Am I Losing My Mind? No, It’s Just Perimenopause
If you’re a woman in her 40’s or 50’s that has typed the following into Google search ‘How do I know if I’m losing my mind?’ or ‘What are the signs of early Alzheimer’s or dementia?’ I’m going to tell you you’re not alone and I also have some good news. You’re going through either perimenopause or menopause.
What’s the difference between them you’re only in menopause if you have gone 12 months without a period. Before that time, you will be in perimenopause which can start from your early 40s as your oestrogen levels start to drop and can last anything from 3-10 years. Did you know that 1 in 100 women will go through menopause in their 30s and there are small cases of women going through it in their teens and 20s? It’s important that every woman gets educated on understanding how it could change her life and their mind.
I was one of these people that didn’t think menopause would be a big deal in fact I thought it would be great to stop having periods and worrying about getting pregnant. I had assumed that I would be able to go the natural route and not have to consider HRT. My mind and body are finely tuned machines and if I keep myself healthy and fit, I will sail through it easily.
It wasn’t until I saw my older sister go through the perimenopause that I realised this isn’t something to be taken lightly. I began to read up on menopause and the frustration began at the lack of research done on women during this time. Every woman will go through menopause that’s half the population things need to change. It was only when I came across Dr Louise Newtons website that I finally got the information I needed.
She promotes an app called balance where you can track your symptoms. I was shocked at how many of them there were and also how many I had which I brushed to the side.
Abdominal Pain, Acne, Allergies, Altered sense of smell. Anxiety, Bloating, Brain fog, Breast pain or tenderness, Brittle nails, Burning mouth, Cold sweats, Constipation, Cramps, Crying Spells, Diarrhoea, Dizziness of feeling faint, Dry eyes, Dry Hair, Excitable, Facial Hair, Feeling Nervous, Feeling tense, Gum Issues, Hair loss or thinning, Headaches, Heart palpitations, Heartburn, Incontinence, Irritable legs, Lack of interest in things, Low Libido, Low motivation, Memory problems, Migraine, Mood swings, Mouth and gum problems, Nausea or sickness, Night sweats, Numbness in body, pain passing urine, Painful sex, Panic attacks, Pressure in head, Sagging breast, Tingling hands and feet, Tinnitus, Tired or low energy, Vaginal bleeding, Vaginal dryness, Weight gain and Wind. These are the list of symptoms women can get.
I began to track on the balance app and started to tell any of my female friends that would listen how they should start to track their symptoms.
As women, we are very good at making excuses for the way we feel and one of the reasons is that the mind needs an answer it doesn’t like to be in the dark. But we’re taught that external factors are the biggest reason why we feel a certain way. My work is stressful, my partner is not stepping up, and the kids are driving me crazy. All valid excuses but this can stop women from picking up on perimenopause symptoms.
The mind is a huge factor in how we get through menopause we have receptors in our brain that need oestrogen. I never knew the implications of general health by the reduction in this hormone such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are the big ones. They are also doing research at the moment to see if there is a link between menopause and Alzheimer’s in women.
At the time of writing this, I’m 47 and I have a daily mind practice which means I’m very in tune with my mind. However, I’ve even noticed myself finding excuses for a dip in my mood like work stress, what I’ve eaten or even being single. Luckily for me, I’ve armed myself with the knowledge of what to expect will happen to my mind during the perimenopause and a big sister to guide me through.
Many of my clients are going through this stage in their life and as I coach them each week I notice when it’s hormones versus the normal everyday things. They also begin to spot the difference because they are building a relationship with their own minds and learning how it behaves. They can feel the weeks that are easy and calm and then as the hormones drop, they must increase their self-care and take time for themselves.
Did you know that the highest suicide rate in women is between the ages of 45-55? It worries me the number of women I know who have gone to the doctors in their 40’s thinking they are depressed when in fact it’s part of menopause. It’s also the highest rate of divorce which used to be put down to empty nesters but it’s more likely to be menopause as women’s tolerance for their partner is at an old-time low. There is a great guide you can give to your partner to help them support you during this difficult time.
So, what can you do for your mind during menopause? Firstly, understanding how your mind works in the first place will give you great awareness that will come in handy when your hormones start to take you down a road you don’t want to go.
Having a daily mind practice will help you to build a relationship with your mind and be less emotional and more logical about what is happening to you during this time. It’s a tool in your armour that will help keep you calmer and more focused during this time.
The next thing you need to do is inform yourself about what will happen to your body and the possible symptoms. The more you have the information when something does happen you don’t blame something else. I recommend that you use the balance app daily as it will help you track what’s happening to your body and a daily reminder of what you’re going through so the mind gets on board.
Talk to your friends, watch my free talk or join a group where women are going through the same process the more you share the better you will feel. The thing about the group is there is always someone who has gone through what you’re going through and has great advice.
If you need someone to chat with about this, feel free to get in touch and I’m happy to share my knowledge with you. Just remember you’re not alone and you’re not losing your mind it’s simply a hormone that can be replaced.
