When people think of perimenopause, they often picture hot flashes, mood swings or irregular periods. But for many women, one of the most disruptive and least talked about symptoms is extreme anxiety. Not just the occasional worry or nervousness, but an overwhelming, irrational sense of dread that can strike at any time. Anxiety in perimenopause has left many women feeling isolated and confused about what’s happening to them. But recent Reddit threads on r/menopause are bringing the issue into the spotlight. Hundreds of women are opening up about their experiences, sharing their struggles and offering advice on how they’ve managed to cope.
What Reddit users are saying about perimenopausal anxiety
One Reddit user captured the overwhelming nature of this symptom in a post that quickly gained traction. “I’m perimenopausal and holy what the ever-loving f—, my anxiety has gone through the roof,” she wrote. “And I don’t mean typical everyday anxiety. I mean all of a sudden I’m worrying about things that make no sense. I feel insane. Someone please commiserate.”
Her words resonated with hundreds of women, many of whom shared their own battles with heightened anxiety. One user, a yoga and meditation teacher, admitted that even her tried-and-true relaxation techniques stopped working. “I would stand on my yoga mat in tears. All the coping skills I had were useless, which proved to me that my body was changing in a significant way.” Like many others, she found relief through hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What causes anxiety in perimenopause?
Several Redditors pointed to the hormonal shifts of perimenopause as the likely culprit. “I never had anxiety until menopause hit hard,” one user shared. “Extreme hot flashes and then severe anxiety and panic attacks out of nowhere!” Another user noted that her anxiety had always been manageable until perimenopause. “I had severe anxiety when anyone else was driving, an impending sense of doom all the time and still sometimes wake in the night anxious for no reason.”
Others described a shift in their anxiety symptoms. “I was always a worrier. Now I have physical anxiety—feels like butterflies in my stomach, a sense of doom, trembling, and unfortunately, panic attacks.” Another wrote, “Mine has become much more physical. I have so many symptoms—rapid heart rate, auditory changes, over-the-top worrying over absolute nonsense.”
The role of HRT in managing perimenopause symptoms
With traditional anxiety treatments often falling short, women are exploring various ways to manage their symptoms. Most reported that HRT was a game-changer, helping to stabilize their mood and reduce panic attacks. “I started HRT a month ago, and the anxiety is back to barely a whisper,” one person wrote. “The estrogen patch saved me, I swear.”
Natural remedies and daily rituals that help ease anxiety
For those who can’t or don’t want to take HRT, other strategies have helped:
- Medication: Some women found relief through a combination of HRT and anxiety medication. “I am on both HRT and anxiety meds, and it is much better,” one user shared.
- Lifestyle adjustments: Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and sugar helped some women lessen their symptoms. “The only thing that has helped me significantly is having zero alcohol,” one person noted.
- Self-care practices: Many turned to daily routines like exercise, journaling and meditation. One user described her ritual: “I take some ‘me time’ every morning with coffee and a word game. I go for a walk with my dog daily and use a simple mantra—‘I can think about that another time.’”
- Seeking professional help: Some users emphasized the importance of finding a menopause-informed doctor. “The average doctor is not trained to deal with menopausal symptoms,” one Redditor warned. “I went to a specialist, and it was a game-changer.”
The takeaway: Anxiety in perimenopause is real
For many women, anxiety in perimenopause is more than just a mental struggle, it’s a physical and emotional upheaval that can disrupt daily life. But as these Reddit threads prove, they’re not alone. Whether through HRT, therapy or lifestyle changes, many are finding ways to manage this unexpected symptom and regain control over their lives.
If you’re experiencing perimenopausal anxiety, know that there are options—and a whole community of women who understand exactly what you’re going through.
