Perimenopause and anxiety sensations even if not mentally anxious?

[myrtleleech]

I am late 40's, perimenopausal and I've been on HRT for 4 years now. Just went up to 75mg estrogen patch at the start of this year with Utrogestan which I take 12 days a month. Things have been ok but recently I've been feeling increasingly anxious.

I am not mentally anxious about things more of a constant hum of anxiety feeling in my solar plexus area. I have tried cutting myself some slack, adding in relaxation exercises, meditation, more exercise, herbal tea and cbd oil and yet it persists. The GP gave me some propranolol a month or so ago but I've only been using it when it gets really bad. I did try adding a bit more estrogen but all that happened was my breasts got really tender so I don't think it is that. I do feel better when I take the propranolol but I'd rather not be taking it all the time.

Has anyone else had this constant bodily anxiety in peri/menopause? If so how did you resolve it?

The body can not produce emotions - anxiety is an emotion - they come from the mind and the body response. But what can happen is that you notice a sensation in your body and you are a bit concerned about it so you keep checking that it's still there (a bit like prodding the empty socket when you've lost a tooth).

How to resolve it? Acknowledge it and then ignore it - "yes I've got that hum, and no it's not important to me". After a few days it will fade, a good analogy would be moving to a house next to a busy road or railway line, after a while you stop hearing the noise.

This video might also help:

@Eyesopenwideawake Thanks for this I will watch the video.

I'm curious though as I believe the sensation I am feeling is caused by cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine which would make sense as the propranolol does stop it. It seems that for some women hormone fluctuations do cause these stress hormones to rise for no psychological reason causing them to feel anxious without a mental component.

I do think that you are right that now I am feeling anxious I am checking more so I think your point is valid and I will take that on board.

I think the hypothalamus triggers the release of cortisol but don't quote me on that - I'm a therapist, not a doctor!