This Menopause Awareness Month we sat down with 5 unique and empowered women on their menopausal journey. We've asked them to share their insights, advice and real menopause stories.
From changes in skin and hair, to shifts in mood, energy levels and hormones, menopause manifests in a multitude of ways. What greater way to celebrate menopause awareness month, than by sharing real menopause stories. 50% of the population will go through menopause...so let's talk about it.
For Amanda, the most liberating part of menopause has been the ability to talk about it openly. Growing up, her mother never discussed menopause, leaving Amanda unaware of what to expect. Now, she’s thankful for the increased awareness and conversations around menopause. "I think it’s quite liberating that everyone talks about it more openly."
Amanda encourages women to embrace menopause rather than fear it, and that's why she's sharing her menopause story.
"That's an interesting question. I think there's a lot more knowledge around it now and it's in the news a lot more - it's more current. People are starting to talk about it a lot more. Whereas before it was all a bit kind of hush, hush under the carpet. There wasn't a lot of information about it, but in the last two years people have started to talk about it a lot more openly, which is great.”
“I'm really glad that I'm entering menopause at this stage when there's a lot more knowledge and a lot more freedom to talk about it openly. When I was growing up, no one talked about it. My mum didn't talk about it. When she went through it she had quite horrific changes and at the time I didn't know what was going on. I just thought she was being really horrendous and a bit of a nightmare. She never passed on any knowledge to me.”
“So I think I wish I knew what the changes were and a bit more in advance, so that I knew what to expect. It can be quite hard when you're not expecting all these changes, and they suddenly start happening. You're thinking, ‘why am I suddenly sweating?’ 'Why am I suddenly forgetting things and forgetting people's names?’ So, I'm glad that now there's a lot more knowledge and a lot more information out there, but I kind of wish it had come a little bit earlier.”
“I mean, I guess I've not fully entered it. I'm kind of entering it, but I wouldn't say it's hit me hard. I think it peaks and troughs as well. So sometimes I'm absolutely fine and I feel normal, but then sometimes there'll be a day where I literally cannot string a sentence together. My brain does not seem to function and I forget words, like everyday, normal words that I use in conversation all the time. They just do not come into my brain anymore.”
”I have to write everything down now. I used to have a very good memory like to do lists. Before, I didn't usually have to write things down, but now I literally have to write everything down. Otherwise I just it goes.”
“It can be difficult starting a new job as well. It’s really hard when you enter menopause because your brain has slowed down. So I haven't got as much capacity in my brain for taking on new information and then processing all the new information takes a lot longer."
“I know friends who are little bit younger than me who have started going through menopause already. I've got a friend who's 42 and she's going through it, so I'm kind of lucky in a way, that it’s not started until early 50s”
"Don't worry too much about it and don't make it into a big deal. Just embrace it. It's another change in life. It's another stage of life. I don't think it has to limit you in any way. And yeah, I just enjoy it. I mean, it's not the end. It could be the beginning of something.”
“I think if you just take it as it comes and do what you can to alleviate any of the symptoms you can't deal with. Don't think of it as like an end to things. Just embrace it and try just carry on as best you can.”
“ I think it's quite liberating that everyone talks about it more openly. I've got friends I can talk about it with, which is really nice. It's not something that people don't want to talk about anymore, which is quite liberating. Because there's so much more awareness.”
“So I'm really happy that I'm going through it at a stage where it is not such a taboo subject. Being able to talk about it more openly I think is a really liberating thing. You know, my mum, I think if she had had more information and was able to talk about it more probably wouldn't have affected her as much.
“And also there's so much more help and support now I think as well like The Solution Menopause range. You don't have to go on HRT, and even if you do use HRT there are a lot more forms that are less scary, and there's so many more natural alternatives around as well.”
“I think with the understanding now around how menopause affects people differently and all the different symptoms, there are so many more options.”
This Menopause Awareness Month, let’s continue the conversation, celebrate the changes, and embrace the wisdom that comes with this transformative life stage. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking for solutions to specific menopause symptoms, know that you are not alone—and there are plenty of resources and communities to help you thrive!
Share your real menopause stories with us @thesolutionuk
