Thrive rather than strive through your menopause
BY ANNIE MOORE
For some women menopause can be a challenging time, for others its a breeze!
Many women who experience not very nice symptoms can get extremely anxious
and overwhelmed. Their life becomes fraught with unpredictable experiences and for some each day brings a different challenge.
Initially we need to understand what is happening when we transition into menopause. Having more awareness and support, can help us manage our symptoms better, so we can thrive through this phase of our life.
Although menopause is a normal part of the ageing process, there are two main female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries that are vital for our womanhood. Gradually over a period of time, which varies for each person, these hormones decline causing imbalances in the body.
The symptoms we experience during perimenopause and menopause are the result of declining oestrogen levels.
Menopause is the term used to describe the point in time when a woman's periods have stopped for 12 months. The phase that lasts several years leading up to the menopause, is the transition stage known as perimenopause. This phase can cause debilitating symptons, not only physical but also mental and emotional. For many women it can be overwhelming.
Obvious symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flushes, fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, disrupted sleep, weight gain and mood swings are telling signs of experiencing lack of oestrogen and starting the menopause.
There can be a whole bunch of other symptoms, asscocitaed with this transition too.
When there's an overload of stuff going on we get anxious and exhausted, especailly when a lack of oestrogen starts to play havoc with our mind, causing forgetfulness, poor memory and concentration, lack of focus, anger, rage and irritability.
All of which can overpower and disrupt our life. "I just want to feel normal again" I hear you say...
Managing this phase needs a mindset that can cope with change.
How can we change our mindset in order to cope?
First you need to know that you're not alone, menopause anxiety is very common and there's plenty of support out there to help you. Talking openly about your feelings to friends and family can be very therapeutic.
Above anything when transitioning through perimenopause treat yourself with compassion. Be kind to yourself and give your mind and body plenty of self love and attention.
There's lots you can do to mindfully manage your menopause journey:
Make time to relax and unwind.
Meditating for five minutes a day will help you find stillness and clear the mind.
Going to bed early for eight hours a night will help you recover and refresh.
Eat healthy, plenty of fresh fruit, green leafy veggies, pulses, nuts and seeds.
Increase your intake of vitamin D and magnesium for healthy bones.
Exercise regularly to activate the endorphins for better mood and feeling good.
Learn restorative yoga and qigong, to help calm your nervous system, so you can feel soothed for better sleep and revitalised with more energy.
As women in menopause we need to reconnect with who we are and what our true values are. We know deep down we are the nurturers and that we carry life. As women we need to get back in touch with our natural rhythms and cycles.
The menopause allows us a path of transition into our wonderful wisdom years, where we embrace our true selves in our second spring, giving us the gift of awareness that health and wellbeing is more important than the way we look.
There is so much more knowledge out there, than ever before... I should know, it was barely discussed when I was going through the menoause. Women don't need to feel alone anymore. The menopause conversation is an open book, filled with plenty of resources and evidence based information to support your journey.
It's wonderful that expert menopause GP's are now on the scene, pionered by Dr Louise Newson https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk. There's heaps of literature, books, video's and podcasts available, facebook groups and loads of media attention too.
If you would like to find out more, learn simple tools to help reduce your symptoms I can help you;
To manage your physical, hormonal, and emotional symptoms
Learn specific yoga exercises to restore strength, resilience, and equilibrium
Give you breathing techniques to cool, soothe and calm
Guide you in meditations and visualisations to help quiet the mind
Instruct you in qigong movement to enhance the flow of enegy through the body
Show you how to empower and reconnect with yourself
Join me to see how your jouney through change can be more about thriving than striving.. I will coach and mentor you through 4 x ninety minute in studio or live zoom sessions, tailored to your individual needs. Head over to my wellbeing coaching page to find out more.
Annie, author, menopause yoga and meditation coach has a passion for helping women going through menopause and beyond, helping them to embrace their journey with ease and comforthttps://www.moorwellbeing.com/menopause-1