There is no one size fits all to menopause.
Yet, everyone I talk to either has that one person in their life who will tell you how to 'fix' your menopause, or you have gone round the houses, trying everything and finding nothing that seems to work for more than a few days at a time.
I get it.
It's utterly exhausting, frustrating and frankly, isolating too.
There are many ways to successfully navigate menopause.
Finding the right solution and the right combination can be a long and tricky process.
Many people take a pick and mix approach to menopause – some picking options at random. Some choose the same route as a friend or follow the suggestions from their doctor. Some do a little research and go with what feels right.
Different Approaches to Menopause Management.
Information is key.
Having access to good factual information from a trusted source is important for effective management of menopause for several reasons.
Accurate information
Menopause can be a complex and often confusing process, and there is a lot of misinformation out there. Getting information from a trusted source can help ensure that you have accurate and up-to-date information about menopause and its related symptoms, as well as the various treatment options available.
Informed decision-making
Menopause management often involves making important decisions about treatment options, lifestyle changes, and other interventions. Having access to factual information can help you make informed decisions that are based on scientific evidence, rather than anecdotal or misleading information.
Safety
Menopause management often involves the use of medications, supplements, and other interventions. It's important to have accurate information about the safety and potential side effects of these interventions in order to minimise any potential risks.
Support
Menopause can be a challenging and emotional time, and having access to information from a trusted source can provide a sense of support and guidance.
Knowing that you have reliable information and resources available can help reduce anxiety and stress related to menopause.
Good factual information from a trusted source is crucial for effective management of menopause, ensuring you are well supported throughout the process.
The medical route.
We often, quite naturally, turn to our doctors when we experience a medical issue, and menopause is definitely a life stage where you should be checking in with your GP to find out what your options are, based on your medical history.
Doctors in the UK can refer to the NICE guidelines for diagnosis and management of menopause.
Over the years, I have heard stories of the most incredibly supportive doctors, like my own, all the way through to those who were not menopause savvy, and turned patients away telling them they were too young, couldn't have treatment until they were menopausal (NICE guidelines suggest hormone Replacement Treatment (HRT) as the first line of defence for symptom management from perimenopause), or simply diagnosed stress and anxiety and prescribed antidepressants, before considering the efficacy of HRT.
Complementary therapies.
This is a huge area and we will be inviting experts in their fields to discuss in future blogs, but the key to all these options is to understand how each one can impact menopause and to understand the limitations.
Complementary therapies are alternative approaches to managing menopause symptoms that are used in addition to or instead of traditional medical treatments. Some commonly used complementary therapies for menopause include acupuncture, yoga, meditation, herbal supplements, and dietary changes.
While the evidence is mixed on the effectiveness of these therapies for menopause, many women find them to be helpful in managing symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.
Always seek out qualified practitioners who have experience working with menopausal women.
Overall, complementary therapies can be a valuable tool in managing menopause symptoms and improving overall health and well-being as they can help you destress and relax, by shifting from a state of fight, flight or freeze, to calm, rest & digest.
Ignore it
Even now, after all the work that has been done to normalise menopause, many people simply have no idea what menopause is, how it affects them and how it can impact their families, their lives and their work.
Instead of feeling empowered to find answers and solutions to the question of menopause, many people simply keep their heads down and keep going, through the fiercest symptoms, until they either get to crisis point or until they find themselves coming out at the other end, battle worn and exhausted.
I don’t want that for anyone.
The scatter gun approach.
This is one of the most common approaches and comes from lack of accurate knowledge.
Do you know someone who has tried one thing after another and spending money and time, trying out the next best thing?
We all need answers, yet there really is no one size fits all. I've worked with people from all over the world, supporting them through menopause and what unites them is that they are all incredible human beings, who simply wish to feel well, calm, composed and confident.
I personally worked with a coach, rediscovered my joie de vivre and a new direction in life.
I'd left my corporate career, mistaking menopause for early onset dementia in my early 40's. As soon as my doctor told me it was 'just menopause', I was the happiest menopausal woman in the UK! I also knew that an utterly new direction was ahead of me.
I have invested my time, money and effort to learn about all aspects of menopause over the past nine years, and continue to do so. There is so much still to be done to raise awareness and source the right solutions for each person to successfully navigate their menopause.
I have coached women across the world and during the pandemic, realised that we definitely needed more people out there doing the same thing. So I created the Become a Menopause Coach Diploma so that I could help others to do what I do and stop anyone else from stumbling blindly through menopause.
Whatever your choices are, stick with trusted sources of support, weigh up your options, and most importantly know that you are not alone.
Whatever route you take, you really are not alone!
Your menopause trainer, coach & speaker.
Lauren
Photo credits:
Photo by Rommel Davila on Unsplash
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Photo by Chelms Varthoumlien on Unsplash