Received via email:

My mood and anxiety have gotten so much worse around my period this month. I’m talking to my doctor about putting me on a low hormone birth control pill because I also had a lot of hot flashes. You know the hot flashes are probably are period related because I’m 40, but I always assume it is a panic attack. Sounds crazy, but my first panic attack had a lot of hot flashes. Of course, when this happens, I feel like I’m regressing.

Let’s talk about anti anxiety hot flashes and then look into some ways to get relief. One thing for sure, whenever an unpleasant anxiety symptom flares up it can definitely make us feel like we’re regressing…

Regarding panic attacks and menstruation for me, I do notice that a lot of my anxiety symptoms can get to be overwhelming around that time of the month.

It helps for me to keep track of my periods on a calendar. My cycle is starting to get ever so irregular the closer I get to menopause (I am considered perimenopausal), but having some idea of when I will get my period helps me better prepare for any symptoms that may decide to rear their ugly heads around that time.

Is there a connection between hot flashes and anxiety?

Apparently yes. Here is some interesting information I found on Voices.Yahoo.com:

Anxiety alone can cause hot flashes that mimic menopausal hot flashes. These anxiety hot flashes are caused by those annoying adrenalin surges that I was experiencing. Anxiety hot flashes, or night sweats also present the same problems as peri- menopausal hot flashes.

Further research lead me to discover that peri- menopausal women who said that they had moderately high anxiety had three times as many hot flashes as woman with normal anxiety levels. Women who felt that they had very high anxiety levels had five times as many hot flashes as peri- menopausal women with normal anxiety levels!  -Ann M. LeSuer, Article source

Hot flashes, whether anxiety fueled or period fueled are a complex hormonal response where there is a surge of adrenaline and the body becomes overheated and starts to sweat, sometimes profusely.

It is common to also experience other symptoms as well, including a racing heart, dizziness, flushed face and sweaty palms. You can also get a chill once it has passed.

Hot flashes can be intensely uncomfortable to the sufferer. If the sufferer is anxious to begin with, the hot flash can trigger a panic attack as well.

Natural Anti Anxiety Hot Flashes Relief

The following are some easy tips to help you manage your hot flashes naturally:

1. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine. This is in coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate and energy drinks
2. Avoid spicy foods and alcohol.
3. Drink plenty of water so your body remains hydrated
4. Take a natural herbal remedy- Commonly used herbs include ginseng, licorice root, cohosh, and primrose oil
5. Take Vitamin E. The dosage used to treat hot flashes is 600 to 800 IUs daily
6. Watch what you eat. Common food additives like nitrates, MSG, and sodium can aggravate or intensify hot flashes.
7. Slow down your breathing. It has been shown that by taking slow, deep abdominal breaths during a hot flash, you can decrease its duration and intensity.
8. Try to quit smoking. Smoking raises the risk of hot flashes.
9. Exercise regularly. Being inactive also raised the risk of hot flashes.
10. Practice stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, tai chi or yoga.

If your hot flashes and anxiety are too overwhelming

It’s always good to try natural anti anxiety remedies for hot flashes first. If you find you aren’t getting relief, or if the hot flashes are disrupting your life, please check with your doctor. He or she may recommend low dose hormone replacement therapy or an antidepressant.

You don’t have to just live with nasty hot flashes. Anti anxiety and natural measures like the tips listed above can really help bring you some relief.

I wish you peace,
Jill G.

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