How Do I Know If I Am Perimenopausal?
You Are Your Menopause
Physical symptoms are not your menopause, YOU are your menopause. Your symptoms are like a gentle reminder telling you things may need to change. Perhaps it’s lifestyle, more sleep, better diet, less stimulants or old patterns of behaviour such as limiting beliefs or certain traits that keep you small. There may be questions about your purpose, relationships or sexuality that need addressing and resolution.
Perimenopause symptoms start small and can vary far and wide from the obvious hot flushes and brain fog to the less obvious palpitations and migraines. These symptoms are the bodies way to say …. hey look at me!! I need some loving attention.
Perimenopausal Symptoms
The slow drip of physical symptoms can build, the occasional palpitation moves to palpitations every day, all day, to then worsening at night. Or out of nowhere the hot flushes suddenly arrive, forcing you to unclothe, cool and gain composure. 45 to 55 is the average age of menopause for most women, lasting from five to ten years, symptoms may arrive slowly and occasionally and as early as your late thirties.
So listen out for this, it’s your body gently saying …. hey, what about me!
Mood Changes & Perimenopause
You will also notice an exacerbation of existing emotions as perimenopause appears, anxieties may heighten, rage may thunder and sorrow may weigh more heavily. Behaviours too may shift or become more extreme such as withdrawing to the point of no contact, abrupt ending of relationships or changes to your sexuality.
What To Look Out For
Below are some common emotional symptoms of perimenopause. If you are noticing a handful of these more regularly then you may want to keep reading.
Anger - Sensitivity - Less Tolerance - Tiredness - Feeling Lost - Discernment - Grief - Reflection Truth Telling - Stronger Intuition - Boundaries - Withdrawal
Life Autumn of Perimenopause
The season of Autumn resonates with the emotions of Grief, the quiet ending of a year is likened to the quiet ending of a women’s fertile journey. This is the season of release and letting go of that which no longer serves you.
Shedding the old allows for something new to arrive and reconnecting to your authentic inner essence turns out to be the silver lining from the challenges of menopause. Making space to reconnect to your spark that has been you all along is an important awakening to receive to bring into the next phase of your life.
It is of great value to sift through our lives to-date as we reach midlife, making time and space for cherishing and mourning the past whilst celebrating those gifts we have discovered along the way. It is important to connect to that which is essential to our being, to realign our values and carry them forward into next half of your life.
If you are finding it challenging to connect to you inner essence and lost with what needs releasing a Face Reading for Midlife and Menopause has a profound effect on providing the clarity, empowerment and reconnection to your life essence.
Grieving in Perimenopause
Grieving needs space. It’s why we are more inclined to turn inwards, become aloof and withdrawn. With less tolerance and energy to accommodate other’s nonsense, we may desire or express our truth more freely, telling those exactly how it is, perhaps harshly so or in an angry rage if we are not being heard.
Discernment and boudaries to support your unique essence is essential right now, if you suffer from low self worth or have a delicate esstem it is time to sort for professional support that brings your worth back on top (see Menopause Support Coaching if needed)
You will be more sensitive at this time, the smoothing action from progesterone has begun its decline, leaving you feeling more fragile and delicate but it’s not all bad, you may notice a rise in a deeper connection to you embodied knowing, instinct and intuition. As perhaps a draw to the creative and spiritual which can open new life lines with likeminded souls.
Be Kind
One piece of advice I give, is to be utterly and unabashedly kind to yourself. Create space, tell your friends and family of your perimenopausal symptoms and ask for the support you most would like to receive if you can. In the harsh cold world of grief, sadness and raging frustration, it’s very important to make parts of your world as soft and as warm and restful as you possible can.
It’s where the Inner Seasons Menopause Circle comes into its own, a safe space to be you in community with other women of midlife, a chance to journey through the seasons of your menstruailty and connect to a inner essence and listen to your bodies intuition of what the right next step forward is for you.