October is Menopause Month
October is Menopause Month
but in reality it is 365 days and as many years as it takes
October is World Menopause Month and World Menopause Day is on the 18th October. This time was designated by the International Menopause Society (IMS) to raise awareness of the menopause and to support options to improve health and well-being for women in mid-life and beyond.
It is almost 6 years since I started focusing my business 100% on menopause after seeing so many mildife women coming to me struggling with their mental health and wellbeing. In that time menopause has gone mainstream and after the deafening silence surrounding it for so long, that change is very welcome. The recent influx of information and misinformation can however be overwhelming and confusing and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.
If you are able to watch the British Menopause Society has partnered with ITN Productions Industry News to produce a news-style programme ‘Menopause: Continuing the Conversation’ to cut through the noise to give straight talking, clear guidance and advice from BMS menopause specialists, healthcare professionals and BMS members, with information from industry experts, providing support for women to recognise and improve their symptoms.
I am always happy to see menopause discussions raised up but I hold a the firm view that menopause is not a month or day but a conversation that needs to be had 365 days of the year. Sometime it really is the smallest shifts in our routines and mindset that can help us the most along with support from our clinicians, partners, work colleagues and friends.
All that said this year the focus is on Cognition and Mood is close to my heart as a neuroscientist and mindfulness practitioner. Not only does our brain feel like Swiss cheese sometimes but our moods can swing like crazy, which can rock our foundations. In fact anxiety, brain fog, low moods coupled with insomnia are some the most common symptoms of menopause. And that although our fluctuating and declining sex hormones are in part responsible we should not discount the impact that stress plays, after all hormones are synergistic in the body i.e. they interact with each and high cortisol levels can dial up our symptoms.
The RELAXATION RESPONSE is a powerful tool and EEG readings of brain wave activity show that RR increases the frequency and intensity of alpha and theta slow brain waves in the cerebral cortex. These types of brain waves are associated with a calm yet alert state of mind. Women work with me to learn to elicit the RR often report feeling improved mental clarity. Here are just a few of my favourite techniques.
If you are looking for more conversation on cognition and mood then do dive into a few of my podcast epsiodes where we have delved deeper into managing our moods and emotions. Here is one of favourites from last year with Improving Hormone Balance, Fatigue and Mood in Menopause with Dr Adeola Mead
You don't have to live with an unmanaged mind and all the mood swings of menopause.
But...it can be hard to do all of this thought awareness stuff by yourself.
I would love to help you work on managing your moods, your anxiety and start moving in that new direction of calmer mind in menopause.
I want to invite you to check out Thriving Through Menopause It’s my 3 month coaching program where you get all the support to To find yourself again and get going!
Take a small step. Book your “MOMENTUM” call and we’ll have a quick chat! It's a call with ME, not a sales team.
(This is the BEST way to get your questions answered too - you'll love the call!)
Until next week when I will be back with more mind stuff in menopause.
Clarissa x
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