I have to confess that, at 44 years old, I still do not feel I have started with the hormonal changes to suggest that I am going through perimenopause. However, I am preparing. I am very curious and attentive to what other women and friends experience during this stage.
One of the symptoms that concerns me is depression and sudden mood swings. I do not seek to justify or give solutions to an issue that is very personal and relative to each woman. That would be unempathetic. I am sure that if it happens to me, most likely, I wouldn’t like anyone to treat me like one more of the bunch. For this reason, I do not come bearing solutions, only tips that could help at this time.
Acceptance
The first thing to do is to accept ourselves with respect and affection while going through this roller coaster of emotions that one day makes us look like a crazy wayward and the next a sensitive and defenseless puppy. Avoid judging and punishing ourselves with guilt. Understand it is our hormones that make us feel this way and we are not failing in life. Embracing these emotions allows us to lower our guard and with that lowers the anxiety, stress and fear that we do not even understand ourselves.
Habits
Believe it or not, even if we are doomed to a hormonal change at this stage, our habits will govern how intense the symptoms may be. Here I name three important habits that we must take care of.
- Eating
A plant-based diet that balances the three groups of macronutrients greatly benefits hormonal balance. Minimise or forego alcohol, sugars and refined products full of chemicals. A clean diet helps our adrenal glands to de-stress and thus balance hormones.
- Physical activity
Definitely move. Moving the body is synonymous with oxygenation and relieving tension. There is no better therapy than sweating and raising your heart rate to improve your mood. Even a walk in the open air leads to an improvement.
- Sleep
We should sleep at least 7 hours and be well rested to improve our mood. Maintaining a nighttime routine helps improve the quality of your sleep. Going to bed at the same time or a small foot massage with magnesium oil to relax muscles and tensions are good routines to establish.
Action
Always, before any eventuality, we have two options: do nothing or take action. Here are some alternatives that will help you make the necessary emotional switch.
- Music
I was once given wise advice: If you can’t fill your day with good things, fill it with music. Music has the magic of taking our minds away from problems, filling us with rhythm and the desire to sing and dance. Staying in a spiral of negative thoughts and feelings is useless. Get out of it, put on your favorite song and have fun! Soon you will see that your internal chemistry changes and with that your emotions.
- Meditation and mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness allows you to live one day at a time focused on the present and with gratitude, which can only benefit you, so give it a chance in your life. In addition, meditation exercises will help you manage stress and relieve anxiety and depression, improve emotional health and increase happiness.
- Aromatherapy
You can always support yourself with essential oils and in these cases they are vital. Have on hand the ones that resonate the most with you, and that you feel help you get through those difficult days. Use them every day so that you can take better advantage of their benefits. I always recommend Lavender, which is very versatile to balance any mood. Ylang Ylang, for those days when anger takes hold of you, will help you calm down and forgive. Finally, Clary Sage is an oil that relieves stress, promotes positive mental outlook and relieves tension. These three oils produce the balance we are looking for in this stage. They also calm the nerves and modulate the emotions, promoting a positive general state.
To know more about essential oils, you can read my previously published article: Aromatherapy, more than just a scent.
Let’s not wait to wake up one day feeling that we have lost ourselves in a roulette of emotions that we cannot control. We can take action now and adapt or correct habits that will benefit us throughout this process.
Knowing we are not alone, either through the company of other women, or resources that we can use as support during this stage, gives us peace of mind and support.
Mary Carmen Zaidan.
Body Health. Meditation. Mental Wellbeing. Menopause. Women’s Empowerment.
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