We often identity trauma and PTSD with first responders, military personnel, or survivors of terrible disasters. But today we now know that traumatic events in childhood and in abusive relationships have the same effect on our nervous system as a traumatic event that took place in the military or working as a first responder. And that the lasting emotional impact and psychological response the person has to that traumatic event, as in how they emotionally process what happened, determines if someone becomes conditioned to living in a fight or flight response.

A fight or flight response which remains switched on, stuck on auto drive. This, is where a person finds themselves stuck in a loop, going round and around, becoming  a default setting in the nervous system, and the person is constantly in hyperarousal, meaning, they experience a persistent state of  hypervigilance where a person has a heightened awareness of one’s surroundings. Constantly scanning for potential threats even when there is no immediate danger, feeling anxious, angry, easily startled, sensitivity to noise and crowds,  a feeling of being constantly on edge and unable to relax, difficulty concentrating, irritability, panic attacks, flashbacks, emotional dysregulation, and poor sleep hygiene. All of which are symptoms commonly seen in individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Dysregulation in the  nervous system leads to negative physical and emotional issues because of the direct influence between, trauma, stress and the mental and physical body. Effecting not only our mental health but also causes perimenopause and menopausal symptoms to worsen and become more intense.

Nervous system dysregulation is also commonly experienced in general during menopause due to a major decline in oestrogen levels, impacting directly on the central nervous system leading to symptoms such as mood swings, increased anxiety, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances. Having a knock on affect on the menopausal transition, and on the severity of symptoms a women has whom has PTSD, CPTSD, or unresolved past trauma. This is because hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause provoke and intensify the unresolved past and already existing trauma. 

Numerous studies and present data show exactly this that women who have experienced trauma have a harder time with perimenopause and menopausal symptoms, and with PTSD & CPTSD symptoms, during perimenopause and menopause.

A study involving Persian gulf war female military personnel which showed that women with probable PTSD were twice as likely to experience early menopause and health related issues. CLEVELAND, Ohio (Sept 10, 2024).

Another study showed that women with a history of physical abuse and emotional abuse had an increase in the severity of menopausal symptoms than those women who had not experienced such abuse. Reporting suffering with intense mood swings, irritability, anger, high anxiety, and depression during perimenopause and menopause. And that the added stress and trauma associated with the abuse further exacerbated the hormonal fluctuations that are known to be typical  anyway of perimenopause and menopause. 

 Studies in the field of relational trauma have also shown that there is a  major link to the severity of a women’s  perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, showing that  those women with a history of trauma, especially childhood abuse are likely to experience more intense hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and overall discomfort during menopause; this is likely due to the impact of trauma on the body’s stress response system, which can be further exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations during the menopausal transition significantly worsening perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.

 

And women that have experienced trauma either in childhood and or in adulthood can have those unresolved old traumas and present wounds reopened again during perimenopause and menopause. Resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and hot flushes and night sweats which can be magnified.

This is because unresolved trauma from childhood, gets carried into adulthood as CPTSD, due to continual traumatic events such as relational trauma, physical neglect, emotional abuse, physical or sexual abuse. And the past unresolved trauma gets resurfaced during the menopausal stages. As perimenopause can cause PTSD and CPTSD symptoms to worsen, and unresolved trauma can make menopause more difficult.

Researchers also found a connection between women who had experienced childhood events (ACEs), meaning physical, sexual and emotional abuse, physical and emotional neglect and parental separation and divorce, and having severe menopausal symptoms. And that women with a history of abuse, whether that happened in childhood or later in life, were more likely than women without these histories to experience more severe menopausal symptoms and more psychological symptoms than those women without these traumatic histories. According to Mayo Clinic Research, Madison Okuno.  Research also revealed a strong link between relationship trauma such as narcissistic abuse, physical, abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse, abandonment, and betrayal, which can occur in any type of relationship including romantic and family relationships, and the severity of perimenopause and menopausal symptoms. 

 Narcissistic Abuse which can take place in childhood and  adulthood, or both, is widely considered a form of relationship trauma as it involves continued emotional manipulation, exploitation, and mistreatment that can greatly harm a person’s mental health and self-esteem within a romantic relationship, and relationships with family members. And cause the person to develop CPTSD. Which then makes a person susceptible to developing PTSD later on.

