What’s Happening to Me? Understanding “The Change”
It is amazing how our bodies work and the extraordinary processes that allow us to become childbearing women. Our well-intended mothers did their best to explain the process of puberty and menstruation to us girls, but in reality, many girls gained the inside scoop through some of the great Judy Blume classics. Clearly not an accurate representation of what was really happening.
In our 20’s and 30’s comes pregnancy, and now we have all kinds of information launched at us. Doctors, nurses, midwives, tons of professionals available to answer our many questions and concerns regarding pregnancy and childbearing. Solicited and unsolicited advice from family, friends, even strangers.
Fast forward to the 40’s. Now things are changing... again. Only now there is a bit of silence. We feel a limited understanding of the hormonal changes that are about to take place and how our body, our moods, and our way of life are changing.
We find ourselves in a “brain fog”, or having trouble sleeping, noticing a new belly pooch, feeling anxious or irritable for no reason.
We ask “What’s happening to me?”
Hearing friends recount their horrible experiences of being told by their doctors (often men) “everything is normal” or “maybe you’re just depressed”. But we know it is more than that. We know we are entering the final chapter of our fertility process… Menopause.
Perimenopause is defined as the 5-10 year time frame before we become menopausal. This is usually begins in the late 30’s/early 40’s. During this time, most women are reaching the peak of their careers and/or finishing the last stretch of parenthood raising teenagers and/or caring for aging parents and/or having relationship challenges. While at the same time, having days we wish we could just stay in bed all morning after having a restless night. Or get caught off guard with a surprise period on our way to a meeting. Or being unable to remember a simple word or name when talking to our friend on the phone. These subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle changes are often frustrating, scary, or just inconvenient.
“The beauty of it all is that with the right support and understanding, we can forge on with the grace and strength that is innate to all women. ”
I believe that as a healthcare professional, there is more we can do to support women on this journey:
Providing women with accurate information and options for support
Reaching out to remind them they are not alone in this
Being a health care provider who can guide and care through this process
I am in this with you. Together, we can understand our changing bodies and encourage one another during these years so that we can embrace the woman who lies beyond “the change”... The beautiful butterfly full of life experience and wisdom who is ready to soar.