Happiness and Menopause
I hope to help you answer the question, “Can I be happy about “the Change”?” I started going through the change in my early 4o’s. Those symptoms were not fun by any means. You know the weight gain, irratitablity, disturbed sleep and of course the “crazy” periods and cycles. I am now 52 and I believe this is going to be my last year of the perimenopause symptoms because my cycles are far in between.
A few years ago a friend gave me the book, “The Wisdom of Menopause, Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing during the Change”, by Christiane Northrup, MD. She also wrote the bestseller, “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom”. Dr. Northrup is a certified OB/Gyn that has gone through the “Change”. Let me tell you I learned so much from this book. Here are a few things I learned. How menopause literally rewires the brain, triggering a shift of priorities from nesting and caretaking to personal growth and equality. Also how the female body adjusts naturally to changing hormones, and how to make personalized decisions about HRT and alternative supplement (bioidentical hormones) and of course how to rebalance your metabolism shifts and prevent that middle age spread. Those are just a few great bits of information I walked away with from reading this book.
It was great tool to educate my husband about menopause. He has been more supportive of what I have to deal with. It also opened up a dialogue for us to discuss my symptoms and for him to realize that my mood swings and all were not about him. He learned that sometimes I just need my space and he gives it to me. The best part about that is - he does not have to fix me but just support me. He loves that.
I have had my physical and emotion health issues during this time but the most exciting thing that has evolved from this experience of menopause is my personal growth. My children are all grown and I work out of my home. I have time to grow. I have with the help of girl friends, personal growth seminars, books, and workshops- become more empowered, more confident, and more vulnerable which has made this time of my life the hardest yet the most rewarding for me personally. Amazing how that all works. I guess my brain has been busy with being rewired to find and empower ME!
Can you be happy about “the change”? Well, it is really up to you. Suffering is optional. Do your homework about this time of your life (get and read the book)- see what out there will work for you and do not be afraid to grow personally. What can you gain by knowing and being a wise, wonderful women? Happiness and joy!