Many of us expect hot flashes to be the first sign of perimenopause.
This is probably because they are so regularly talked about and portrayed in the media as such a visible and often as an embarrassing sign of menopause. (This needs to change!)
Image by Samuel Ferrara on Unsplash
But for most women, we go into perimenopause with more oestrogen than progesterone, and as progesterone impacts GABA (the calming neurotransmitter) levels, we are more likely to start by feeling higher anxiety and stress levels which can lead to:
Sleep problems
Worse PMT symptoms
Weight gain - especially around the middle
Heightened stress levels
Lower libido
By learning and implementing the basics you will recognise symptoms as they come up, know why they are occurring and how to help yourself.
Just by lowering the stressors, you can control, by learning methods to calm your anxiety, stress levels and therefore cortisol levels will be lowered such as:
Breathing techniques and meditation
Walking with friends
Helpful food choices
Getting to grips with sleep problems
Committing to swapping out the toxic chemicals at home
Eating for optimum oestrogen detox
Lowering alcohol and sugar consumption
Moving in a way that promotes muscle and bone strength and happy fascia
None of this stuff requires much, just some new habits and positive changes. But it can have a huge effect on how you feel day to day, both emotionally and physically. You deserve to feel great!
Photo by Ryan Booth on Unsplash