The Transformative Power of Learning
I never tire from witnessing firsthand the transformative power of learning about the menopause transition. Whether on a one-to-one in health coaching, in corporate wellness programs or in our small group programs, when menopause education is delivered with meaning and relates to a lived experience, women and those around them, move from confusion to clarity. Learning can often be the first step in empowering women to make informed choices and in educating partners and colleagues about how they can best support the women in their life.
The Confusion, Frustration & Complexity of Menopause
Many women transition through their menopause with confusion and frustration. Many are unaware that the changes in their emotions, bodies and relationships may be directly related to the changes and fluctuations in their hormones. Of course, some changes are due to external factors, changing life circumstances, strained relationships and other health events, but we are often late to consider the role hormones are playing in the challenges we experience.
As women, whether we are coming to terms with an unexpected health diagnosis or in the tumultuous season of perimenopause and menopause, many of us struggle with the new feelings we encounter during the menopause transition. The women I work with often describe feelings of being ‘a shell of their old self’ or ‘living in someone else’s body’. Often things ‘just don’t feel right’.
In the absence of meaningful and relevant information, women may think they are going crazy, they may think have developed a serious medical diagnosis, or that they need to change significant relationships. Conversely, when women are supported to understand the complex and dynamic experiences of perimenopause and menopause, they often feel a sense of relief, as they realise their experiences are directly linked to the menopause transition. This sense of relief echos further as they realise that many other women are having similar experiences.
Sharing in Supportive Spaces
One of the things I love about bringing a small group of women together with a common purpose, is the value of sharing our experiences in a supportive and safe space. Whilst weight loss is a common goal clients may choose to focus on, many women accessing health coaching want to ‘feel well again’ and have agency over their wellbeing. Frequently they want to understand what is happening to their body and seek clarity and evidence-based information about what they can do to feel well, to regain a sense of control and invest in their future health and wellbeing.
I am currently delivering a Women’s Health Program designed for a small group of midlife women who are committed to improving their health and wellness. The foundational element of this program is learning about the systemic role of oestrogen and the physiological changes arising through the menopause transition. When women can connect the dots between what is happening inside their bodies and how they are feeling, they are better equipped to take positive steps for their overall health and emotional wellbeing. When we understand that targeted lifestyle behaviours can mitigate some of the health challenges we face in midlife and beyond, we become more empowered to make changes … (just like this client who did just that)!
A Participants Personal Insight
We have a small and mighty group of women on the Healthy in the Middle Women’s Health Program this month, and as always, I am inspired by the profound insights they share in our group sessions. After our first group session a couple of weeks ago, one participant shared a reflection that I felt compelled to share, it is a really useful ‘reframe’ of the frustration woman may often feel. After learning about the physiological changes of menopause, this participant shared how the information had led to a powerful and personal revelation. (I have sought permission to share this insight!)
After berating her body for so long for letting her down, she stated; “I realise now that my body is not letting me down; it’s crying out for help.”
This insight carries power.
It offers a positive reframe that many of us can benefit from through a multitude of health transitions.
Knowledge about menopause (and women’s health) helps us to appreciate that our bodies are not betraying us; they are signaling that they need our attention and care.
Our Dearly Departed Friend
Women who have attended Healthy in the Middle Menopause Education Sessions and Women’s Health Programs will know that I often refer to oestrogen as a ‘dearly departed friend’.
Oestrogen: Our Dearly Departed Friend: She had been around since our teens keeping things in order, working hard behind the scenes. We didn’t really get to know her or take the time to find out what she was doing. In fact, no one told us why she was there or what she was doing! When we get to midlife, we realise that she was always there, listening to our body and taking care of us. We took her for granted for all of those years and then … she was gone. (From Healthy in the Middle, Claire Kelly 2023)
In midlife, as we lose our dear friend oestrogen, we need to do things differently. We need to be the new friend our body needs. To learn to tune in and listen … and respond to her whispers (or shouts) for help.
When we encounter the challenges of perimenopause and post-menopause, it is essential to be friends with our body and like a dear friend, treat her with kindness and understanding.
Embrace the wisdom that comes from decades of getting to know your body, notice how she experiences things differently, listen to her whispers, and as my client so eloquently reminded us, remember your body is not letting you down, she is asking for your attention.
Contact Claire at info@middlehealth.com.au for further information on education programs & health coaching.
