The silent passage. The change. The beginning of the end. These are just a few of the less positive phrases used to describe women reaching midlife and menopause (the cessation of periods for one full year).
Let’s face it – menopause and the aging process get a bad rap. When Louise decided to do some web surfing on her own to learn a bit more about it, the information she found was more than a little discouraging. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings and other negative body changes were described and discussed throughout everything she read on the subject. “Just what is there to look forward to at this time in a woman’s life?”, she wondered.
In short, there are plenty of positives or “gifts” if you really want to find them.
Until they reach midlife, most women tend to focus on taking care of the needs of other people in their lives while putting their own on the back burner. As midlife arrives, however, the recognition of the necessity to care for self becomes an unavoidable reality. Health needs can no longer be ignored and the desire to maintain quality of life into the older years becomes a priority. This re-focus on self is not a selfish notion or a waste of time and energy. Simply put, it is your turn to take care of your needs. Embracing this time in your life means allowing yourself permission to invest what is necessary to meet personal physical and psychological needs that have more than likely been ignored or delayed over the years.
Menopause is the visible sign of a new phase in life and can be the trigger for women to start caring for themselves, especially when the common symptoms and body changes that often occur are not possible to ignore. But more importantly, it can also be a time when we no longer question who we are, what we want, and how to get it. We can become stronger in our convictions and more self-assured in our purpose.
Over the years, this topic has been explored at classes and discussion groups offered at WellSpan. Time and again, women in these groups identify the common gifts of the midlife/menopause years. These include:
- Freedom to be who you truly are
- Creativity
- Time to re-evaluate your life and possibly make significant positive changes
- Time for new activities/hobbies such as painting, belly dancing, skydiving and volunteering, to name a few.
- Self-confidence and concern for how you feel, rather than what others think.
- No more periods!
These same women have also shared their advice.
- Simplify life and learn to say “no” and really mean it.
- Learn to enjoy solitude.
- Refine your definition of success..
- Value friendships.
- Try your best to be alive in the present moment.
- Commit to taking care of your body.
As hormone levels re-balance and hot flashes recede, we enter a new place in our lives. The best is yet to come!
How WellSpan Can Help
WellSpan Midlife Services offers personal menopause assessment and education. To schedule an appointment, please call, (717) 851-1990 in York County or (717) 338-3294 in Gettysburg. For upcoming menopause education classes or discussion groups, go to www.wellspan.org.