18/04/2023
As you will be aware already from previous posts, perimenopause is a time where our ovaries start to slow down and go into decline, the amount of oestrogen produced is decreased.
The first symptoms may be brain fog, poor memory, increased anxiety, low mood, and mood swings
Often women may feel they are suffering from depression when it is in fact perimenopause causing their symptoms.
Even women with no history of depression are three times more likely to experience depression during menopause transition compared to pre- menopause
Oestrogen is a growth promoting hormone and stimulates growth and development of nerve cells, particularly in the brain. This drop in oestrogen is known to reduce nerve function in the brain, having a significant impact on mood, memory, concentration and learning.
As mentioned below in my last post with our “ teams” ( have a read)
Team HPA and Team HPO , there is a link between increased severity of menopausal symptoms and women who experience high levels of stress.
We know cortisol and Adrenalin are produced by the adrenal glands, and are pumped out in greater quantities when we are under increased stress. The adrenals also pick up some of the slack from the retiring ovaries, and are designed to produce just enough oestrogen to get you by
….. unless
You are under constant or high amounts of stress! Because the adrenal glands will always choose to produce stress hormones over oestrogen ( survival comes before fertility).
When menopausal women are in constant or high states of stress the adrenals become worn out and oestrogen production halts altogether as the adrenals can no longer meet demand.
Anxiety may often kick in before feelings of depression … putting further strain on the adrenals
Stress is also often a key factor behind hot flushes, and night sweats due to the surges in adrenalin, which can cause increased heart rates and vasodilation of blood vessels.
So we really want to look after our adrenal glands by ensuring we remain as stress free as possible
How do we do that?
We ensure we practice self care, through regular experiences which help us to destress.
Whether that is booking in for regular therapies, getting out in nature, being active and moving our bodies ( not too much though as too much excercise can be as stressful as too little), making the right food and drink choices and ensuring our bodies are well hydrated with fresh clean water.
Meeting up with friends, having a good old belly laugh, staying away from people and situations that cause us to feel uncomfortable and create stress, and dealing with any situation which needs dealt with right away instead of allowing it to fester.
Ask for help if we need it. Say “no” if we need to. Allow things to go, don’t hold onto grudges
That all seems very simple doesn’t it? but in reality it’s not always that easy, because with every choice we make there are usually a set of circumstances, which can often be complicated.
Do what you can, make choices to prioritise your long term health.
Prioritise you!
Start with one thing and make it a regular habit, before adding another, and another.
Each small step you make over a sustained period adds up and will lead to improved adrenal health, which will lead to an improvement in symptoms.
