I saw this list posted on social media.
I have mixed views about lists like this ..
It’s useful for women to see how menopause may affect some women.
There are symptoms that many women wouldn’t associate with menopause.
Note: peri-menopause are the years leading up to your final period and this is the time women commonly experience symptoms. When I use the term menopause I mean peri-meno. The word menopause means your final bleed )
Some symptoms are hormonal and menopause-related, some are just about aging and others could be because of a whole list of other conditions.
Not a medical condition
I’m all for awareness and speaking about menopause but I’m fed up with menopause just being talked about as a list of symptoms that make it sound like a medical condition.
I like to think of symptoms as ‘menopause messages’ as that’s what they are. Your body’s way of telling you “Hey sister, somethings not right”.
I feel many women are now expecting menopause to be this truly awful experience. ( yes I know it is for many but not for ALL women)
Yes, it’s easy for me to say because I’m ‘the other side’. Age 47 I’m ten years post-menopause.
Early menopause made me feel suicidal, depressed, anxious and like I was losing my mind so I know how it feels.
Ten years ago there was very little support or advice… and very few were talking about it.
I’m so pleased that has changed over the years but we still have much to learn.
Empowering
Menopause can be an empowering transition with the right attitude.
★ My attitude to life has changed as a post menopause women.
★ I give less f*cks about what people think 🤔
★I accept my older, softer, wrinklier version of myself.
★ I’m done fighting
★ I’m embracing it all
★ I’m glad to be alive and healthy
★ I’m blessed to be getting older, who cares if I can’t fit into my jeans I could ten years ago?
★ I don’t bleed anymore but I still have womanly cycles.
★ I don’t worry about contraception.
★ The kids are older and I’ve done my work with them… time for me
★ I’m more in tune with what I want, need and desire more than ever.
★ I’m still a women who shall be seen whether I’m fertile or not.
🧙🏻♀️ I gladly step into the role of the crone and wise woman. I’ve earned that.
It takes awareness, attention and intention
Has all this just come with menopause?
Hell no!🔥
I used ‘my menopause’ as an excuse for years not to address some of the deeper stuff going on. Actually it wasn’t an excuse. It felt like the truth at the time but it was only when I dug deeper and explored it with a coach I realised it came from different areas.
I was working too much, felt unhappy in a relationship, not having enough fun or feeling joy, felt disconnected, wasn’t moving my body in a way that I enjoyed and not feeding my soul just feeding myself with sugar to feel better.
➸ I’ve had to work at this every day. I’ve been coached, mentored and helped by many great women.
➸ I’ve had to lean into my dark sh*t and fight for my mental health.
➸ I’ve redrawn the line so many times in the sand it’s a like a deep crevice.
➸ I’ve cried, wanted to give up and sulked
I’m a tenacious bugger and I refuse to give up on myself, my post-menopause life and want to make the most of my precious years left.
Make your menopause matter.
You matter!
Don’t give up on yourself
🥰