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Climax is not a reason to stop enjoying life
How to cope with irritability, lack of mood and craving for life during menopause, says psychologist Natalya Shevtsova.
“My mood is so unstable,” complains Margarita, who has just celebrated her 45 years. – I have always been such a merry laugh, I reacted easily to troubles, lived carefree, calmly accepting all adversity. She knew that panic and irritation would not help matters. And now it’s like I’ve gone crazy. I shout at children at home, snap at my colleagues and the boss, even react to passers-by who can accidentally hurt in the crowd. “
You shouldn’t treat menopause as a blow of fate, it’s just another step in life. Yes, now the body requires special protection and attention, which means that you need to try to devote yourself a little more time than you could before.
Menopause symptoms always appear suddenly and last for a long time. One of the most unpleasant phases for a woman is the first stage of menopause, premenopause, which can last up to 4 years.
During this period, menstruation is unstable, it may be absent for several months, there is increased sweating and constant hot flashes, when the face and neck suddenly turn red, heat covers the entire body and it becomes difficult to breathe.
It is these states that drive a woman out of herself, since she cannot control them. Now the body behaves as it wants. All these symptoms tell the woman that her reproductive function is gradually fading away and she needs to get used to it.
Learning to play by new rules
Menopause itself does not spoil the female character. The thoughts of a woman, changes in her appearance, the loss of social activity and dedication, which are replaced by eternal fatigue, lethargy, apathy to what is happening around, lead to irritation and loss of love for herself and the world.
A woman becomes more sensitive to changes in her appearance. If earlier the extra pounds simply upset her, then now she is furious with what she gained in excess of the norm. She looks in the mirror and tries to look younger than her age.
For some, this desire takes on an affective character, being a corresponding protest form of defense against aging.
In this state, a woman needs to be supported.
There are many ways from the point of view of medicine, how to help in this difficult period, but it will also be important to approach the issue from the side of psychology.
Changes in the body will be followed by changes in habits. For example, the play of hormones will inevitably provoke the need for more food, especially “harmful”, such as sweets, fast food, fatty, fried, etc. To avoid forms blurring with age, a new hobby will be a good distraction from thinking about food! Do what you didn’t have enough time for – embroidery, reading books, drawing. It may even generate additional income.
Sign up for a psychological group. The topic can be anything: cinema therapy, sweet lovers anonymous or “for those who are over …”. Choose according to your liking or according to the relevance, the main thing is that the support of a professional psychologist will be very useful, and if a specialist has a clinical specialization, then you can contact directly about menopause, and he will clarify physiology issues if you have any.
Despite your decreased sex drive, do not shy away from men during menopause. On the contrary, if you are married, begin to devote even more time to your spouse, do not hesitate to ask for support instead of grumbled and complain about your bad mood. If your husband is not there, then maybe it’s time to reconsider your position and start actively getting to know each other. This will give the impetus to better take care of yourself, dress up, adhere to a proper diet and lifestyle, and think less about hot flashes, sweating and suffering about the passing time.
What to do when severe hot flashes are accompanied by increased anxiety or even panic attacks?
Take a comfortable sitting or standing position (in case of strong anxiety, you should not go to bed, this can aggravate the situation) and start breathing according to the following pattern: inhale for 4 seconds – exhale for 4 seconds without pauses.
Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach and make sure that the hand that is on your stomach rises: this is diaphragmatic breathing, and it helps relieve stress, normalize the functioning of internal organs and, as a result, improve the condition in general.
Another technique that you need to do systematically two or three times a day when you feel good: lie on your back and breathe as follows: inhale 5 seconds – exhale 5 seconds without pauses, for three minutes, you will get 18 breaths in total cycles.
This technique has a very strong sedative, hypnotic and fat burning effect.
Remember, only regularity gives us the results we want.
Love yourself and those around you, enjoy the moment, and learn to get the best out of what you have.