Are you a woman turning 40 with a focus on the problems or the solutions? Society is shaping the experience of women approaching the menopause, is it all for the greater good?

I found turning 40 pretty momentous. It felt like a milestone birthday. I was unaware what changes were about to happen to my body, my state of mind and my self identity. At 46, about to be 47 (eek) I have now learned to navigate my perimenopausal chapter with a solution focused approach and for that I am glad.

Looking back I would have prepared myself better. That is exactly what menopause experts are saying. Knowledge is power.

Understanding the impact of declining and fluctuating hormone levels is key. We can then make informed choices about our lifestyle and influence as much as possible the outcome of the menopausal years and beyond.

The ‘M’ word now gets talked about much more openly. Celebrities are sharing their stories, marketing companies are beginning to see there is a market for menopausal products ( not necessarily a good thing but adverts show us it is now being talked about) and parliament is beginning to debate the rights of menopausal women.

There is a long way to go, but conversations are happening and women are becoming more aware of their own journey of navigating their own landscape of hormones.

A table with a plant pot and a few new shoots of growth. A board with the words “difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations” on it.

Is there such a thing as having too much information?

It depends how the information is being delivered and if it is solution focused or problem focused.

I compare this to the rebalancing I do with my hypnobirthing clients. We have been fed stories of pain throughout our lifetime about how awful the birthing experience can be. Films, books, tv documentaries that show the extreme drama behind childbirth and rarely show the calm birthing stories. Women want to share their trauma stories around birth, and this is valid, but often not helpful for women who are navigating their own pregnancy. This information filters into our subconscious so that when women fall pregnant their fear and anxiety begins, influenced by the years of negative stories their brains have absorbed. Thankfully hypnosis can rebalance what has come before.

I can see that we are in danger of creating something similar with the menopause. 

There are lots of issues women will face during this time and thankfully we now have a platform to share these challenges. 

However we must also share the solutions, the good news stories, the opportunities this time of life can bring. Helping women to enter into the menopause with information but also confidence that they can navigate their own path towards post menopause that aligns with their best hopes.

How should I begin my menopausal journey?

Our hormones begin depleting at around 40, for some a little earlier. This does not mean that all of the symptoms related to the menopause will arrive at your doorstep at once, but understanding the importance of hormones on your physical and mental health will help you make informed choices.

There are great resources now available to women so that you can begin accessing information in your own way.

I debated with myself for this journal whether I should list the many symptoms related to the menopause and some information about the role of hormones, but I decided against it. 

There are lots of ways for you to find this information out and contact me if you would like some support on that journey of discovery. However the point of this journal is to balance out the messages about what the menopausal experience will be like for you. Your brain needs to access this information when you are ready.

Finding routines and structures for your own self care can be a great starting point. This is a time of life when you can begin to understand yourself better. 

Maybe the spinning of plates continues with work, maybe kids, relationships, caring for elderly relatives, however carving out some time for you, will benefit the years to come.

A bright yellow wall with 2 metal black handrails. A young child with a yellow and blue coat on with a hood up with fur, wearing striped trousers and blue and red shoes is looking up at writing on the wall that says ‘believe in yourself’

Turning 40 is an opportunity for you to work out who you are. No longer trying to be something else and instead feeling more confident in the person you want to be for the next chapter of your life.

I will continue to share information about the role of hormones on my social media pages, always trying to balance this out with solutions that can help.

If you would like to be a part of an intimate group of women exploring their journey of life at 40+ then contact me for further details. 

Follow on in February for more information on menopause and ADHD/autism.