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Self-Discovery & Fulfillment In Menopause: 5 Simple Strategies For Aging Women

Episode Summary

Is menopause looming on the horizon like a dark storm? Consider adopting these simple mindset and lifestyle techniques to nurture the body and soul through this time! To read more, visit https://bettyjohansen.com/2024/04/18/stepping-into-your-best-years-a-guide-to-dancing-through-menopause/

Episode Notes

According to Midi Health, over 6,000 women begin menopause each day in the US alone. However, resources are scarce for women entering this new life phase, and discussions regarding the topic can be difficult, as many find menopause to be a private affair or even taboo, in some cases. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Menopause is a universal constant for women over 50, and clearly should not carry with it any degree of shame or embarrassment. And so, health experts and women everywhere are making a concerted effort to break the stigma around menopause and usher in a new, healthier philosophy regarding this stage of life.

One such expert (and, indeed, woman) is Betty Joehansen, an author and notorious positive thinker. She proposes a change in the way we think about menopause as a society, re-framing the conversation to center not around the short-term changes to the body and mind, but rather to focus on personal well-being, future goals, and self-empowerment.

In doing so, she counters the common narrative that menopause is something to fear, something that will inevitably lead to interpersonal strife and bodily disruption.

The primary metaphor Joehansen employs in designing this philosophy is as follows: the body has rhythms, much like music. As one might learn to dance to different music, one can learn to adjust to new biological rhythms as well, “dancing” through this new and sometimes difficult time.

As Joehansen points out, those who go through menopause often emerge on the other side stronger and more confident and self-actualized. She encourages goal setting and prioritization of the self, queuing up the proverbial “musical movement” as an opportunity for further growth rather than an end point in a journey.

Just as Joehansen does, health experts and researchers at the Mayo Clinic acknowledge menopause is a natural part of aging, and cannot be avoided. That doesn't mean that symptoms don't exist, however, nor does it make those symptoms any less pleasant to deal with.

Professionals propose a shift in daily habits as the most effective "cure" for menopause symptoms. Let's review their 5 main points now.

One: Implementation of a daily exercise routine. Two: A shift in diet to support the changing body, preferably in collaboration with a nutritionist. Three: Hormone therapy as-needed to re-balance the body. Four: Responsible use of OTC pain relievers or anti-nausea medication. And Five: Consumption of pre and pro-biotic foods to support gut health.

Adopting these 5 simple strategies can go a long way toward easing the sometimes challenging aspects of menopause. As Betty Joehansen suggests in her publications, proper mitigation strategies coupled with a re-framed mindset can turn menopause from a potentially unpleasant era into a rich, wonderful period of self-discovery and renewal. Wordsmith World City: Big Spring Address: Texas Website: https://bettyjohansen.com/