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.