Anxiety During Perimenopause
So many women experience heightened anxiety during perimenopause. Driving anxiety, health anxiety, panic when you first wake up in the morning, a strong desire to just stay home and be more introverted, or being overwhelmed at little things you used to take in stride are all common for women in midlife. You are not alone and your mind does NOT have to be this chaotic battleground.
Lately, it feels like your anxiety is running the show. You can’t shut off the racing thoughts, the constant worry, or the fear that something bad is going to happen. Your mind jumps from worst-case scenario to worst-case scenario, leaving you exhausted, overwhelmed, and on edge.
Maybe you can relate to anxiety during perimenopause…
🤔 Why do I feel so panicked over things that never used to bother me?
🤔 I keep replaying conversations in my head, second-guessing everything I said.
🤔 I feel frozen by fear, like I can’t trust my own mind.
🤔 I avoid social situations because I’m afraid I’ll say or do the wrong thing.
🤔 I can’t stop obsessing over my health. Every ache or pain feels like a serious illness.
🤔 I feel like I’m losing myself. I don’t even recognize who I am anymore.
This isn’t just stress. It’s anxiety and it’s taking over your life. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.
Why Does Anxiety Get so Intense During Perimenopause?
If you’re a woman in your 40s, you may have noticed your anxiety has intensified in ways you never expected. This isn’t just in your head. Perimenopause can trigger a surge in panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, and obsessive thoughts.
During perimenopause, heightened anxiety may show up as:
- Social anxiety – overanalyzing interactions, feeling self-conscious, or avoiding people + places you used to enjoy
- Panic attacks – sudden waves of fear that make your heart race, chest tighten, and mind spiral
- Health anxiety – obsessively checking symptoms online, googling doom-filled illnesses, or feeling convinced that something is wrong that has been missed
- Intrusive thoughts and OCD – contamination phobia, getting stuck in repetitive worries, or needing to check things
- Existential anxiety – feeling unsettled about your life’s direction, stress with aging, or what the future holds
These feelings are overwhelming, but they’re also common. These feelings don’t mean something is wrong with you. Your brain is adjusting to hormonal and life changes, and with the right support, you can regain your sense of calm, clarity, and control.
How Therapy Can Help You Break Free From Anxiety or OCD
I specialize in helping perimenopausal women untangle the knots of anxiety, OCD, and panic, so they can stop living in fear and start feeling at peace in their own minds.
Together, we can work on:
✅ Understanding Anxiety & OCD – Breaking the cycle of overthinking, compulsions, and intrusive thoughts.
✅ Managing Panic Attacks – Learning how to calm your nervous system and prevent spirals before they take over.
✅ Healing from Social Anxiety – Gaining confidence in social settings without overanalyzing every conversation.
✅ Easing Health Anxiety – Letting go of obsessive symptom-checking and medical fears.
✅ Navigating Midlife Anxiety – Finding peace with change, aging, and the unknown.
✅ Regaining Control – Learning tools to calm your mind, trust yourself, and live without fear ruling your life.
You deserve to feel calm, safe and in control.
You don’t have to live at the mercy of anxiety and OCD. You don’t have to be stuck in fear, trapped by your thoughts, or constantly fighting your own mind. There is a way forward.
You deserve peace, freedom and relief. I’m here to help you get there.