subject: Embrace Menopause: Change Your Life [print this page] Embrace Menopause: Change Your Life Embrace Menopause: Change Your Life
Menopause occurs due to hormonal changes. It is one of many normal biological processes experienced by women who have passed the reproductive years. With a better understanding of the changes that occur during this transition, women can learn to embrace menopause. With such acceptance, the menopausal woman will not only change her life but the lives of friends and family and those of generations to come.
During puberty, for example, the levels of estrogen and progesterone increase. These hormones cause menstruation to occur and continue to increase throughout the woman's reproductive years. During this phase of the woman's life, she is able to bear children. On the other hand, as the woman matures beyond the childbearing years, usually 40's to 50's, there is a gradual natural decline in estrogen and progesterone levels, which eventually brings an end to menstruation and fertility.
As menstruation starts to phase out, menopause begins to kick in. However, unlike the highly anticipated and welcomed menstruation in pre-teen to teen age years, menopause is regarded with disdain and treated like a plague by most maturing women. This, however, could eventually change for women everywhere. For instance, if women begin to accept and embrace menopause and its signs and symptoms as the natural biological process that it is, the outlook about menopause could be revolutionized. Further, the changes could make a difference in the woman's own life, in the life of friends and family, and in the lives of generations to come.
There are over 34 naturally occurring signs and symptoms related to menopause. While it might be somewhat challenging for the woman to immediately embrace menopause and all the changes and feelings being experienced, the woman can learn to understand and manage menopause, one symptom at a time. For example, when anxiety is being experienced, it can be reduced with ten to twenty slow and controlled deep breaths. These practical relaxing breathing exercises can be done by all women, anywhere, anytime, without drawing unnecessary attention to self. Moreover, as menopausal women learn to conquer menopausal symptoms, younger women can learn from them, and eventually menopause will be accepted as the normal biological process that it is.
Ultimately, menopause would be understood rather than feared. Women experiencing menopause would therefore become less frazzled. They would gain the support from friends and family, who no longer would believe that they were going crazy. Instead, many would lend support and join in agreement with the author, Pamela Boggs, who stated, "As family members and friends recognize that this is a normal process and learn about the normal, natural symptoms, they will then treat the woman like she's normal and natural rather than a crazy woman."
Seemingly, a change in the belief about menopause is possible. However, menopausal women must set the pace, must take the lead to understand and embrace menopause as one of many normal biological processes. In so doing support can be gained from friends and family who can help to revolutionize non-supportive viewpoints about menopause.
