Menopause Emotions
Anxiety - Apprehension - Depression
By DJ Rogers
Most women can say that they have experienced anxiety, apprehension, depression, irritability, lack of motivation, confusion, aggressiveness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and tension during different times of their life. These same emotions are all considered “normal” for a woman whose body struggles through yet another hormonal change in her life cycle - perimenopause. Do you recall the roller coaster of emotions you experienced with puberty? You get to go through many of them again!
Learning to relax and reduce stress are two key elements of gracefully traveling down the path of perimenopause to menopause (menopause is the point in time when a woman has not had a menstrual period for at least 12 consecutive months). However, if you feel you are unable to relax or reduce stress, visit your doctor.
Here are some simple life changes that may make it easier to handle the roller coaster of emotions:
- Exercise
- Eat healthy and include more vegetables in your diet.
- Find a calming skill to practice such as crocheting, meditation, reading, or breathing exercises.
- Avoid alcohol which is a depressant that affects the entire body.
- Engage in a creative outlet that you’ve always thought about doing, but never have taken the time.
- Stay connected with your family and friends, instead of isolating yourself.
- Embrace the loving person inside of yourself.
Just when you’ve reached menopause and you think it’s finally over, along comes post-menopause. This is the time after menopause.
Post-menopause is another time of physical changes that would bring a grown man to tears, and make a gladiator laugh. It’s the time when a woman starts pulling back the sagging skin on her face and starts dreaming about a full body lift. You can expect some emotional responses to these changes too, both positive and negative, as well.
While post-menopause does not create serious emotional issues for most women, it is common to feel unsettled about the body changes which are occurring and seem to be beyond what you can control. Some of these issues involve loss of fertility, loss of sexuality, loss of youth, mood swings, embarrassment over hot flashes and sweating, weight gain, and an increased risk of cancer, osteoporosis, stroke, and heart attack.
You can cope with these symptoms by eating well, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding excess caffeine, alcohol, and simple sugars found in cookies, cakes, candy, soda beverages … Making these changes will improve your emotional and physical well-being.
Having a positive attitude about menopause is difficult, but it’s better than living with a negative attitude. The biological cycle of a woman cannot be changed and worrying about it instead of accepting and laughing at it will only make the symptoms worse.
Don’t be afraid to talk to loved ones, friends, support groups, your doctor, or join a blog of positive women helping women.
Changes occur in life; they could be either outside the boundaries of your home, or within. The main component in dealing with the emotions of menopause is to use the recommendations mentioned, and try not to get stressed over that which you cannot control.
Be good to you – you are a reason to celebrate life.
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