The “M” Word

Today, I want to talk about the “M” word: MENOPAUSE. 

Roughly HALF the population in THE ENTIRE WORLD will experience menopause. Yet, despite the fact that it’s a major life event, it’s still not something we really talk about, even among women. 

Why not?!

Often when women experience the many and diverse symptoms of menopause they become shy, embarrassed, or suffer in silence or worrying that they are suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s. 

Nobody ever told me that when I lost my period that my mind would be going with it!

Jeneva Patterson wrote a great article in Harvard Business Review about how difficult it is for women to navigate the workplace while going through menopause. Can you relate to this?

Common symptoms of menopause may include:

• Hot flashes
  Most women during menopause experience a sudden rise in body temperature, heart palpitations, or dizziness and the uncomfortable feeling of being suddenly trapped in a bread oven. To add insult to injury, hot flashes give a woman a surge of adrenaline which can make her feel overwhelmed and anxious. 

• Tiredness 

  Hormonal changes during menopause can cause women to feel tired and super sluggish.

• Hair changes 

  Some women experience increased facial hair and or scalp hair can get thin. Really?!

• Dryness 

  The tissues of the vagina can become dry which can cause discharge, itching and pain. If this makes you feel squeamish, god bless you, take a deep breath, and please get over it—THIS IS IMPORTANT. Also, when estrogen levels lower, it reduces the production of the skin’s natural collagen and oils. 

• Insomnia
  With the changing hormones during menopause, progesterone, which is known to help regulate sleep patterns, get’s wonky and women often get less REM sleep. Being regularly sleep-deprived can make a massive difference in your overall health and well-being.
  

Why am I offering a public service announcement about menopause? 

Well, I’m passionate about helping people discover and practice wellness in all parts of life. Wellness concerning the important life transition of menopause is woefully underserved and I’m determined to do something about it.

Plus, as someone who has experienced menopause for about 20 years, I feel I have a duty to create a forum where we can connect, share, and learn. 

Women have many superpowers: they can finish their friends’ sentences, forecast the need for Kleenex long before tears begin to flow, and have the magic ability to know the emotional status of their kids at any given moment, even if those kids are in a different room … or state. 

Undoubtedly, women’s greatest super power is the power to create life and when that life-giving super power begins to wane through the process of menopause, it should be cause for honor and celebration—or at very least a heart-felt casserole. 

But another super power that women have is to gather together in a sisterhood. When we unite in power, we strengthen each other, the community, and the entire world. 

I’m calling  together women of all ages to practice, learn, and listen about this important life transition of menopause.

I’m calling you and the women you know to join us. 

It’s a day retreat that will give you the tools you need to adapt to the change in a healthy and positive way. I’m offering wellness tools that won’t fight nature, but rather address physical, emotional and lifestyle issues to help improve your lifestyle and renew your energy.

We’ll enjoy yoga, guest speakers, and lunch. It’s going to be great and we want you to be a part of this sisterhood. 

Join the circle and let’s practice learning and celebrating this important time in all of our lives.