(Guest Post)

Menopause can be a time of uncertainty and upheaval in a woman’s life. While some women seem to breeze through menopause with minimal symptoms, other women struggle emotionally as well as physically.

The physical changes of menopause include:
” hot flashes
” sleep disturbances
” loss of libido
” skin changes
” changes in the reproductive
” changes in your urinary tract
” weight gain
” feelings of anxiety and depression.

Anxiety caused by menopause can be frightening issue for some women in menopause, and can lead to a vicious cycle: hot flashes cause anxiety, and anxiety triggers hot flashes. How can this cycle be stopped or at least tamed? When used with other strategies for menopause symptom relief, deep breathing exercises can be helpful in halting the anxiety that accompanies hot flashes.

Deep breathing

Deep breathing, which involves breathing from the abdomen, has been shown to promote relaxation and reduce hot flashes. One study found that using deep breathing reduced self-reported hot flashes by approximately 50% in test subjects. To practice deep breathing, concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply using your abdominal muscles. Aim for six to eight breaths per minute for several minutes. Try deep breathing as soon as you feel a hot flash coming on- research has shown that deep breathing can shorten the duration of a hot flash, in addition to decreasing the anxiety you may feel along with the hot flash. While deep breathing, think of a relaxing place or something that makes you happy for added benefits.

*******************************************

About the Author: Linda Boudet is a wife, blogger, and mom. Now that her two boys are in college, she enjoys connecting with other woman through blogging and social media.

July 12th, 2012 marks one year since I underwent a partial hysterectomy. And sadly, since that time, I’ve been prescribed anti-depressants, hormone replacement therapy and anxiety medications – to ease every symptom listed above (yes, they can attack all at once), however. My anxiety medications are taken “as needed.” Which means, if I can stop an anxiety attack (or work my way out of one), I don’t have to take my medication for that attack.

That said.

If a simple breathing exercise can tame, or seriously decrease the amount of attacks I have over the course of a year – two years, my choice is to go with the breathing exercises for sure.

Weather you’ve gone through menopause already or are just now experiencing some of the symptoms, I think this article could prove to be very useful to many a women.

* Image found on Microsoft Office Clip-art*

Disclosure: Many thanks going out to our guest blogger Linda Boudet. If you’d like to add anything to the conversation, please leave a comment below.

Tagged as: Guest Blogger, health