Q: recently I have experienced anxiety problems. I have other symptoms of menopause and am wondering if a hormonal imbalance (my fsh level is 43.3) can cause this sort of problem. my doctor gave me lorazapam, but I don't want to just mask the problem, I want to know what is at the root of the problem.
A: Hi Sue
It is difficult to give you a 'straight' answer with this question as there are so many individual variables. The anxiety could be coming from a number of causes. Menopause with the hormonal changes, personal stresses in your life e.g. relationship problems, difficulties at work etc., the natural normal fear and anxiety of all that has happened on and since 9-11.
In my own experience and in working with other women who are experiencing menopause, many of us do need to understand and work with on our anxiety levels as a separate issue.
Firstly learning to understand how our anxiety and/or panic attacks can be created by the way we are thinking and then learning how to control them rather them controlling us.
The more aware we become of the role our thoughts play in anxiety and panic, the more we can isolate individual reasons as to the root of the problem. For many women, this comes back to trying to be all that we think we should be versus being all that we could be. Our anxiety and/or panic attacks can be a wake up call to begin to address these issues.
Can you ask your doctor for a referral to a cognitive behavioural therapist? A CBT therapist can assist you with this.
Kind Regards,
Bronwyn Fox
Power Surge Anxiety-Panic Expert
Founder of The Panic Anxiety Hub
Online Panic Anxiety Management Program
E.mail Bronwyn Fox
Author of Power Over Panic: Freedom From Panic/Anxiety Related Disorders"
and Power Over Panic (2nd Edition)
and Bronwyn's audio cassette, Taking Back The Power
