Navigating the adventure we call motherhood is the most challenging yet rewarding thing we will ever do but on the other hand it can be draining on your mojo. Let’s face it, when you are giving it everything you’ve got sometimes your needs fall behind. The day you become a mom you are fazing out your position as teacher, mentor etc. You are teaching them to be self-reliant adults, right? I had this down, or so I thought. My kids were teens and doing well. I started doing some stuff for me…who? Oh yeah, I have needs too! I started reading novels again. I LOVE to read and when my kids were little, hiding out in the bathroom to read a magazine article was about all I could do. I was doing “me” stuff again and wow it was great!
So just when I was poised to conquer the world, I started going through menopause. No more visits from Aunt Flo! Yay! Not so fast…menopause caused me to go to one knee. In fact, I was down on both knees. The hot flashes, night sweats, memory lapses, weight gain, hair loss, joint pain, insomnia. Seriously? A lifetime of cramps, and now I was going to go through this this...horror? I cried foul but to no avail.
My mojo started to elude me. I was in a serious funk. Menopause was sucking away my groove. I felt like a different person...not a person who was happy, sunny and optimistic, but someone whose body was turning her into an unhappy, lethargic, moody pessimist! This was not me! I was losing control and I wasn’t curious anymore. I found myself existing from one crummy bad feeling to the next. Those around me walked in fear. Who is this woman?
Menopause is not for sissies or the faint of heart. For those of us who have experienced childbirth you know that women are strong and persistent. We have to be to keep all the balls of life in the air! But now Menopause is a whole new ballgame. All women will go through it, but HOW we go through it can be a defining time in our lives. In fact, it can affect how we view and live our life for years!
I did tons of research and tried numerous hacks and tips to no avail. I believe that my biggest obstacle was the lack of sleep. Not sleeping is a great way to ignite your inner psycho. I needed help and fast. I went to see my doctor and she prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While I wasn't thrilled about depending on drugs and I did experience weight gain as a side effect, I have to admit, my life became much less stressful and my mood swings stabilized. I started feeling less alien-like and more like my old self. I felt my groove slowly coming back though it was drug assisted!
After taking HRT for three years and never getting a straight answer from any physician about the risks, I decided to go off HRT. Buckle your seatbelts! I informed my family and close co-workers of my decision to give them an opportunity to take vacation time or whatever during my weaning HA! Surprisingly enough I had no ill effects. That was a year ago and I am still balanced and happy with very few hot flashes and no night sweats. I know my triggers and sugar is a major one. Darn it, why couldn’t it be broccoli? So if you go the HRT route just know it may not be forever.
I wish I would have had essential oils in my life at the time as I believe now that I could have eliminated so many of my symptoms naturally. One of my newest hobbies is making essential oil products to replace some of the chemical products in my life. I’ve even started selling some of my favorites:
I hope this post helps you transition your way through menopause with a little less angst. If there is anything I can offer to help you through this time (or you just want to rant) please contact me through my website www.redheadedhippie.net.
No comments:
Post a Comment