I started having panic attacks and high anxiety this year, something that I’ve *never* experienced or had an issue with before. Last year my ADHD symptoms intensified and became almost unbearable. I just turned 53, and perimenopause has been a wild time.
I've thought a lot about how perimenopause and menopause come when there is so much else going on in life. For me, it was kids going off to school, covid, kids isolating at home during covid, becoming empty-nesters when they left again, aging parents, work changes, and the biggie, finding out my dad was not my biological father and meeting a whole new family I hadn't known existed. In a weird way, that last event somehow made perimenopause easier because there was just so much stuff I had to work through – perimenopause was just another change that I had no time or energy to think about. And it didn't help that my doctor provided no support in understanding my symptoms. We should be talking about this more - thanks for your perspective!
Thanks so much for this. And yes one of the biggest takeaways is that this transition happens when so many other changes are happening for so many of us…it’s a double or triple whammy! And yes I also had to change gyns and find someone who knew how to support me. Hope you did too.
Same as you, I’m a 1970 baby. My year of turning fifty was going to be a run of fab dinner parties with dear friends! Hah. My perimenopause began at the same time, and it was easy. Where my mother had flooding periods and weight gain, mine, always light, tailed off, until I missed a few, then realised it had been a year, and I was technically through. There were some sweats, sometimes felt warmer than usual but nothing extraordinary. There is so much to look forward to. I think fifties are the best. My kids are independent now too and I love love love all the freedom that brings. I’m in work that challenges me and am fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been, with regular cycling and martial arts.
Thank you for your openness in sharing. I love this idea of looking at perimenopause as an opportunity to learn about ourselves, not in relation to anyone else, but in relation to ourselves. Thank you for this reframe and new way of looking at it.
"It takes time to let go of one chapter and find the next." Exactly!!!
so glad you can relate!
I love your observation that perimenopause always happens in a context and that context often itself involves radical change.
yes! It happens right when life is in transformation on so many levels!
A lovely piece! I can say that it does get better. ❤️
So good to hear!
I started having panic attacks and high anxiety this year, something that I’ve *never* experienced or had an issue with before. Last year my ADHD symptoms intensified and became almost unbearable. I just turned 53, and perimenopause has been a wild time.
I've thought a lot about how perimenopause and menopause come when there is so much else going on in life. For me, it was kids going off to school, covid, kids isolating at home during covid, becoming empty-nesters when they left again, aging parents, work changes, and the biggie, finding out my dad was not my biological father and meeting a whole new family I hadn't known existed. In a weird way, that last event somehow made perimenopause easier because there was just so much stuff I had to work through – perimenopause was just another change that I had no time or energy to think about. And it didn't help that my doctor provided no support in understanding my symptoms. We should be talking about this more - thanks for your perspective!
We definitely should be talking about all of this much more! It seems like the conversation is starting though...
Thanks so much for this. And yes one of the biggest takeaways is that this transition happens when so many other changes are happening for so many of us…it’s a double or triple whammy! And yes I also had to change gyns and find someone who knew how to support me. Hope you did too.
Same as you, I’m a 1970 baby. My year of turning fifty was going to be a run of fab dinner parties with dear friends! Hah. My perimenopause began at the same time, and it was easy. Where my mother had flooding periods and weight gain, mine, always light, tailed off, until I missed a few, then realised it had been a year, and I was technically through. There were some sweats, sometimes felt warmer than usual but nothing extraordinary. There is so much to look forward to. I think fifties are the best. My kids are independent now too and I love love love all the freedom that brings. I’m in work that challenges me and am fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been, with regular cycling and martial arts.
Thank you for your openness in sharing. I love this idea of looking at perimenopause as an opportunity to learn about ourselves, not in relation to anyone else, but in relation to ourselves. Thank you for this reframe and new way of looking at it.