Forget hot flushes! Anxiety and loss of confidence are some of the most underestimated and upsetting symptoms of the menopause. Many women are taken by surprise in their mid to late forties to suddenly discover that they’re doubting themselves and their abilities; feeling overwhelmed by tasks or projects they previously handled with ease; or simply experiencing a residual sense of anxiety which is hard to shake off.

If this sounds familiar, then Becks Armstrong is your woman. Becks is a women’s health specialist, acupuncturist, traditional Chinese herbalist and doula. She’s also very interested in technology and how it can support our health. One of the ways she’s applied that is by founding the Clarity mindfulness app which is specifically designed to help midlife women who are struggling with menopause symptoms. There is an increasing body of research about the benefits of mindfulness in dealing with stress and supporting mental health.

In this episode of The Happy Menopause, Becks and I discuss the issue of anxiety and overwhelm which is so common to midlife women and yet relatively unrecognised as a mainstream menopause symptom. Becks explains a range of simple and practical techniques to show how mindfulness, gratitude and paced breathing can quickly help to reduce stress and anxiety. She’s incredibly clever at suggesting ways of introducing mindfulness into your daily life, which is especially helpful for people who are new to the concept or perhaps a bit hesitant about whether it’s right for them. We try out a simple mindfulness exercise that you can try out at home, while you’re listening. Becks is passionate about the importance of ‘me time’, the ultimate luxury for every menopausal woman!

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

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Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.