Last Updated on May 16, 2024 by coach@lashapebody.com
Menopause
The Resilience Factor
How Menopause Affects Your Ability to Cope with Adverse Life Events
Introduction
Menopause is a significant phase in every woman’s life.
It’s marked by profound hormonal changes that often bring about countless physical and emotional symptoms. We give much attention to the physical side of Menopause.
But its impact on psychological resilience and ability to cope with difficulties is equally profound.
In this blog post, we’ll explore psychological effects of Menopause, shed light on the challenges women face and offer strategies for navigating this transformative journey.
Understanding Menopause’s Effects on Your Resilience
Menopause is a natural — and inevitable — biological process. It marks the end of your reproductive years. During this time your hormones fluctuate.
This change in hormone levels leads to symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances (besides many others).
These symptoms have not only physical effects on you but can also affect your mental and emotional well-being.
Your ability to cope with stress and adversity can be impacted.
In other words your RESILIENCE, an ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to challenging circumstances can be affected as well.
Here are some interesting facts:
- research suggests that some women during Menopause experience increased resilience, discovering o newfound strength and self-awareness, while others struggle with their feelings of vulnerability and insecurity
What’s the reason for this discrepancy?
Impact on Your Coping Mechanisms
Menopause can influence your coping mechanisms in various ways.
This depends on the depth of your experiences and perceptions.
For some women, the physical symptoms of Menopause may worsen existing stressors, making it more challenging to cope with daily life demands.
Other women may find that Menopause serves as a stimulus for self-reflection and personal growth, encouraging them to take on new coping strategies and prioritize self-care.
One common challenge every woman faces during Menopause is the stigma and cultural norms that surround aging and Menopause symptoms.
Negative beliefs and misconceptions about Menopause can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
This can hold you back from seeking support and openly talking about your experiences.
Overcoming these barriers is essential for nurturing your resilience.
As it is also to be surrounded by a supportive environment where you can feel empowered to navigate through Menopause with confidence and grace.
Strategies for Building Resilience
Menopause can be tough. Fortunately there are ways to make it easier.
Here are some tips that can help you stay strong while dealing with challenging situations that can come your way:
1/ Prioritize Self-Care
Engage in activities that enhance your physical, emotional, and mental well-being —> such as exercise, meditation, and hobbies that bring joy and fulfillment.
2/ Seek support
Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, and women who are facing the same challenges — think of support groups.
These support groups can be particularly effective in offering guidance, encouragement, and empathy during difficult times —> like Perimenopause/Menopause Help & Weight Loss Q&A Group
3/ Learn stress management techniques
Practice mindfulness. Cultivate awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
Learn coping strategies such as deep breathing and meditation to manage your stress and anxiety.
4/ Embrace change
View Menopause as a new chapter in your life that is filled with opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Remember the study I mentioned earlier?
“Some women during Menopause experience increased resilience, discovering o newfound strength and self-awareness.”
If you can approach Menopause as a natural and normal phase of life, embracing the change and challenges it brings will be easier for you.
5/ Educate yourself
Take time to learn about Menopause, the symptoms you’re experiencing and their effects on your body and mind.
This knowledge will help you advocate for your needs, make educated choices about ways you want to ease your symptoms and preferences in healthcare settings.
Before I let you go, I want to tell you that there’s one more thing you can do to be more resilient during the challenging years of Menopause.
There are herbal supplements that can help you feel emotionally better. When situations are tough and your stress levels are high, you don’t feel well. You can experience insomnia, anxiety, nervousness and irritability during the day. It’s very hard to fully function and perform well while battling these symptoms.
Here’s the moment you can help yourself with herbal supplements like:
- St John’s Wort (helps with anxiety and depression)
- Passionflower (helps with better sleep, night sweats, anger, headaches)
- Valerian (helps you to sleep better, helps the nervous system and reduces anxiety)
- Ashwagandha (helps with mood swings and support the body’s stress response)
The beauty of these herbs is that they help you feel better without making you feel drowsy.
I give you an example: if you would take St. John’s Wort (for anxiety) with Ginkgo Biloba (for mental clarity and focus) during the day and Passion Flower or Valerian bedtime, as part of those strategies I mentioned before, you would start feeling better, more empowered and with time you would experience stronger resilience and increased ability to cope with difficult situations.
NOTE: There’s no need to mix too many herbs together. The example I gave you above, two supplements in the morning and one bedtime should be enough. Also remember that herbs work slowly. Give them a few weeks time to see how they work for you.
DISCLAIMER: information I provided are for educational purposes only. Before you begin taking any herbal supplements, it is advisable to consult your physician.
Conclusion:
Menopause can have a profound impact on your resilience and ability to cope with adverse life events.
It can bring on unique challenges but also opportunities for personal growth.
By understanding the complex interplay between Menopause and resilience and adopting strategies to enhance coping mechanisms, you can navigate this transformative journey with grace, resilience, and empowerment.
Remember, you are not alone in this experience.
Support is available to you which can help you thrive during this phase of life and beyond.
With resilience and self-care,
Anna Toth
DISCLAIMER: information provided in this blog post are for educational purposes only. Before you begin taking any herbal supplements, it is advisable to consult your physician.
PS: you might also want to read about “How Not Let Perimenopause Ruin Your Life”
