There’s no denying it, the last two years have been absolutely exhausting. As we’ve bounced from lockdown to lockdown with uncertainty around social mixing, travel restrictions and mask-wearing, many of us have been left feeling weepy with weariness. ‘It’s multifactorial,’ GP Dr Sam Brown GP from The Bronte Clinic tells Grazia.
‘Changing hormones both during the menstrual cycle and in the perimenopause can affect sleep. Women are often fulfilling many roles during the day – caregiver, worker, wife, mother and with less time for themselves they may purposefully reduce sleep to try and create extra hours in the day or they may struggle to fall asleep due to stress and worry.
‘Depression and anxiety are more common in women, and this can affect their sleep,’ she continued. ‘Women often do not prioritise their own health if they are busy caring for others so may not have time to exercise or practice self-care, which we know can help with sleep. Or they may drink too much alcohol and caffeine to cope with tiredness which can have a negative effect.
‘Tiredness can be caused by so many different factors but stress and low mood are the commonest reason that we see.’