Did you know that perimenopause symptoms can start in your late 30's (or even earlier for some people)?
It's one of the reasons why this stage of life can feel so confusing.
Lines blur
- Is it work stress?
- Am I just overtired from juggling too much?
- Is the mental load bringing me down?
OR...could it be your hormones shifting and fluctuating?
The truth is there's no clear answer to what's the underlying cause for symptoms. And that's what makes it hard. Go to a GP before the age of 45 and unfortunately it's common that to be told 'you're too young' ...'it's just stress'...you're depressed'
This dismissal leaves women confused, doubting themselves and feeling very alone...especially if meds provided then don't help (which they won't if underlying cause is hormones).
Menopause isn't something that all GP's are trained extensively in. Crazy I know. But there we go. Hopefully things will start to change as more women speak up but for now, know this:
-It's not in your head
-Hormonal shifts can start much earlier than you expect
-Every journey is unique - your symptoms are valid
Please, please, please don't wait until life becomes unbearable before you seek help.
If you feel things are shifting and you don't quite feel yourself, it's time to get in touch with your body. It's time to track your symptoms and start advocating for yourself.
It's not ideal, we shouldn't be made to feel like we have to prove what's going on BUT actually it can be empowering. Taking control for yourself feels good.
And (I can't emphasise this one enough), find a GP who specialises in women's health and is on the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) database. Be prepared, arm yourself with knowledge and I promise, your journey into perimenopause and beyond will be so much easier. Stick with me!
In the next blog post, we'll talk about the symptoms that often show up first. We've got this ladies.
...If you live locally to Coogee, make sure you come along to my Saturday Reset sessions because this is exactly the sort of thing we will chat about as we walk. Having other women beside you on your journey makes the world of difference. The first session will be on 11th October, 6.15- 7am and it's FREE. All events details are on the main page or message me (0433893635) to get all the info.
