Have you noticed you’re far more prone to stress during perimenopause? It’s not just the effects of being in your 40s – there’s a close link between these two factors. And most importantly, they can lead to serious health consequences if left unchecked.
Here’s what you need to know about stress and perimenopause.
Why you experience more stress during perimenopause
There is a very real reason why stress is far more prevalent during this stage of life. It all comes back to the hormonal changes that occur with perimenopause.
The first big factor is the reduction in progesterone levels. When you have adequate progesterone, it helps to keep you feeling calm by regulating the stress response. But as your levels drop off throughout perimenopause, that stress tolerance drops through the floor.
Then we have the fluctuations that occur in your oestrogen levels. Drops in oestrogen are linked to lower levels of happy brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine that help you to stay focused, calm and in control. Sudden spikes can contribute to mood swings, anxiety and irritability, which all feed into your experience of stress.
All of this adds up to a reduction in stress tolerance or stress resilience. So things that didn’t use to worry you can suddenly become a big, overwhelming deal!
