On World Menopause Day

...here's what you need to know.

Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash

If you’re going through menopause, every day is menopause day. A good, strong hot flash is all you need to remind you of that. With some brain fog, insomnia, and a mood swing or two thrown in for good measure.

But it bears a reminder, quite frankly, because if you’re not “in menopause” (when you haven’t had a period in 12 consecutive months), then you are in:

Pre-menopause. That’s the lead-up to menopause. Basically, it’s from the time of your first period to the onset of …

Perimenopause, or “around menopause,” which is the time leading up to menopause, when your body is naturally transitioning to the end of its reproductive years. For some women, it can happen as early as their 30s, while more commonly, it hits between 40 and 44. And then, there’s…

Menopause, when your period ends. For good.

But wait! There’s more!

There is:

Post-menopause. No more periods. And many times (but not always), those menopausal symptoms go away (or at least become milder and thus easier to tolerate). How long, exactly, will you be in this stage?

For the rest of your life.

So, there you have it, in a nutshell.

Which is my way of saying that every step of the way, we need to be aware of our bodies. Please, pay attention to the state of your mental and physical health. From pre-menopause to post-menopause, things are in a state of flux…always shifting and changing…and with that, things can happen. A healthy diet and lifestyle will go a long way toward preventing things like:

• Osteoporosis

• Cardiovascular disease

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Weight gain

• Cancer

You can thrive before, during, and after menopause! Some of the best things I’ve done, like making new and wonderful friends, returning to college for an advanced degree, figuring out reasons I’m still tired despite getting “enough” sleep, and more, have been achieved later in my journey.

Celebrate world menopause month by setting out on a journey of your own.

Cheers!

xoSheryl

Note: The recent events in the Middle East have been tragic beyond comprehension. I’ve been unable to write much of anything, and have been waking up some mornings at 3AM in tears, feeling dread, sadness and raw fear. I sincerely hope you are all doing as well as can be expected during these times that feel bereft in reason or human understanding.

And please, if there’s anything you want to know, anything you want to say (even if it’s just hello), send me a signal, or even better…