My menopause and my mental health – a personal journey:

There has been a lot of talk recently in the press and media about menopause and recognition of how a lot of women suffer, mostly in silence, with menopause and the related symptoms. The pandemic brought a shortage of HRT products and left many women without the drugs that they needed to get through the day. So, many women began to look for help overcoming menopause symptoms naturally. I will share my journey in this article and hopefully make yours more manageable.

My journey to beat the menopause naturally:

I discovered many women during the pandemic began to look for alternative ways of dealing with the menopause. I experienced a medical menopause at 33 (34 years ago), after many years of ovarian cysts and emergency surgery for the cysts that had burst. At the time, HRT treatments to help with menopause symptoms were relatively new. My doctor prescribed me with HRT as a matter of course; I didn’t even question it. I have to say I felt amazing and 100% better.  However, 6 months later, following a check-up, it was found that I had developed breast lumps and, sadly, breast cancer as well.

I came off the HRT, and I went down the slippery slope.  I found myself plunged into the mire of menopause with no help.  At that time, I had a young daughter, was on my own and had no medical intervention at all.  In summary, I came through it, and all is well, as you know. However, I have Osteopenia, and I know that there were times early on when I was not easy to live with; I know my mental health suffered, and I know that my family did, too.

I am sure that I was perimenopausal from my very early 30’s, not long after I had my daughter I had a ruptured ovarian cyst, this was a double surgery as they found internal bleeding.

I returned home to have to look after my 6-month-old daughter and deal with an incredibly difficult marriage and Greek mother-in-law who had been brought over to care for me and my daughter – she did neither – in fact she made matters much worse.

I wish I had known then what I know now, anyway life unravelled and within 3 months the first surgery I was on my own and dealing with breast cancer but the medical menopause was causing havoc with everything else.

The natural remedies were very limited – but I did ultimately find after my last gynae surgery in 1993 to remove my ovaries (they took everything else in 1992) an amazing Chinese natural remedy supplier  and she helped me hugely.

This negative experience I had was all preventable, but 30 years ago, information was limited. There was no Google to be able to search! So, on a busy day, you would have to spend time in the library searching for answers!

Womens’ feelings and experiences of menopause vary dramatically. However, this article will give a generalised overview of the remedies I recommend to help you through menopause naturally. I will also make some general suggestions about what you can do to help yourself and what to ask your GP.

Overcoming menopause symptoms naturally:

First and foremost, if you are looking to avoid HRT, I would suggest you look at the supplements that are important to you, look at your symptoms, look at your needs and also what you physically have the time to do and also look at costs

Adjust your diet if needed:

Eat plenty of calcium and Vitamin D-based foods, fresh fruit and vegetables, and avoid trigger foods—alcohol and spicy and sugary foods can be very triggering. Try to maintain a decent weight level—it is hard, but it will help. Do as much as you can to exercise.

Exercise is vital:

Consider pilates, yoga, walking, or anything that can help maintain bone density. Ask your GP for a bone density scan.

Supplements:

Black Cohosh is renowned for helping with hot flushes, but give it time to work. One month will not be sufficient. Find yourself a good supply of fish oil, either through a diet of oily fish, at least three portions per week, or supplements. Linseed can also help.

Look at your levels of Vitamin D, as these can help hugely with bone density, but take advice from your GP to avoid other complications.

Bach Flower Remedies:

I can also offer a wide range of Bach remedies that can help with your emotions, and I have listed some of them below:

Walnut:

Walnut is our key remedy for menopause. This remedy will help protect you from the emotional feelings that this period produces. It is a great leveller and will protect your emotions from outside influences.

Walnut

Impatiens:

Very often, menopause can cause immense frustration and irritation within you – little things created within the family home can become mountains and result in major upset.   Impatiens will free you from this.

Impatiens

Clematis:

This remedy has also proved helpful in helping reduce brain fog and providing clarity in daily life.

Clematis flower

Holly:

Anger can often occur during menopause. But Holly will allow you to maintain a calm and peaceful attitude and generally feel much better about everything around you.

Holly Berries

Star of Bethlehem:

This is a remedy for shock or trauma and is very useful where menopause is early in life. For some women, it can leave them feeling devastated. This beautiful remedy can restore your sense of calm.

Mimulus:

This remedy helps with fear of the unknown. It may seem an odd choice, but it can help if you are struggling to come to terms with your diagnosis. Some women resent menopause and are frightened that it signals old age; they find this very difficult to manage. Mimulus is a hugely beneficial remedy that helps you find the courage to move forward and face this new phase in your life.

Larch:

A remedy for confidence, as some women find that menopause reduces them to complete emotional wrecks. This beautiful remedy is there to restore your self-esteem and allow you to accept that you can do everything you need and want to do.

Overcoming menopause symptoms naturally, in summary:

There are so many holistic approaches to natural menopause. Above, I have only detailed a handful, and there are other methods that I have tried and tested. It is, of course, still worthwhile trying HRT (under your doctor’s guidance) to see if it suits you. However, if you find it unsuitable, I would be delighted to chat with you about overcoming menopause symptoms naturally.

Please give me a call, email, or text me at any time to arrange a time to chat. Get in touch