This week I was thinking about how I feel about the changes in my body since menopause.

🫨There’s a significant physical and mental shift that happens during the menopause transition and it feels similar in magnitude to going through puberty, but without the positive aspects.

During puberty, the physical and mental changes that occur are a huge upheaval but there’s a lot of support from adults and society in general - the changes are perceived as positive as we change into adult women with desirable physical attributes.

The opposite happens during menopause, and this is challenging for women. A lot of the physical and mental changes we experience can be undesirable in terms of what we believe society wants - for example skin, mood and weight changes.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑There’s a reason that women in this life stage seek support from others going through the same thing …. I think it’s a need to feel validated and accepted in a society that places increasing importance on how we look, especially with social media pressure.

It feels like we are standing on the beach of our life, trying to hold back the tide of change. In reality this is an impossible task. We are only at the beach for a limited time and the tide will eventually come in.

🏖️It led me to think about how I would prefer to spend my time at the beach…..swimming, sunbathing, building sandcastles with my grandson, playing beach volleyball or frisbee, walking the dog, talking with my family and friends, having a picnic?

And when it rains, maybe I should just put on a raincoat and enjoy the beach in any weather.

🩴I’m not saying I’m giving up or ignoring troublesome menopausal symptoms, just deciding how I want to experience this stage of my life and what I want to focus on. Maybe spending time with loved ones, having fun, staying active and eating good food in a relaxed way, instead of constantly trying to hold back the inevitable physical change might lead to more happiness.

How do you want to spend your time at the beach?⛱️

💡Tip: Making time to enjoy life, as well as seeing support from others can increase our sense of connection. This helps reduce stress hormones, which can also help ease the severity of menopause symptoms (and lets face it, it just feels better!)🌞

If you want help and support with managing menopause, connect with me at www.liferenomedic.com or email me on [email protected].

If you’d also like to connect with other women, I’m presenting at two upcoming events:

For more information and tickets see https://www.facebook.com/share/16snkvEqry/

Save the date: Alexandra Menopause seminar on October 11th 1.30-4:00pm. More information to follow.

Stay happy and healthy!

Erika.

PS: “The very best way that you can help yourself is to develop and sustain a positive attitude. The way you think and feel about everything will make all the difference to your experience.” — Caroline Carr, author of Menopause: The Guide for Real Women