Menopause - Coping With It's Symptoms

Menopause basically means the end of menstruation and is a natural part of the aging process. For most, it's a realisation of another cycle in the aging process and while some may even welcome this, for woman the onset of menstruation can be the beginning of one of the most difficult periods of their lives.

Menopause occurs usually between the ages of 42 and 58. There are variations of the effects it has from one woman to another. Some will suffer physical effects while others go through psychological torment. In extreme cases, some women will suffer both. For the fortunate ones, the experience will be trouble-free.

There are a variety of symptoms associated with menopause and the good news for those who struggle to deal with it's onset and associated symptoms, there are range of support options available.

The First Signals

Many women start menopause with a few mood swings initially. This is the time when all of a sudden women feel that they have no identity, or feel totally unwanted, or feel terribly unattractive; whatever be the reason most experience extreme mood swings that range from being hopelessly depressed and weepy to irritated and unreasonable.

The First Reactions

It does take time to put two plus two together at first, but when at last you realize these are the first signs of the menopause stage of your life, you find that it is actually not that scary. Yes, it does look like you are loosing something precious – your capacity to breed; to put it crudely – but at 45 plus this all of a sudden does not seem like a bad idea at all.

Coping with It

What actually bothers most women is whether they are still attractive to their husbands or male friends; whether they are seen as feminine as before reaching menopause; whether they are watched by their kids as they had watched their moms missing a name here and there, forgetting the keys, forgetting… and wondering “what happened to mom?” and so on. This period is the most difficult period because you try to see yourself through the eyes of all those who matter for you and check whether menopause really does make a difference in their love.

It Does Not

Let me assure you on one thing. Love does not diminish because you enter menopause. You will actually see that your dear ones cope better than you will ever expect with the changes by giving you the understanding and space you need. I have seen teenagers adjusting to mood swings without a crib and spouses going out of their ways to make their wives wanted and cared for during this time.

There are a number of ways to deal with the onset of menopause. As mentioned earlier, it's a phase and cycle of the aging process which cannot be avoided and how it's handled is important. Dealing with it the best way you can sounds like shallow advice however, with a range of support options available, it will eventually become another chapter in a woman's life.