Menopause can cloud your judgment. Estrogen deprived brains, anecdotally speaking, can cause you to make some rash choices or to become incapable to make any choices. Often that sweet nurturing side of your personality is suddenly gone. You may find yourself crying often and frequently. Once you had a steel trap for a memory and now you wander into rooms wondering why. Many of your friends or family members or co-workers may notice these changes in your mental or emotional state. Some may even be brave enough to engage you in a conversation about the ‘new’ you.
Here are the signs that menopause has a firm grip of your brain and how to cope:
CRS, Can’t Remember Shit
Write everything down. Do not say to yourself that you will remember, you will not! Write everything down on a note pad that you keep in the same spot in your purse or on your desk so you can check it often and frequently.
Do not leave it to your phone because you will forget to charge your phone.
DGS, Don’t Give a Shit
You think you look better, younger, and sexier, than anyone else you know even when others may comment lovingly, critically or snidely to you about your dress, hair or overall appearance and you don’t care.
You think you used to be the smartest person in the room. You know that may not be the case because you can not remember some words or have become dependent on spell check but who cares?
You can not watch a beauty pageant, the Olympics, a Lifetime/Hallmark movie with-out sobbing. You hate criers at work and now there you are blubbering about someone’s story and you don’t care.
Mood Swings
Remember when you were a teenager and your own Mother was frustrated with your snotty attitude? No? Well she was and you didn’t know what set you off? Your hormones are fluctuating like that again. One day you are happy and satisfied and the next you are selling the house, leaving the family and job to eat chocolate in Paris!
Are people saying things like “You just need your morning coffee”? Do you have co-workers who only email you? Does your family ask “Why are you so sensitive?” Do you have some road rage? Have you gone Ape Shit in a public setting? Have you been arrested?
What can help? Try to get a good night sleep. Ask your Doctor for sleep medication. Not even when you were at the top of your game did you function well while sleep deprived! Try exercise of some kind. Whacking a ball in some sport or joining an exercise/dance class can help with the mood swings. Don’t self medicate with wine or drugs. Talk with friends your same age. Just know it is normal, you are not going crazy or becoming emotionally unbalanced; you are menopausal.
I am sure I forgot an important tip or sage advice but you can comment here.
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Add a Comment15 Comments
I have been going through peri and menopause since I was 35 and I am now 48. It's been sheer hell for me, my family, coworkers, and anyone I come in contact with. I am afraid to be put on any hormone because before I went into menopause I was misdiagnosed with adult onset epilepsy. They were right except they never found a cause until one day the seizures stopped without medication. It was the same time I lost all my estrogen, hence they assumed it was a rare type of epilepsy caused by estrogen hormones. Since we didn't catch it while the seizures were happening, doctors aren't positive and don't know what hormone or what combination was really to blame. Because of this, I am on my own for menopause relief. I have been ok with almost all the horrible changes but have just recently been awakened to just how bad my emotions and mood swings are. I have lost friends,family members,almost divorced, my self respect,jobs and I am currently digging a hole at my new job. I don't know what to do???!!!!! Any help?????!!! Hanging by a thread!!!
October 20, 2015 - 2:55pmThis Comment
So sorry to hear this! You need more than over the counter herbs but some help from a new MD.Low dose anti-depressants might work?
October 24, 2015 - 12:52pmThis Comment
Thank you for the good information. I am in the fun times of perimenopause now. 52 years old and having so much fun...running in circles. Thank the LORD for my bio identical progesterone and estrogene cream. I am seeing the results...so is my husband.
October 14, 2013 - 12:26pmThis Comment
hi , going through it for two years through pray. i found i now need a little help with rest at night. looking for some comments.
January 18, 2013 - 10:34amThis Comment
My Humor is based on truth, but it does make it easier to digest! Thanks for your comments.
December 12, 2011 - 10:28amThis Comment
What an xclnt, xclnt article! humour always makes everything better. i've been wondering about the changes my body has been going through, and a serious explantion would have made it worse, but your article has just about put a very pleasant, lighter spin on the anxious concern about the smells and spells. thank you very much for clarifying the process, will add more excercise, fluids, greens, zin & magnesium to diet.
December 11, 2011 - 1:34amThis Comment
Great tips and comments! Thanks
December 7, 2011 - 5:42pmThis Comment
I sympathize with the CRS part. I have found that COQ10 helps.
November 23, 2011 - 5:09pmThis Comment
forgot 1 thing . make sure you have an old picture of yourself so you dont forget what you used to look like-you can take it out and remember the good old days. and dont buy anyones claim that they like getting old! lol.
November 21, 2011 - 5:53pmThis Comment
Thanks for reminding me about the meno-pooch! And a great idea about the picture, although that could be depressing!
November 27, 2011 - 2:58pmThis Comment