AND WHAT YOUR BODY IS REALLY TELLING YOU
Understanding the link between hormones, stress and that “wired but can’t calm down” feeling.
A Pattern I’m Seeing Every Day This week, I’ve had the absolute privilege of speaking with lots of women through my Menopause Check-Ins, Menopause MOT (Menopause Optimisation and Testing), and The Menopause Vitality Reset.
And one thing has come up again and again:
ANXIETY
Not just feeling a bit stressed.
But that deep, unsettled, wired, can’t-quite-switch-off feeling.
The kind that affects your sleep, your confidence, your relationships and your ability to cope.
And for many women, it feels like it comes out of nowhere.
Jackie
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PDF
If this feels familiar, you can download a free PDF with more information and practical next steps.
ANXIETY IN MENOPAUSE: NOT “ALL IN YOUR HEAD”
There is growing awareness that menopause significantly affects mental health.
There is growing awareness that menopause significantly affects mental health.
A 2025 study of over 4,000 women found that psychological symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and low mood often appear before physical symptoms.
This is something many women are still not told.
Instead, they hear:
- “You’re just stressed”
- “You’re just tired”
- “You’re doing too much”
And yes, stress is part of the picture.
But in midlife, something more complex is happening.
THE STRESS–HORMONE CONNECTION
One of the most important things to understand is that your stress system and hormone system are deeply connected.
One of the most important things to understand is that your stress system and hormone system are deeply connected.
From the research in the stress and perimenopause paper:
- The HPA axis (stress response → cortisol)
- The HPO axis (reproductive hormones → oestrogen and progesterone)
These systems overlap and influence each other
WHAT THIS MEANS IN REAL LIFE
When your body is under constant stress Cortisol is prioritised and this can lead to:
- Reduced progesterone (your calming hormone)
- Poorer sleep
- Increased anxiety
- Blood sugar instability
- Greater emotional sensitivity
At the same time:
Declining oestrogen reduces stress resilience
So your body has less buffer than it used to.
WHY ANXIETY FEELS DIFFERENT IN MIDLIFE
This is why anxiety can feel:
This is why anxiety can feel:
- stronger
- more physical
- harder to control
- less predictable
It’s not just emotional, It’s physiological.
In fact, low progesterone alone can contribute to:
- anxiety
- poor sleep
- irritability
- feeling overwhelmed
TIP OF THE WEEK | DON’T FIGHT ANXIETY — SUPPORT WHAT’S UNDERNEATH IT
If anxiety has been louder for you recently, start with this question:
What is my body trying to tell me? Instead of pushing through, support your system with these foundations:
1. Stabilise Your Morning
Have protein before caffeine. This supports blood sugar, energy and mood. Examples:
- eggs
- greek yoghurt
- protein smoothie
2. Reduce Your Evening Stress Load
Give your nervous system a clear signal that the day is ending.
This could be:
- dimming lights
- coming off screens earlier
- gentle stretching or breathing
Consistency matters more than complexity.
3. Stop Blaming Yourself
Anxiety in midlife does not mean you are weak. It often means your body needs a different level of support
A Whole-Body Approach Matters
This is why I never look at menopause in isolation because most women are not just dealing with hormones. They are dealing with:
- stress
- sleep disruption
- blood sugar swings
- nutrient depletion
- emotional load
- busy, demanding lives
And all of that feeds into how they feel.
WHERE TO START
If you’re feeling anxious, wired, exhausted or not quite yourself, this is the work I do inside my programmes.
FINAL THOUGHT
Anxiety in menopause is not something to push through or ignore.
It is information.
Your body is communicating.
And with the right support, you can feel calmer, steadier and more like yourself again.
With you,
Jackie
Menopause Health Specialist
Creator of The Menopause Vitality Reset
