One of the things I see so often in clinic is women who are simply overwhelmed.
Sometimes there isn’t one obvious cause. It’s work, family, poor sleep, hormones, the mental load and everything else that gets layered on top. A lot of women describe feeling as though things they would previously have taken in their stride suddenly feel much harder to manage.
My approach has always been to look at the whole picture – sleep, nutrition, movement, recovery, hormonal balance…. And, importantly, understanding what might actually be driving the way someone is feeling.
Supplements can have a place within that, but for me they should support the foundations rather than replace them.
Why stress can feel different in midlife
Perimenopause, menopause and the years that follow can be a particularly vulnerable time for changes in mood, sleep, energy and resilience.
There is a huge amount going on physiologically during this stage of life, but often it also happens at a time when women are carrying an enormous amount practically and emotionally too.
Hormonal change may be part of the picture, but it is rarely the whole picture. That’s why I think it is so important not to simply label everything as stress, or everything as hormones, without looking properly at what else may be contributing.
Looking at the foundations first
When women come to see me feeling flat, anxious, exhausted or simply not quite themselves, I always come back to the basics:
- Are you sleeping properly?
- Are you eating well and getting enough protein?
- Are you moving your body?
- Are you getting outside?
- Are you allowing yourself any real downtime?
- Could hormones be contributing?
- And is there anything else going on physically that needs to be considered?
It sounds simple, but these things matter. Often the most useful starting point is not adding more, but understanding what is already going on.
Where targeted supplementation can fit
Once the foundations have been looked at, there may be a role for targeted supplementation.
I have now tried InnerCode’s Anti-Stress & Mood Support myself and have been really impressed with it. The formulation combines saffron, rhodiola, lemon balm, magnesium glycinate and vitamin B6.
What interested me initially was the combination of ingredients rather than relying on one single component. Stress, sleep, mood, energy and hormonal health are all closely connected, so I tend to prefer looking at these things as part of a wider picture.
I also like that it is easy to incorporate into everyday life. For any supplement to be useful, it has to be something people can realistically take consistently.
It doesn’t need to be complicated
Women are given so much advice about what they should be doing for their health, particularly as they move through midlife.
More supplements, more exercise, better sleep, less stress, eat this and avoid that.
It can quickly become another thing to feel that you are getting wrong.
For me, the aim is not perfection.
It is about understanding your body, recognising when something has changed, getting the right support where needed and building habits that are realistic enough to maintain.
A well-formulated supplement can sit alongside that. It should not replace the basics, but it may be a useful part of the wider picture.
Dr Elizabeth Leek
NHS GP and Private Integrative Women’s Health Doctor
