Anxiety Therapist Orlando Shares How to Break Free from Menopause Anxiety
Anxiety Therapist Orlando Shares How to Break Free from Menopause Anxiety
Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC
You're in your 40s or 50s. You know changes are part of this stage of life, yet they still catch you off guard. You feel like you're on edge all the time. You worry nonstop about everything. It feels like stress hits harder than it used to. Some days, you can't focus on even the simplest tasks. You forget things all the time. And then there's sleep. You've always been a good sleeper who drifted off easily, but now you find yourself lying awake for hours. The longer the sleepless nights last, the more worried and uncomfortable you feel, and soon you notice it spilling over into your mood and daily life.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. For many women, this midlife transition is about much more than hot flashes and shifting hormones. It can also bring emotional ups and downs that feel unsettling and, at times, overwhelming.
As an Anxiety Therapist in Orlando, I’ve worked with many women who struggle to make sense of their experiences during this stage of life.
By understanding what is going on inside your body and your mind and using some easy, natural strategies, you can feel less overwhelmed and achieve more balance. Let’s look at what happens during menopause and what you can do to ease anxiety and regain a sense of balance and peace.
What Happens in Perimenopause and Menopause?
As you transition through perimenopause into menopause, your hormone levels—particularly estrogen and progesterone—continually decrease, impacting your body, mind, and emotions. These hormonal changes can influence your mood, your response to stress, and even whether you are more or less anxious or relaxed. That's why you might not only have night sweats, hot flashes, irregular periods, but you might have mood swings, anxiety, and changes in your sleep during this time.
Orlando Therapist Explains Why Anxiety Can Increase
While these hormonal shifts play a big part, they're not the whole story. For a lot of women, this stage of life brings on a whole new set of stresses. Perhaps you're trying to adjust to an empty nest after your children have left home, caring for aging parents, dealing with changes in your marriage, facing pressures at work, or grieving the loss of a loved one. When you add these life transitions to hormonal changes, it's no wonder anxiety and sleep problems are so common during this stage.
Finally, many women also notice that they feel super sensitive during perimenopause and menopause. You might notice that even minor stressors can hit you pretty hard, making you feel edgy, irritable, and upset. You find yourself easily breaking down in tears, snapping at loved ones, or becoming moody. Even small worries can feel overwhelming, and minor challenges can seem insurmountable, creating more tension. Your restlessness, irritability, and racing thoughts often result in frustrating sleepless nights.
Why Do We Struggle with Sleep and Insomnia in Menopause?
You lie awake at night, not only worrying about the day but also about the fact that you can't fall asleep. And that worry itself can make it even harder. One thing that can turn temporary anxiety into a chronic problem is developing anxiety about insomnia itself. Whenever we experience a bout of anxiety, it's important to acknowledge that these moments happen in life when we are really stressed out or when we are going through a hormonal shift. It's helpful to remember that your sleep patterns will eventually reset and return to usual and that insomnia is temporary. Even if sleep doesn't come right away, you can still calm your body, stay present, and let your mind unwind—making it easier for sleep to return naturally.
Orlando Therapist Discusses Natural Strategies to Ease Anxiety
1. Aim for Balanced Routines
Gentle routines like winding down before bed, turning off screens, or using calming relaxation practices can make a big difference. If your sleep doesn't improve or starts to affect your daily life significantly, reaching out to a physician for extra support can be an important step.
2. Make Gentle Movement Your Daily Habit
Physical exercise can be incredibly helpful in breaking the anxiety cycle. Regular physical activity can reduce stress, increase your energy, improve sleep, and increase focus. Activities like walking, yoga, or stretching can calm the nervous system and relieve tension in your body, and boost your mood.
3. Practice Relaxation Techniques Regularly
Deep breathing, meditation, or journaling are simple practices that help the mind slow down and ease racing thoughts. These small habits can create moments of calm, even on days when you feel stressed out and oversensitive.
4. Set (and Reinforce) Boundaries
Start by learning to say “no” without explanation or excuse. A 'no' to a friend who, for the third time, asks you to pick them up at the airport on a Sunday morning, to a boss who keeps piling on extra work, or to your partner when they expect you to handle everything at home without support.
This is a great way to create personal boundaries and to cope with anxiety. Setting boundaries allows you to focus on your needs and clarify with others what they can expect from you or how you want to be treated, so you feel less stressed out, resentful, and anxious.
Considering Anxiety Therapy in Orlando?
Many women who are going through perimenopause and menopause notice a rise in anxiety and restless nights. It is important to recognize when we could benefit from extra support. While natural strategies can make a significant difference, sometimes professional guidance is what helps you move forward.
One of the things I recommend to my clients, especially those who struggle with sleep and insomnia, is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT teaches you that, instead of pressuring yourself with thoughts like "I have to fall asleep right now," remind yourself that your body knows how to reset. This rough patch won't last forever, and your sleep will settle back into its usual rhythm. With ACT, the focus shifts from forcing sleep to resting and noticing your thoughts without fighting them.
Ready to Start Anxiety Therapy?
At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, we're here to provide compassionate care and practical strategies for women seeking help for menopause anxiety, managing menopause symptoms, and finding ongoing menopause support.
Not Quite Ready for Anxiety Therapy?
At Mindful Living Counseling, we understand how hard menopause can be. While you're navigating this journey, we invite you to explore the blogs below!
Anxiety Therapy Orlando Resources
21 Relaxing Activities to Help You Get to Sleep
Can't Sleep? 45 Sleep Hacks to Help You Get Your Zzz's.
Stress & Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Burnout Is Preventable
Stress and Anxiety Therapist: Burnout and the Nervous System
An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety
Orlando Therapist Shares Box Breathing Technique: A Tool for Anxiety
Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando
At Mindful Living Counseling, we offer a variety of therapy services. This includes EMDR therapy, Trauma Therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy, Teen Therapy, and Toxic Relationship Therapy. Additionally, we provide Guided Meditations for our clients.
Anxiety Therapist Lauran Hahn
Lauran Hahn is a therapist based in Orlando who specializes in helping clients dealing with anxiety and trauma. She has certifications as a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and an EMDR Therapist, and she is esteemed as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Lauran's goal is to assist individuals in finding calmness in their bodies, tranquility in their minds, and connection in their relationships.