 

 

These things can continue to trigger us if not fully looked at, understood and processed. We can go the ‘ostrich syndrome’ route and suppress them. Or we can look to explore these unresolved past issues. If we choose not to recognise and deal with any unresolved issues and past trauma, we risk that they will hold us back in both our present and future. And you don’t want that for yourself, do you?

 

Key points about relational trauma and menopause:

  •  Extreme Increase In Symptoms: Studies shows there is  a strong link between a history of relational trauma and more severe menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. 
  • Triggering:  The hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause can act as triggers, bringing up past traumatic experiences and causing emotional distress. 
  • Poor Sleep Hygiene: Trauma survivors may experience worsened sleep disturbances during menopause due to nightmares or anxiety related to past events. 
  • Has An Emotional & Mental Effect: Unprocessed trauma can lead to increased feelings of  anxiety, and depression during menopause. 
  • Has a Physical Effect:  Showing a potential link between trauma and physical menopausal symptoms such vaginal dryness, which can further complicate sexual intimacy.
    Key points about narcissistic abuse as relationship trauma:
    • Psychological impact: The consistent pattern of manipulation, gaslighting, devaluation, and isolation tactics employed by narcissists can cause significant psychological distress, leading to symptoms similar to other forms of trauma.
    • Impact on self-esteem: Narcissistic abuse often targets a victim’s self-worth, leading to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and dependence on the abuser.
    • PTSD potential:
      In severe cases, the repeated trauma of narcissistic abuse can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
    Key points about relationship trauma and menopause:
    • Increased symptom severity:

      Studies show that women with a history of relationship trauma are more likely to experience more intense and frequent menopausal symptoms compared to those without such experiences. 

    • Unresolved trauma:

      Past relationship trauma that hasn’t been adequately processed can resurface during menopause, leading to heightened anxiety, depression, and difficulty managing emotional fluctuations. 

    • Impact on the body:

      Trauma can disrupt the body’s stress response system, which may manifest as physical symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and headaches during menopause. 

    • Psychological impact:
      The hormonal changes of menopause can exacerbate existing emotional issues from past relationship trauma, leading to increased feelings of vulnerability and difficulty coping with symptoms. 
    • Therapy:

      Seeking therapy to address unresolved trauma is crucial for managing menopausal symptoms effectively. 

    • Mindfulness practices:
      Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help manage stress and anxiety triggered by hormonal fluctuation
Key points about combining therapy and HRT:
  • Addressing emotional symptoms:

    While HRT can alleviate physical symptoms like hot flashes, it may not fully manage the emotional changes associated with menopause, making therapy a valuable addition for managing mood fluctuations and psychological distress. 

  • Identifying underlying issues:
    Therapy can help individuals explore potential underlying psychological factors contributing to their emotional symptoms, allowing for a more holistic approach to managing menopause. 

How to cope

  • Therapy: Therapy can help you process unresolved issues and memories.
  • Lifestyle changes: Healthy Eating, Reducing alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. Practicing yoga or Tai Chi, and good sleep hygiene.
  • Self-care: Meditation, breathwork, and spending time in nature can help.

 

Because these things can continue to trigger us if not fully looked at, understood and processed. Its important to do so.

We can either choose to suppress them. Or get stuck in a loop  around and round, trying to “cope”, “manage” these symptoms, with little to no success.

Or we can look to explore these unresolved past issues, and untie the knot on that loop .

If we choose not to  deal with the unresolved issues and past trauma, we risk being held back in both our present and future. Continuing to go around and around that loop of symptoms.

The earlier trauma is recognised, the quicker appropriate action can be taken to prevent symptoms lasting months or even years. HRT alone will not resolve the symptoms.

 

There are many ways to alleviate challenging symptoms including:

  • therapy or counselling
  • breathwork
  • take time off work to prevent burnout
  • journaling
  • reduce/stop alcohol and caffeine
  • good gut health
  • walks in nature
  • yoga/Qigong, somatic exercises
  • tapping (EFT)
  • support network (surround yourself with people who are supportive and empathetic)

 

 

 

    • The duration and severity of perimenopause symptoms can vary greatly from woman to woman.
  • Some women may experience only mild symptoms, while others may have significant and disruptive symptoms.
  • Some women may not even notice any symptoms at all