Psychological and Emotional Challenges During Menopause
One major symptom faced by most women in the menopausal years is mood swings. There may also be a general decrease in sexual desire. Depression and irritability is not uncommon.
This may be accompanied by frequent bouts of crying, anger, heart pounding, flushed face and throbbing head. There may be a general feeling of hopelessness. However the good news is that this passes quickly, though it may leave you feeling rather shaken.
Many women associate femininity and their desirability with their fertility. The loss of this function automatically causes a feeling of anxiety and insecurity for them.
Add to this, this change comes at a time when they are faced with critical events such as illness and /or death of elderly parents/ in-laws, children leaving home (the empty nest syndrome) and a subsequent feeling of emptiness or the awareness of becoming “senior citizens” after the birth of grandchildren. Thus it is not surprising or difficult to understand these changes in moods.
Embrace the Positive Side of Menopause
A very important aspect of dealing with these issues is to be aware of the problem, to learn to recognize and analyse it and to deal with it positively. Instead of looking upon the event as a lack of femininity, why not look at the positive side of it?
Think of the fact that you don’t have to go through an emotional roller-coaster every month, suffer from PMS, deal with discomfort and pain every month. You are now truly liberated and can do what you want without any constraints.
Yes, your children have flown the nest. They are now grown-ups and have started leading independent lives of their own. You should be proud of this. This is what you worked so hard towards all these years, when you looked after their physical, mental and emotional well-being and made sure they got nothing but the best of education you could afford to give them.
Now they are proving to you that you did a sterling job! Give them space and enjoy yours. This will pave the way to healthier relationships and you can rest assured that they will come back to you whenever they need advice or help. They will always remain your children and you their parents.
You have become a grand parent! Here is your chance to play with them, enjoy them with the added benefit that all this comes with no responsibility on you. Relive your childhood with them.
Keep Fit
Look forward to spending more time with your spouse after retirement, travelling to all those places you always wanted to visit and revelling in each other’s company. Keep yourself mentally and physically busy. Join a health club / gym. Get together with people in your age groups and go for picnics or play a game of cards at home.
Do yoga regularly and more importantly, include meditation in your daily routine. This will ensure that you keep physically, mentally and emotionally fit.
And a concluding word. If you thought Nature is unfair only to women, then think again. Men go through a corresponding phase called “andropause” or the male menopause. Only no one talks about it. We do.
Checkout the rest of the articles in this series:
