MENOPAUSE: Taking Your Emotions On A Ride!

I’m going to call it and say only the young want to grow old. Because, to a young mind, “being old” only means freedom. It means getting to do what you want to do (or so they think)! You know, important things like eating whatever you want, staying up late, driving a car, dating, or going through menopause. Wait, what? You weren’t expecting that were you?

No! Chances are, menopause was not one of those milestones that was high on your priority list growing up. And until you reach “that age” you don’t really consider how you have spent your life charging up the hill, only to get there and realize you want to ride the brakes all the way down.

This was brought home to me the other day while I was out shopping. As I was checking out the cashier asked if I qualified for any discounts and without thinking I replied, “No, I don’t think so!” But then after a second to think about it I asked, “What discounts are there?” The first two didn’t apply to me but when she asked, “Are you 55 or older?” I gave her a blank stare and said, “Yes” and she smiled and said, “Well then, you get the senior discount!” Without even batting an eyelash I said, “I’d rather pay the 10% extra and be 35 again.”

Me? Getting a senior discount? When did that happen? I’m oldER, but surely not that old! Oh well, I guess it happens to the best of us. On the bright side, I did save 10%! Whoo-pee!

Okay, back to menopause. Along with death and taxes, menopause is another thing you can count on— that is if you are a woman. Women’s lives are influenced by their hormonal changes from puberty to pregnancy and beyond. And just like puberty, menopause does not occur suddenly. Your body gradually prepares for it—up to a decade with peri-menopause. While every woman will go through menopause, all women will not experience symptoms in the same way.

Besides the physical changes during this time there also can be quite a few emotional and mental changes as well that might not have been anticipated.

Some women will breeze right through it, while others feel as if they are on a hormonal roller coaster ride. Their emotions seem to go crazy where one minute they are in a positive mood but the next minute they feel sad or angry.

For the most part many women find themselves feeling a little “off balance” as they move into their 30’s and 40’s. The frustrating part for them is not being sure if what they are experiencing is normal. So let’s look at what is “normal” as far as common symptoms women experience emotionally and mentally.

COMMON EMOTIONAL CHANGES

• Mood swings
• Less patience/Irritability
• Feeling “ho-hum” or “not very social”
• Lack of interest in sex
• Feeling anxious
• Anger or aggressiveness
• Sadness
• Depression
• Feeling tense

CAUSES OF EMOTIONAL CHANGES

It can be difficult to pin down the exact cause but fluctuating hormones appear to be the main culprit. Putting it simply, It stands to reason if the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are behaving erratically, then your moods might follow suit. When your serotonin level is normal your mood will also be stable. But if your serotonin level falls then your mental state can change to where you feel on edge, bad tempered, and out of sorts. Now throw in some other symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, or insomnia and you can see where things can take an ugly turn.

It’s also important to note that life in general during this stage can contribute to some of the emotional changes you might be feeling. I’m talking about life changes such as children going off to college or leaving home, caring for aging parents, career changes, relationship changes, etc. When these stressful events are coupled with menopause symptoms it’s easy to see how it can play havoc with your emotions. That doesn’t mean however, you have to buckle up and white-knuckle it to the end. There are ways of dealing with these changes so they do not rule your life.

TREATING EMOTIONAL CHANGES

• Reduce and manage stress by using relaxation methods such as yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises.
• When your temper flares, step back, take a deep breath, and let a little time pass before you act on your heaving emotions.
• To induce better midlife sleep limit caffeine to the morning and try relaxing herbal teas later in the day such as Chamomile or Passionflower.
• Push yourself to take up new interests. Volunteering in the community can lift your mood as well as help to take your attention off of your struggles during this time of change.
• Stay physically active. Exercise regularly but not right before going to bed.
• Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of essential minerals and healthy fats.
• You might feel like going into hermit mode but talking to your friends and family especially the women who have gone through the same thing can be very helpful.
• Join a women’s support group.
• Counseling can be very beneficial, especially if you are experiencing depression as a result of these changes.

Menopause is completely a natural process, not a “problem” that needs to be fixed. At the end of the day, women going through this phase of life just want to be reassured that they are not going crazy and what they are experiencing is normal. It is! And after your hormones have had their erratic ride, they will eventually settle down. Hopefully then, you can focus on the freedom that menopause brings to your life and be able to live your life to the fullest.

But in the meantime, pay attention to how you are feeling emotionally as well as physically. If you notice that the lows are more frequent than the highs by all means take action. If after trying some of the self-helps I listed above and you just can’t get a handle on it, I encourage you to call me (Kris Henderson) at 616-516-1570 or click on the website link to set up an appointment.