 this year and 3 years without my period. I have been experiencing more anxiety than normal lately and waking up during the night and a bit tearful. Not other symptoms. The anxiety is mainly about my teen daughter who is going through lots ups and down, plus pressure at school.

I started taking coffee lately. 2 cups a day. Not sure if this has made it worse. Maybe I should keep it for the afternoon only as I feel it helps.

Swimming and steam room help but I can’t always go as I want to be around for DD at night. I also do yoga and practice mindfulness.

DD is quite perceptive so I don’t want her to pick up on my feelings. We seem to be very connected emotionally.

I am also taking Ashwaganda. May increase the magnesium.

What else can I do? I don’t want HRT.

Perhaps it has gone worse after I introduced a morning coffee.

Advice please?

I have always been a bit of a worrier anyway but seems worse at the moment.

Any natural treatments or should I go for HRT and which one?

Menopause is defined as a year with no period so I would say yes OP. Why are you anti HRT?

Menopause, by definition, is when you've gone without a period for 12 months in a row. So, you're post menopausal.

Maybe you're just worrying like mum's do? Have you had your thyroid checked?

Thyroid dysfunction can cause hormonal and emotional fluctuations.

Thank you. Worried about side effects; but I think I will check with the dr.

Three years no period definitely sounds like menopause - congratulations!

Anxiety and waking up - have you considered supplements? I take Menopace for anxiety, it is just a multivitamin supplement for menopause, can get it from Boots. And so many people now take magnesium for waking up at night.

Thanks. I will look at menopace. Does it help you?

I will increase magnesium intake. Whatever it takes, to get rid of this feeling.

Yes, I am not sure if it just being a mum or menopause; as there are not many other symptoms like hot flushes, not vaginal dryness, not anger. Just a bit tearful and more anxious.

Hi, yes these two supplements definitely changed things for me.

You might find this infographic interesting www.templeclinic.co.uk/blogs/the-risks-of-hrt/

Will try it and got back to magnesium which I thought was helping until it didn’t and started with Ashwaganda. How much magnesium do you take? Perhaps I wasn’t taking enough.

Will try it and got back to magnesium which I thought was helping until it didn’t and started with Ashwaganda. How much magnesium do you take? Perhaps I wasn’t taking enough.

I would definitely speak to your GP about having some routine bloods done. As someone else said, to check for deficiencies such as thyroid, anaemia, Vit D etc.

Some family planning and sexual health clinics also run menopause clinics. When I was using contraception, I always found them to have more knowledge of the latest ones and I suspect they'd be the same about menopause support. You'd need to ring the ones in your area to ask if they run menopause clinics.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/sexual-health-services/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

There's a menopause board on mumsnet op, you may find it useful https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/menopause

Once we are in peri then post meno we really need to focus on self care. So either with or without hrt you need to avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol, this will help with anxiety amd also improve sleep which in turn improves mood.

You need to up physical activity, again to help with sleep which will help mood. All the things we've neglected throughout our lives comes into focus once over 45 so take care of yourself.

Good healthy diet, get out in the fresh air walking and see your GP if it all gets unmanageable.