I have been woken up a few times by a strange feeling of fear. It feels as though something terrible is about to happen, and my skin feels odd, sort of prickly. It's difficult to describe it properly but it's not very nice.

This is quite common in the menopause, a combination of dehydration (very common during the night) and skin thinning due to lowered oestrogen levels.

Ensure that you are drinking plenty of plain water every day, and if you wake up in the night have some by your bedside to sip before you go back to sleep.

You may also find it helpful to have Emergency Essence by your bedside, as a few drops of that can alleviate panicky feelings very quickly.

Also, being better hydrated is good for your skin. You may find that taking Nettle tincture will help your skin, as may taking vitamin C, or just eating more fruit.

Eileen Durward