Hypnotherapy and the menopause: finding ‘you’ again

Let's talk about menopause.

There’s far more talk and sharing about the perimenopause and menopause than any of us have experienced before: celebrities, adverts, documentaries. It can be a really difficult time to navigate. I know.

Its symptoms can make you feel like you're no longer yourself. You feel invisible. You no longer brim with self-confidence. You've lost that sparkle you used to have. You're worried about things - little and big - way more than you used to be. You can’t make decisions and can’t remember things you think you need to remember. And you’re not getting an undisturbed night of sleep.

You are so not alone. Hypnotherapy might help.

Hypnotherapy: helping the symptoms of menopause

Get better sleep

If you're in peri-menopause, you’re no doubt getting a disrupted night of sleep with hot flashes or hot flushes, night sweats, and a racing mind that just won’t quieten. It’s hard to remember how you used to be when you’re awake at 2am yet again and having to kick your legs out from under the duvet. And you know that willing yourself back to sleep just does not work.

Hypnotherapy might help improve your sleep patterns, with research showing that self-hypnosis can help to increase sleep duration (Otte et al., 2020). Perhaps you want like to look into this?

Reduce hot flashes – or hot flushes

A systematic review of research has looked into the effects of psychological interventions on menopausal hot flashes (Samami et al., 2022). They concluded that hypnotherapy might be a “useful method to mitigate menopausal hot flashes” and may help reduce symptoms of vasomotor disorders - such as night sweats.

Hypnotherapy - with its deep relaxation and shift in awareness - can help ease the symptoms.

Feel like you again

I often hear clients going through the perimenopause and menopause say that they just don’t feel like themselves anymore; as if they have lost their way, their confidence, their purpose, their identity. And, couple that with brain fog and disturbed sleep, and it's no wonder the essence of you feels a little shaken.

If you've been feeling invisible, therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and give you the time and space to look at your next steps. All our paths are different and, together, we'll try different tools and techniques to explore and be curious about this and to get you to feeling seen and heard again.

Rediscover your inner calm

Hypnosis works with your unconscious mind and can be used to restore a sense of calm. Deep relaxation allows your mind to quiet those racing thoughts and you might feel more grounded and ready to move forward after just a few sessions.

Find purpose

Midlife and menopause often coincide with other life-changing events - children leaving home, eldercare, changes in employment or relationships, a growing awareness of your own health, and a sharper sense of time passing. It can be a time of very real transition.

Hypnotherapy allows you explore all of this in a safe, supportive space. When using hypnosis, your conscious mind gets out of its own way, enabling you to explore new possibilities and rediscover what lights you up.

Sit with the in-between

Transitions are rarely without some stickiness.

While you might have expectations of progress and growth (and where do those expectations come from?), change happens in its own time.

Sit with it and get comfortable with the uncertainty. Be curious. Let’s do this together.

A natural approach to wellbeing

What makes therapy and the use of hypnosis effective during menopause is their approach. Instead of just treating individual symptoms, it works with your whole self, and helps you to tap into your unconscious mind's inner resources and abilities. You can find relief from physical symptoms, regain mental clarity, strengthen your sense of self, and feel comfortable with where you are.

Your next step

This is a time of change - when you can shed old patterns and emerge as your authentic and real self. It's also a time to sit comfortably with where you are right now, knowing you have space to explore.

If you'd like to find out how therapy might support you - or wondering what a first session actually involves, here's a walkthrough of what to expect. And, when you’re ready, let’s schedule a free and no-obligation Consultation Call.

References

Otte, J.L., Carpenter, J.S., Roberts, L. and Elkins, G.R. (2020). Self-Hypnosis for Sleep Disturbances in Menopausal Women. Journal of Women’s Health, 29(3), pp.461–463. doi:https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8327.

Samami, E., Shahhosseini, Z. and Elyasi, F. (2022). The effects of psychological interventions on menopausal hot flashes: A systematic review. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), 20(4), pp.255–272. doi:https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v20i4.10898. 

Common Questions About the Menopause and Hypnotherapy

Can hypnotherapy really help with hot flushes?

There's reasonable evidence that it can for some women. In 2023, the North American Menopause Society (now The Menopause Society) reviewed the research on non-hormonal options for hot flushes and night sweats, and clinical hypnosis was one of the approaches it recommended, alongside CBT and some medications. The studies behind that found women who used hypnosis had fewer and less severe hot flushes.

The same review is clear that HRT remains the most effective treatment, so hypnotherapy isn't a replacement for talking to your GP. It may suit you if you can't take HRT, would rather not, or want something alongside it.

In the research, hypnosis was usually delivered as a short course of sessions combined with regular self-hypnosis practice at home, and that's how I'd approach it with you. Everyone responds differently, so I can't promise results. If hot flushes are part of what you're dealing with, we can talk it through in a free Consultation Call and you can decide whether it's worth trying.

Is it normal to feel like I've lost myself during menopause?

Yes, this is one of the most common things women describe - a sense of losing confidence, identity, or sparkle alongside the physical symptoms. It reflects a real psychological shift, not something to dismiss as ‘just hormones.’

How is hypnotherapy different from just trying to relax more?

Hypnotherapy works with your unconscious mind directly, rather than only addressing symptoms on the surface. It can help you process what's changing and reconnect with a sense of self, not just quieten immediate stress.