<![CDATA[Email: relaxandheel@gmail.com Tel: 07913817444

October is Menopause awareness month. I would like to share my experiences over the past year or so in the hope that some or all of them may help you or someone you know. At the beginning of the year I felt a bit like it was the end of me as I once knew! but thankfully I'm starting to see a great new beginning in front of me!

'Menopause: not an ending, but a new beginning'

To be honest, it took me a while to get my head round this phrase. For me, acceptance was difficult. I found it hard to accept that my body was no longer functioning the way it used to, I found it hard to accept that I could no longer eat whatever I liked and I found it hard to accept that I was no longer as confident doing things I had previously found easy and enjoyable. In short, it was a bit of a blow, shock to the system and very confusing. I was very resistant to what was happening, I didn't want my life as I knew it to end!

Gaining a better understanding of what was going on physically was the first step in starting to accept this 'change'. Once I started to understand that fluctuations in hormones impact our body systems and result in many of the symptoms I was having, I gained some hope that indeed perhaps this was not the end 😅. I could help my body cope with this, and adjust.

So, slowly starting to accept that this was really happening I researched my symptoms one by one and how I could support myself via lifestyle changes.

Diet, was a whopper, having always been able to eat anything I wanted, I discovered that the coffee and cake habit I had been coping with easily 😋 was now causing sugar spikes and in turn causing all sorts of resulting symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, hunger/cravings. Also, my blood pressure suddenly rose. Tweaks to my diet, ie less salt and balancing carbs with other foods types have helped return my levels to normal.

Exercise, another biggy. I had always been naturally fit but suddenly I started to experience aches and joint pain, I felt tired all the time, sluggish and so on. I knew the only way I could help myself was to become stronger and fitter. Strength training, running and yoga/tai chi help greatly.

Relaxation, I have put this last but it is sooooo important!! Without rest and giving ourselves time out to relax, our bodies and mind can become defunct, literally!! Ongoing stress, tension and fatigue adversely affect the physical body (pain, inflammation etc) and our minds (anxiety, depression). During menopause anxiety can become more common and this is due to lowering oestrogen levels, which normally act as a buffer against the stress hormone cortisol. So, the lessen I learned here was stop! Stop, when I feel too tired, too anxious, too down. Take myself out of the situation and do something enjoyable and relaxing instead. I've learned to schedule in regular self care to avoid getting to this stage in the first place, realising the importance of this to my ongoing health and wellbeing.

It's definitely an ongoing process with it all but I am starting to see that small lifestyle tweaks to support the new me are working. I am starting to feel more like me again and probably even stronger, I did my first 10k run recently and it felt amazing. I see each day as a fresh new start with lots of exciting opportunities ahead. Finally accepting the old me has gone but a great opportunity exists to become whatever new me I choose.

Everyone will have their own, unique experiences and their own ways of coping. If you would like more information on how reflexology may help you visit www.relaxheel.co.uk/menopause. I am trained in supporting women on their menopausal journey and am passionate about helping and encouraging you towards your best future self 💪😊