Menopause |
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The menopause, or 'change of life' as it's commonly called, undoubtedly generates a great deal of stress in many women in the mid-years of their lives. Equally, it is commonly surrounded by myth and old wives' tales, and it is not just the physical and emotional aspects of the menopause itself which are necessarily exclusively responsible for stress - other major changes in life patterns which so often coincide with it can be equally stressful: for example, a seeming loss of supportive family life and sense of direction, with children growing up and leaving home, or a husband at the peak of his career and preoccupied with his work.
The facts of the menopause are: between the ages of 45-55 the egg follicles in a woman’s ovaries gradually disappear, and reduced amounts of the estrogen hormone are released during each menstrual cycle. The pattern and How of her periods change until they finally cease completely. This is a time of hormonal turbulence second only to puberty, with progressive estrogen deficiency, absence of progesterone, and rise in pituitary hormones.
'Hot flushes' - a sudden feeling of heat which spreads over the face and body - are the most familiar symptom associated with the menopause: headaches and palpitations are also common, as are unpredictable swings of mood, depression and a feeling of uselessness and lack of purpose.
Positive attitude of mind can do a tremendous amount to counter the stress of the menopause, and women experiencing it now benefit from a much greater awareness of its problems and sympathy with them on the part of most medical practitioners, who can offer helpful, constructive advice.
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