A Minute with Menopause
Why am I in the kitchen? What am I looking for in the cupboard? Why can’t I make supper and engage in conversation at the same time anymore? Erratic estrogen, hormone heist, progesterone poop-out, rickety regulation, precarious progesterone, it’s Peri/Menopause, hello; I’m the problem - it’s me!
Memory – shot. multi-tasking - what? Emotional predictability – not a thing.
So, what is happening? Like, really going on. Read on my friends, today we blog about how this raid on former reality occurs, and, since were here for the mental health part, were’re going to talk about it.
Estrogen, the decrease is not the main problem; interestingly, the fluctuation is. I put menopause estrogen fluctuation in Google (I am fact-checking here, I have your back), and it says rollercoaster and chaotic as descriptors. At first, I giggled, then I felt sad. Those words. Ooof. If you are in it, not so funny. Let’s keep the mental health of this blog I mind, and hold space for those words, we’ll circle back.
In my Counselling Women through Menopause course, one topic I found of particular interest was the social awareness of menopause. The presenter asked, is it the right awareness. I had seen many times the week before that course a meme on Instagram. “As a feral perimenopausal woman, I’m going to start yelling ‘not friendly’ when someone approaches. I got the idea from the dog people. Hope it works.” Don’t get me wrong, I love a good meme or Instagram reel, but dogs, are we sharing this awareness, comparing ourselves to unfriendly, aggressive dogs? Each time I saw this shared, was by a peri/menopausal aged woman. Am I being sensitive about this, maybe, but it’s my job as a therapist to look at it through the lens of self-compassion, self-worth, the value of psychoeducation and honouring the transition happening in our bodies.
As I rub my Estrogel on my arm and pop my beloved perfectly round progesterone pill, I am so thankful it’s working. My worst symptom prior to being saved from these 2 lovely medications was crippling migraines, unbearable days where the pressure in my neck and head was too much to function. Are medications necessary? Absolutely not. For me, absolutely. Quality of life in peri/menopause becomes the running thread: how, when will I get relief, who will help me, what can I tolerate, how is this impacting my functioning?
Circling back now to the chaos and rollercoaster, how can this be addressed in therapy, you might wonder. Looking at this from a Biopsychosocial view allows looking at underlying beliefs, experiences, emotional responses, coping mechanisms and this window of vulnerability we call peri/menopause, increasing stress, risk for anxiety and depression. Body changes, sleep impacts, relationship changes, lifestyle changes, and identity issues may arise; therapy helps. Grief, loss and sadness often accompany peri/menopause. I would be amiss to not address what meaning this transition might have to anyone who has experienced reproductive or perinatal trauma.
Stay with me through a bit of nitty-gritty – neurotransmitters. Serotonin regulates mood; estrogen directly impacts serotonin; as estrogen declines, serotonin declines, increasing the risk for mood-related concerns. While estrogen is erratic, progesterone declines, creating an imbalance, resulting in the symptoms women experience – refer back to chaos and rollercoaster. Add in cortisol, the stress hormone, due to hormonal fluctuations, the stress response is intensified. The result of higher cortisol is brain fog, weight gain, insomnia, and anxiety, to name a few. Let me repeat – oof. This is big.
If any of this made you feel seen, heard, piqued your interest or held your attention, I am thankful you took the time for you. Knowledge is power, and as women, we are strong beings who change the world every single day.
Written by Maureen, a Certified Canadian Counsellor on the team with over 20 years of experience as a Registered Nurse. Maureen’s unique personal and professional experience with Menopause puts her in an effective position to understand the “roller coaster” ride that often accompanies this time of a woman’s life. Check out Maureen’s bio to learn more about all of the areas she supports at RPTC.
Trauma-Informed Care- not just a buzzword here
It all begins with an idea.
In recent years, the concept of trauma-informed care has gained significant traction across various fields, and let’s be real, it has become quite the buzzword. You don't have to look far from healthcare and education to criminal justice and social services to see the phrase used. But what does it truly mean to be “trauma-informed,” and why is it so crucial to the work that we do at RPTC?
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery. It shifts the traditional question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”—promoting compassion, empathy, and understanding rather than blame or judgment. The goal is to create environments that are physically and emotionally safe, where individuals feel empowered and supported in their healing journey so that they can open up and break free from the silence that often keeps them stuck.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is not limited to physical injuries or dramatic events. It encompasses a wide range of experiences that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. It is truly a subjective experience and one that the individual does not choose, but their nervous system's clock that event or moment in time as trauma. What is upsetting to one may not be to the next. This is a deep consideration that we have for the work we do at RPTC. We acknowledge that each person who steps through our doors is unique, as is that nervous system, and that we need to consider how THEY view their story, not how we or society may come to understand it. Part of how we work with the communities we serve is having a thorough and clear understanding of how the brain works and the various areas that take a hit because of the traumatic event.
How does Trauma-Informed Care Show up at RPTC?
We know that it is truly the client who gets to decide if they have experienced trauma-informed care. And there are considerations that we make as a centre to help that to happen:
Safety: Ensuring physical and emotional safety for clients and staff.
Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building trust through clear, honest communication.
Peer Support: Incorporating voices and experiences of those with lived trauma.
Collaboration and Mutuality: Levelling power dynamics; everyone has a role in healing.
Empowerment, Voice, and Choice: Supporting individuals in making their own choices. Offer options to foster autonomy and self-agency.
Create predictable environments: Consistency fosters a sense of safety and stability.
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Sensitivity: Recognizing systemic trauma and addressing biases.
Language: We know the power of our words, and we choose them carefully.
Practice self-awareness: Reflect on our own reactions and potential biases.
CONSENT, CONSENT, CONSENT. Consent is our work's foundation and an ongoing process at RPTC.
The Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care
Why is this so important to us? Because the communities we support with birth trauma, pregnancy loss, fertility and infertility struggles, maternal and paternal mental health, endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Perimenopause, and IUD trauma, they all share a few things in common. Often, they express being harmed or not feeling heard by systems and other providers. They have frequently felt dismissed or minimized and as if they cannot take up space with their trauma. Many have dealt with isolation for years or even decades, and being in a trauma-informed environment allows the opportunity to break free from the isolation and move into healing.
Final Thoughts
Trauma-informed care is more than a checklist—it is more than a buzzword—it’s a philosophy that centers empowerment, dignity, and connection. In a world where trauma is more common than we often acknowledge, embracing this approach is not just compassionate—it’s essential. So, we will continue to amplify silenced experiences at RPTC and work from a trauma-informed lens. We may not always get it perfectly, but we will do our absolute best to try.
Dr. Teela Tomassetti, Founder and Registered Provisional Psychologist specializing in birth trauma.