It’s more than night sweats. Let’s talk about Perimenopause/Menopause! As a therapist, I have worked with many women on improving their symptoms of menopause, but it was not something I fully understood at the time. It was over the summer that I experienced it personally, which encouraged me to dive deeper into researching menopause and make changes in my life. There is a lot of focus on life after menopause, but the reality is that women can also experience the perimenopause phase, which can start after the age of 40. Perimenopause/menopause is more than just hot flashes, this can also impact mental health. Mental health symptoms that we can see come up are anxiety, depression, anger, and these can leave us feeling confused and hopeless. The good news is there are things that we can do! The following are a few tips on how you can reduce your symptoms and improve your everyday life.
- Creative outlets such as journaling-writing your feelings help you with letting go or motivational podcasts to which you can listen.
- Healthier diet- research shows that as we get older our body changes and women are more susceptible to weight gain and illnesses.
- Regular medical checkups.
- Movement such as exercising- whether you join a gym, take classes in the community, go hiking alone or with a friend, or do exercises at home using an app. It is not only about losing weight but about feeling better and having more energy to do things.
- Therapy- what better way to process your feelings and trauma by talking to a therapist in a safe space.
By making one small change, it can make a difference. What is one thing you are committing to doing for yourself so you can feel better? Today is a good day to start.
Elizabeth Collazo, LCSW
Innovative Minds Counseling, LLC
4601 Oak Circle
Reading, PA 19606
Phone: 484-706-9836
Fax: 484-709-1382
Email: elizabethcollazo@innovativemindscounseling.com
