Let's see, wasn't it just May of this year I was
espousing the glories of turning 50? Something
about 50 being the new 30?
I think the collective energy of all the 50-something
women out there sent me a cold blast of reality, "Yeah,
but what about Menopause? It still happens at 50 and
it's not always so glorious!"
I'm convinced that a "biological clock" of sorts does
indeed exist. I know that when I turned 40, my eyes got
the memo that it was time to need reading glasses. I
swear it seemed like overnight I suddenly could no
longer read the newspaper.
Similarly, as I turned 50, that body clock said, "And
now, heeeere's Menopause!"
Knowledge about menopause is important even if you
are not 50 yet. Perimenopause (the gradual decline of
hormone levels leading up to menopause) can be an
issue for women as early as 35 years old and it's not
uncommon for women to experience the onset of
menopause at 45 or even earlier.
I remember my mother going through the change and
having a rough time of it. In this day and age, it ought
to be preventable right? Or at least easier to manage!
It seems that now we have a sea of confusion about
what to do about our declining hormone levels. It's a
cruel choice - put up with hormonal madness - or live
with a potentially higher risk of some cancers. But
even the experts don't agree and recent studies seem
to be supportive of getting the help we need.
The onset of menopause is like getting the rug ripped
out from under us just as life seems to naturally
present us with a lot of challenging events that
threaten to rock our world. Our children are leaving the
nest, our parents are in need of elder care, our
husbands are having midlife crises, we are having our
own midlife crises, our children are acting out, we may
be contemplating divorce, learning to date again,
having health issues or financial woes, experiencing
career or job burnout, or just feeling a general
unhappiness with the quality of our lives.
It's tempting to blame everything on the hormones and
it may even be a relief to know that hormonal
dysfunction may be at the root of our chaotic feelings.
And perhaps for you, once your hormonal anarchy is
managed, the fog of dissatisfaction with your life will
lift and everything really will be okay.
More likely though, is the possibility that our hormones
are bringing real problems, issues, and needs into
sharp focus. Emotions we've suppressed to "keep the
peace" are rearing their ugly heads and demanding
resolution.
The challenge is to resolve these issues in healthy,
productive and ultimately satisfying ways. Now more
than ever is an important time for self-exploration
work. Whether you turn to a therapist, a life coach, a
support group, or work through your feelings on your
own with a journal, the unrest brought on by hormonal
imbalance is actually an opportunity to deal with
issues head-on in a conscious and thoughtful way.
Most people associate hot flashes and perhaps
irritability with menopause, but according to Project
Aware, there are 35 uncomfortable (even debilitating)
physical, emotional and mental symptoms of
menopause. If you think you or someone you care
about might be suffering from midlife hormonal
challenges, check out this website: www.project-
aware.org/Experience/symptoms.
If you are experiencing even a handful of these
symptoms I encourage you to seek assistance from a
doctor or an alternative healthcare provider to learn
about your options to gain support and relief from your
symptoms.
I also encourage you to manage your menopause on
two fronts - to seek medical support as well as
support for the challenges and chaos that come with
midlife. It is a challenging time and you deserve to
reach out for and receive the help you need.
By recognizing and honoring your body's changing
needs and nurturing your emotional wellbeing, you
can triumph over midlife turmoil and experience your
50's as some of the best years of your life!
