Re: Hormones

 "....there is a far greater psychological component to menopause than an actual physical one." I agree, thinking... Just as when females domicile together their rhythms align for reasons beyond conscious control, it seems probable that there are factors of which we're currently unaware that can have an effect on this subject. But you can almost guess them, like, lower overall stress might be expected to have a better outcome than where longer term stress is present, etc.

Yes, stress can play a role because of its negative effects on the adrenals, which are the primary source of hormones after menopause.

Stress also negatively affects the thyroid. And most of menopausal symptoms are already due to hypothyroidism from estrogen suppression.