Absolutely. Declining estrogen and progesterone directly affect brain chemistry:
– Estrogen modulates serotonin (mood regulation)
– Progesterone activates GABA (calming neurotransmitters)
When these drop, anxiety often increases – sometimes for the first time ever. This can include:
– Generalized anxiety
– Panic attacks
– Health anxiety
– Social anxiety
– Feeling on edge or overwhelmed
If you’ve developed anxiety during perimenopause, address hormones first. While therapy and stress management help, if the root cause is hormonal, treating hormones directly resolves the issue.