3 Reasons Menopause is a Silent Passage
My local library has so many resources. One of them being a book by Gail Sheehy called “The Silent Passage – Menopause”
This blog is heavily inspired by her and I will be quoting this book a lot in this blog. But there are so many good reasons that menopause is exactly as she wrote it… a silent passage.
Doctors don't know enough about menopause…
This book was written in 1992 and so I do believe we are getting more advanced with our studies. With the Internet and menopause coaches like myself, education around Menopause is growing.
But something that I agree fully with Gail is, “And that means women must become informed, active consumers of good health care.”
This is something I promote no matter what service I offer. Asking the right questions, and really get a feeling and understanding of what your body is trying to tell you.
I remind you that you’re the only one who has lived within your skin. You are the only one who can understand you.
She goes on to tell many stories of doctors that don’t hear women as they complain of ailments that clearly are signs of menopause.
When I speak to women today, doctors aren’t listening. “You have anxiety, take these pills come back soon if you have any issues.” Now I write my knowledge from what I see here in Canada and health care might be different in different countries. But I think this is a good reminder that when you reach a certain age, don’t be afraid to ask for hormone level tests and if they ask why you tell them your reasoning and remind them you’re hiring them.
The natural defense to menopause…
One of the greatest weapons of defense is denial. The biggest thing we can say is there is nothing wrong, nothing is different and so on.
Of course natural remedies even then were discussed and used like we recommend or suggest today.
Dong Quai is one of the herbs mentioned in this book among others like Siberian ginseng, and primrose oil. Even recommending acupuncture for hot flash relief.
But took me back was the following quote; “Therefore it is one of the utmost importance for any woman over forty five faced with high stress professional or personal demands to commit herself to some restorative relaxation measure.”
Even back in ‘91 professionals were reminding women how important self care and stress relief was. And we think this is all so modern and woo… when in reality, it’s not.
This is your reminder now to find something to restore your relaxation through whatever means it might be for you.
Dancing around depression…
I remind you that I’m only 23, turning 24 this summer, and sometimes I’m dated and my age shows when you read my work. Especially this when I talk of a book that came out nine years before my birth.
I’ve grown up learning to make things less taboo and one of them being how we discuss and talk about certain aspects of women’s health and that includes menopause.
I’m raised believing that depression was a more personal subject back then. Correct me if I am wrong… I will surely edit my work.
The author carries women by discussing the dance around Menopause.
She goes on to say; “Neurobiologically estrogen has chemical effects on the brain similar to those of antidepressants. The most experienced researchers say that when estrogen levels in the blood are very low, a woman might start to feel a bit sad or blue or notice irritability or mood swings, but not of a clinical magnitude.”
But this can explain a lot for many women who mention feeling sad around this time in their life.
Something I specifically work on is making sure women feel less sad about this time and see the positive things. But as I learn and grow I know that it’s not always a mental thing, it comes down to what the body is going through.
