The menopause often occurs during midlife when you may be dealing with other life stressors, such as parents’ ill-health or bereavement, teenage children, children leaving home (or not leaving home), or work demands. Hot flushes and night sweats can also be stressful and being anxious and stressed can make it harder to cope with the hot flushes.

Often, just talking through your symptoms can help. Symptoms can cause anxiety that something is seriously wrong. When you understand why symptoms happen, and that the symptoms do not signify anything serious or cause harm, often that is enough to help.

Mood swings, anxiety, being emotional and low are also symptoms of the perimenopause and menopause, caused by fluctuating or low oestrogen levels. Often HRT will help. Sometimes antidepressants are needed.

Making time for yourself, making sure you enjoy time with friends, getting your work/life balance right and exercise can help your mood.

Using techniques such as mindfulness or meditation can be helpful.

Cognitive behavioural therapy may be suggested as a treatment as this helps to change how you think and behave towards your menopause symptoms. It has been shown to be effective in lessening the anxiety and negative feelings towards the menopause and hot flushes, this in turn can lessen the emotional triggers which worsen hot flushes and anxiety.

Talking therapy or counselling may be needed for depression, or if you are finding it hard to cope with a diagnosis such as cancer.