Here's a question from a reader about perimenopause and forgetfulness.
Dear Maddisen:
I'm in the throes of perimenopause. I seem to be forgetting things from one second to the next. This worries me and makes me mad. Any advice on how to deal with this?
Excellent question. Let me answer before I forget what you asked! I too am in the throes of perimenopause, so know that I understand and have great compassion for you.
Medical and scientific resources tell us that symptoms such as intermittent memory loss and mental fogginess during a woman's perimenopausal years are "normal" and the result of hormone changes and fluctuations in brain chemistry. This is all good to know, but it doesn't always help when we're in the midst of feeling stressed, mad, afraid and self-critical during our bouts of forgetting and blanking out, while at the same time facing and managing our outward physical alterations and other life transformations that all seem connected to aging!
We may even worry that we're experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer's; however, the majority of perimenopausal memory loss problems are natural. On the bright side, the brain chemistry changes of perimenopause that take place in the temporal lobes region are being linked to enhanced intuition, plus there are a good number of treatment options available to women now ranging from homeopathy and acupuncture to nutritional supplements and hormone replacement.
One of my jobs as a midlife empowerment coach is to discover the inherent gifts of this major life transition, and to support others in claiming these gifts and in reframing what is commonly perceived as a negative and deteriorating downfall into something that is truly empowering, uplifting and renewing. I advocate turning perimenopause into a rebirth, a new and very powerful launch into a fuller and more satisfying life.
This is truly a major life threshold, leading potentially into the best years of our lives. It beckons us to make a conscious and deliberate choice to trust life and to practice thoughts, feelings and actions that support vitality, vibrant health and aliveness in every way imaginable. When it comes to perimenopause, gals, attitude is everything!
This is a heroic challenge, a precious opportunity to take better care of ourselves and to be more present and aware than ever before. And although that may take more intention, attention and time, all of this devoted and lovingly persistent focus ultimately sets us up for more of what we desire: a life well lived, which is a life of purpose, well-being and fulfillment. We create what we focus on, so as we journey through this critical and rich life phase, our best results will be guaranteed by looking up, not down.
Here is a simple program for turning the lemons of perimenopause into a lemonade elixir:
Forgive Yourself
Memory lapses and mental fogginess are not uncommon during perimenopause, so relax a little and go easy on yourself if you forget something. Practice self-forgiveness daily, and especially if you are feeling stressed, angry, afraid or self-critical about your symptoms. If you need a refresher, read my archived blog on self-forgiveness.
Nurture Yourself
Take excellent care of yourself -- every part! If it helps, create a nurturing chart with the categories "physical," "mental," "emotional" and "spiritual," and come up with a regular program of ways that you love and care for yourself and your well-being.
Exercise Your Brain
Stay mentally active, because learning causes growth of new neurons in brains of every age.
Exercise Your Body
Stay physically active for good health; to look good; to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes; to lower blood pressure; to increase your flexibility and longevity; to reduce the risk of injuries; to increase your overall health; to continue to be productive; and to be happier. There's nothing like an exercise high.
Listen To Your Intuition
Tune in to your enhanced intuition, and practice using it.
Reframe!
Reframe, reframe, reframe! Practice turning lemons into lemonade at every bump in the road. This can be very inspiring, empowering and renewing! Do it with your girlfriends, too; they'll love you for it.
Say Yes To Life
Say nay to the naysayers. Better yet, bless them, and then simply turn your focus on what makes you say "yes!" to life!
Remember: You Chose To Be Here
Take a higher viewpoint. Laugh at yourself sometimes. Remember, you are a spiritual being here to have a rich and full human experience. You can choose your inner responses and outer actions.
You Have Options
I'm addressing ways to support your mental and emotional well-being. For your physical support, you can consult with your health practitioner(s) to explore options that align with your beliefs and lifestyle. I refer to many resources, and a few of my favorites include Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Theresa Dale, and the "Women to Women" website and clinic.
The Hero Is You
I won't deny that I have moments when I loathe this natural but profanely lengthy threshold; however, my practice and suggestion for you is to reframe "in the throes of perimenopause" with something more uplifting, such as "on the threshold of my renewed and empowered life." Be the mythological heroine of your own life, because the truth is that you're a goddess in training!
Your midlife empowerment coach,
Maddisen
You may submit questions to lifecoach@krown.us. Let us hear your thoughts: include your comments below.
Copyright 2011 Maddisen K. Krown, M.A.
Follow Maddisen K. Krown on Twitter: www.twitter.com/maddisenk
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