Menopause and Me

I'm so incredibly jealous of those who have discovered their passion and are pursuing their dreams. I've been hearing for many years that to be truly successful, I needed to do that. So I sat down to explore and discovered I had no idea what the hell that meant. Being a wife, mother and working girl, didn't leave much time for personal fulfillment. This is my journey to discovering self-care, career fulfillment and personal growth, not a small feat for a 53 year old Korean-American woman.

Menopause and Why I Hate It

Let's start with the fact I HATE menopause. It makes me feel old. We have to endure these crazy menopause symptoms like our brains not working (memory loss, brain fog), insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats, weight gain, frequent urination and general decline of our physical bodies. I didn't even know menopause hair loss was a thing!

If that wasn't bad enough, according to Newsweek's KASHMIRA GANDER, researchers have found a link between women developing Alzheimer's disease and decreased levels of estrogen, i.e. menopause. That is my definition of the ultimate "shit show" for sure. So let's look at how doctors define menopause. The medical community's definition of menopause is the absence of a menstruation cycle for 12 full months. The age range for menopause is 45-54 and early menopause is categorized as occurring before the age of 45. 

For too long, menopause has been a signal that you are officially OLD.  As I go through it myself, I have VERY conflicting feelings. I feel 35 but the face looking back at me isn't consistent with the picture of myself in my head. I'm still coming to terms with all of this. We all need to stop this thinking and we need to start celebrating menopause.

5 Resources for Menopause Symptom Relief

• WebMD Symptom Treatments
• Foods to Avoid During Menopause
• Treatments & Solutions for Menopause Symptoms
• Online Medical Calls
• Fun Fitness - Fitness & Nutrition Blog

At this point, I've done my research and looking toward to low dose hormone replacement therapy. This is not for everyone and the Mayo Clinic details the risks and benefits involved. For others, supplements for menopause symptoms are a good option and are effective for treatment and decrease risk.

Don't forget getting pretty! There's power in making yourself putting yourself together. Making yourself feel good by a new outfit, new hair cut or makeup. Here's a blog to help you with that if you are getting married:

Blossom's Blog

For more adventures, stay tuned!

Next time: Meditation: I finally got it!.