Menopause – Never felt like this before? PART 2

So where were we. Yes, of course, experiencing physical feelings and sensations as well as emotions that were never felt before  until we reached menopause and therefore cannot be described in words.

Well, let’s try and figure them out.

From speaking to many women over the years it seems that anxiety is one of the most common and also most unpleasant emotions we have to deal with. It can simply creep up on you, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, tearful, almost dizzy and nauseous. And as we, women, for the most part have so many things on our plates, we continue throughout the day, unable to deal with this in a conscious manner. It becomes a true struggle and for some women even leads to very low moods as well as depressive states.

What actually happens?

Menopause means the end of menstruation for one year. As a woman ages, there is a gradual decline in the function of her ovaries and the production of estrogen. Once the ovaries have stopped producing eggs, we have entered the menopause. As this monthly rhythm completely depends on various hormonal interactions, you can imagine that there is a complete reshuffle happening in order for the monthly cycle to stop operating. I guess it is like having baked the same bread form decades and suddenly a couple of ingredients have changed or are unavailable. A complete change!

This little image shows the physical changes that are happening:

So now what?

As I mentioned in Part 1, I believe that self care and self love have to take priority in our lives. Only when we are able and will take the time to figure out how we feel and what it is we need to do, or stop, can we figure out the best way to deal with all those new sensations and emotions.

I believe that this is the time to really look at our lives and question everything. After years of looking after everybody else, be it at home, at work or within the family, let us take stock and have a good look at what we would love to do, be and experience.

Make a plan!

Or the famous “bucket list”. But rather than just ticking off things that one should have done in their lives, create your own “love letter to yourself”. Take out a notebook or create a file on your computer (though handwriting is good for our memory). Start jotting down every day anything that comes to mind. Anything you can get excited about. Write it down, feel it. Start talking about it to your friends. Maybe you always wanted to start your own business? Be an artist, publicly. Get a pet. Visit that very special place you always wanted to visit. Catch up with an old friend that you haven’t seen since your young days. Whatever it may be, write it down. Don’t think about reasons why this is not possible. Just make a list. This life is the real one. Not sure what’s next so I’d strongly suggest to get going on that wish list. Let’s have some fun again.

On the physical topic:

I believe strongly that once we have more understanding of what it is that is happening in our body, we can access a lot of wisdom and innate knowledge on how to deal with it.  The daily check in with ourselves, a complete body check gives us a good opportunity to not only calm our minds but also to recognize any possible changes or weaknesses in our physical bodies. A good time for this is just when we wake up. Before even opening your eyes fully, stretch out, stay relaxed, take some deep breaths and begin checking in with every part of your body. You can begin at your feet, working up to knees, thighs, abdomen…. you get the idea. Or you can begin at the top of your head and scan down. Down forget your back. Breath deeply and steadily. I’d love to hear from you about how that feels and whether it has made a difference to your daily lives. Getting up from this calm state of mind, gives our days a great start. No rush, no worries.. at least for a while.

Of course there still are the physical symptoms and those bizarre emotions. Well, on a supplement topic, there are several very effective natural remedies out there and I would be delighted to help you find the most beneficial one for you. It will require some testing and trying but one group of foods is a must. The essential fats, the so called omega oils. So if you love your fish, eat more. But make it fresh and the best quality. If you wouldn’t mind keeping it sustainable too, I would be very grateful to you. I love our planet. Those come in both capsules and liquids too of course and there is a huge variety out there. Even if you’re vegetarian or vegan, a large selection of plant based oils will make a very nutritious addition in your diet. Again, very happy to help with choosing the best for you.

And last but not least, make sure to learn to say “NO” when you want to say it. Boundaries are something a lot of us women were not taught to implement when growing up in our day. It’s only uncomfortable at the beginning but once you’ve said it a few time, you will grow to love it and truly appreciate the freedom you have given to yourself. Now give yourself a big hug. Tell yourself how much you love you and plan that exciting life you deserve.

Should you find it difficult to give yourself the love you deserve, I can highly recommend the range of Australian Bush Flower Essences. They have been by my side for the last 15 years accompanying me through my emotional and physical challenges.

This essence called Woman Essence would be a great start to help you with the journey of menopause. It is safe and so powerful. Easy to take and a very small investment.

Australian Bush Flower Essence Woman

I would be delighted to hear your comments. Leave me a testimonial if something has worked well for you. And let’s stay connected. Until the next time……