By Leah Jung
What is the menopause?
Once upon a time – not so long ago, unfortunately – the menopause was the great unmentionable in society. Referred to as “the change” or not discussed at all, it was a condition every woman dealt with, but was given precious little support for.
Essentially, menopause is when women’s periods stop. Most women go through it between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier – much earlier in certain cases.
Perimenopause is all the symptoms of menopause without your periods having stopped.
What are the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause?
Almost any woman going through the menopause or perimenopause, or who has come out the other side, will tell you that it is one of the least pleasant experiences they have had to endure.
Its symptoms can have a negative effect on work life, home life, friendships and marriages and, regrettably, have until very recently been woefully overlooked by many within the medical community and most members of the male population.
The most well known symptoms of menopause – hot flushes and mood swings – are, sadly, just the tip of the iceberg. Below is a list of some of the most common symptoms, many of which are liable to start in the years before periods stop and continue afterwards:
Night-time sweats/chills
Palpitations
Reduced libido (interest in sex)
Weight gain
Sleep disturbances
Headaches
Mood swings, anger, impatience and irritability
Anxiety/depression or both
Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
Memory and concentration difficulties
Itchiness
Joint stiffness and aching
Sore, swollen breasts
How can I deal with the menopause?
Unless you like the idea of joining the vast numbers of menopausal women (some 50% according to recent research) who either aren’t going for promotions at work or who are electing to leave the workplace altogether, you’re going to need to find a way to help cope with the symptoms of menopause.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) certainly has its advocates, among the medical community and those women who have used it and found it extremely beneficial, but it is not for everyone.
Some doctors will still advise against it, on the grounds that some studies have linked HRT to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Everyone is different and many will consider the risk one worth taking; others will not, especially if they have already battled and beaten cancer or if it runs in the family.
Can hypnotherapy help with the menopause?
Maybe you’ve tried HRT and found it ineffective; maybe you would like to try something completely different; maybe you just want to supplement your HRT with another treatment to deal with a particularly painful symptom.
Studies have shown that clinical hypnotherapy makes a huge difference in reducing many symptoms of menopause, including – but not limited to – brain fog, hot flashes or flushes (the sudden feeling of warmth in your upper body, normally most intense over the face, neck and chest) and tiredness.
Medically controlled trials showed it to be more effective than other treatments such as acupuncture, yoga and herbal supplements.
What kind of hypnotherapy will ease symptoms of menopause?
The answer to this question lies in the kind of symptoms that are causing you most problems.
Some women struggle on a daily basis with hot flashes/flushes (known as night chills when they happen at night) and find that “cool imagery” hypnosis – imagining themselves to be stepping into a swimming pool or being outside – teaches them to “dial down” their body temperature and counteract the flushes.
Other techniques might focus on teaching you how to relax and breathe in a way that to supports your overall well-being, improving confidence and self-esteem so that you feel your best self.
It all starts with a conversation.
What about the 'male menopause'?
Unlike the menopause itself, the 'Male Menopause' (or andropause) is not linked to any specific life event like periods stopping.
Although men’s testosterone levels do drop, they do so steadily from around the age of 30 to 40, and at a rate of about 1% a year.
However, many men do struggle with issues such as depression, reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, weight increase (‘beer bellies’ and ‘man boobs’), mood swings, lack of enthusiasm, poor concentration and memory loss at around the same time as many women start going through the menopause.
The best way to combat these issues is by tackling their root cause – such as lack of exercise, anxiety and stress.
Can hypnotherapy help with the ‘male menopause’?
Hypnotherapy can address many of the issues behind the symptoms which are grouped together as the ‘male menopause’. For more information about hypnotherapy to combat stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, get in touch with me today.
How long does it take? And how much does it cost?
That’s an ‘how long is a piece of string’ question, unfortunately.
But if you are considering hypnotherapy as a way of helping cope with the menopause or the ‘male menopause’, get in touch and we’ll have a chat.
Drop me an email (leah.hypnotherapist@gmail.com) and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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