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In observing and listening to their needs and frustrations of the women I teach, I recognise the growing frustrations women are experiencing as they seek to navigate not only the physical aging process of their bodies but also the cognitive and emotional effects of their individual menopause experience.
Introduction: What is going on?
Menopause isn't just a physical and emotional journey; it also affects cognitive brain function and emotional health. Understanding these changes and adopting strategies to support this transition is crucial for vitality during and after menopause.
1. Background: Why is it such a challenge for women right now in midlife?
Probably born in the 70s and grown up in the 80s, we are the children of the first generation of working mothers. We have hit our 40s perhaps having built a family, a career and a home and we perceive that it is our continual moral obligation to be attractive, attentive, calm, generous, whilst still being a ‘successful’ employee, partner, parent, daughter, friend… and yet we feel exhausted and empty inside. We enter into the Peri Menopause years and begin to question why our bodies ache, our brains are foggy and our emotions seem to dominate the landscape of life with unexpected turbulence.
2. The Brain: During the peri Menopause and Menopause transition time the natural hormone patterns shift – fact - we know that. But what is not as commonly known is that our brains have many oestrogen receptors that regulate working memory (pre-frontal cortex), regulate emotion and motivation (Amygalda) and regulate sleep, temperature, energy balance and food intake (hypothalamus). Are any alarm bells ringing? Hello menopausal symptoms.
3. The Physical: Even the many women experience troublesome symptoms, (and every woman’s journey differs), it is important to remember that this is a normal physiological event. The body is telling us to listen, to become aware that things are changing and it’s time to really take care of ourselves (not others). Once we accept this, and recognise that previous physical behaviours (with regard to exercise, food, sleep et al.) are no longer serving us we can build strategies that support our body’s physical changes.
4. The Emotional: As mentioned above, fluctuating hormonal levels especially oestrogen impact the brain’s ability for emotional regulation. Anxiety, sadness, anger, mild depression and feelings of being overwhelmed can seemingly dominate daily life. Stress increases, we might feel trapped in an emotional spiral that appears to be heading downward. In the book ‘BURNOUT solve your stress cycle’ by Emily and Ameila Nagoski it talks about unlearning this perceived idea by doing “a thing”. That “thing” is anything that uses your body – a walk, swim, do art, write, sing, shout. But it is not nothing. And in doing that thing, we find strength, positivity, and a new mindset.
Conclusion: And this new mindset is our road map or MenoScript that will change the perception and historical culture of the ‘norms’ around menopause. It allows us to re-analyse women’s health and stop operating from a place of fear and restriction but rather encourage us to take action and ownership of this life stage.
Resources:
Burnout. Solve your stress cycle. Emily and Amelia Nagoski
The XX Brain. Dr Lisa Mosconi
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