Are You Experiencing More Menopause Symptoms Than You Admit?
What if you’re experiencing more menopause symptoms than you’d like to admit?
I’ve noticed something interesting lately. Some women believe menopause has had very little impact on their lives, while others are convinced they’ve already moved beyond it.
Yet, as a menopause and mindset expert, I often observe something quite different.
I’ve witnessed women becoming unusually impatient, overwhelmed by situations or reacting emotionally in ways they may not even recognize. I’ve watched women become uncomfortable with loud noises, experience sudden changes in body temperature or respond to everyday situations in ways that suggest menopause may be playing a role.
And it makes me a little curious. Are we always recognizing our menopause symptoms for what they are?
After navigating more than 30 menopause symptoms myself, I’ve learned that menopause affects far more than our body temperature and weight. It can influence how we think, feel, behave and respond to the world around us.
Sometimes the first step towards managing our menopause symptoms is acknowledging just how much they’re affecting us.
Why Do We Overlook Menopause Symptoms?
I’ve often wondered why some women are reluctant to acknowledge that menopause might be affecting them more than they realise.
There could be many reasons.
Perhaps it’s a lack of awareness. We’ve traditionally associated menopause with hot flashes, night sweats and the end of our menstrual cycles. Yet the range of physical, mental and emotional symptoms associated with menopause extends far beyond those familiar changes.
Maybe it’s our circumstances. Our careers, financial responsibilities, relationships and the expectations placed upon us can influence how we approach our health.
And sometimes, I believe, it’s about control.
Some women are accustomed to managing everything around them. They manage demanding careers, households, relationships and countless responsibilities. They’re used to having everything under control, so perhaps they believe menopause is something they have under control, too.
Then there’s women who believe they’re already finished with menopause.
They’ve been post menopausal for a number of years now and the worst of their symptoms may have passed. In their minds, menopause is behind them.
But menopause symptoms don’t necessarily disappear when we reach the onset of post menopause.
Hot flashes, sleep disturbances and other symptoms can continue for years into postmenopause. For some women, certain symptoms can persist much longer.
Understanding that is part of recognizing what’s happening in our bodies. In my own case, I experienced most of my symptoms during the first five years of post menopause.
The Menopause Symptoms We Don’t Always Recognise
Because I work in the menopause space and talk with women regularly, I’ve become particularly aware of the behaviours and physical responses that sometimes go unnoticed.
I’ve been in the company of women who suddenly become hot while drinking alcohol or sugary drinks. I’ve witnessed women becoming uncomfortable with loud noises, growing impatient or reacting emotionally to situations that might not have bothered them previously.
Sometimes there’s an outburst of emotion. Someone becomes overwhelmed, frustrated or unexpectedly flies off the handle.
And yet, they don’t necessarily want to admit that menopause could be contributing to how they’re feeling.
I’ve been there myself.
I’ve experienced the emotional meltdowns, the overwhelming feelings and those moments when I reacted in ways I later wished I hadn’t.
Believe me, I understand.
Hormonal changes can influence our mood, sleep and emotional well-being. And when we add stress, fatigue, relationships and everyday responsibilities into the mix, the impact can feel even greater.
The important thing is becoming aware of those changes.
When you notice yourself reacting differently, feeling unusually overwhelmed or struggling with something that once felt manageable, ask yourself what’s happening.
Could menopause be contributing? Has your stress level increased? Are you sleeping well? Have your eating habits changed?
These are valuable questions to ask because awareness gives us information we can use to support ourselves.
I Had to Acknowledge My Own Menopause Symptoms
When I began perimenopause at 38, I had no idea how many symptoms were associated with menopause.
Over the years, I navigated more than 30 symptoms. Some were obvious, while others were things I couldn’t explain or initially connect to hormonal changes.
I had to acknowledge that menopause was affecting me in more ways than I was aware of.
But there was something else I needed to acknowledge, too.
I had to admit to myself, my own part in how I was managing my symptoms.
There were foods and drinks I continued consuming, even when I knew they could affect how I felt physically.
There were relationships and stressful situations that I allowed to overwhelm me. Sometimes I wasn’t paying attention to how those circumstances affected my emotions or how I responded.
I had to become more aware of what was happening around me and inside me.
That meant asking myself some uncomfortable questions.
Why was I reacting this way? What was contributing to how I felt? Was I doing everything I could to support my health?
Those questions became an important part of changing my approach to menopause.
I had to change things in me to change things for me.
Your Body Is Responding. Are You Listening?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through my menopause journey is the importance of understanding how our bodies respond to different influences.
Our bodies are constantly responding to what’s happening internally and externally.
During menopause, changing levels of estrogen and other hormones can affect our temperature regulation, sleep, mood, metabolism and numerous other functions.
But hormones are only part of the bigger picture.
There are so many other factors that can contribute to our emotional well-being and influence how we feel.
And those influences aren’t necessarily the same for every woman.
For one woman, alcohol might trigger a hot flash. For another, stress might contribute to disrupted sleep or increased anxiety. Someone else might notice changes when she hasn’t been physically active.
Sometimes several factors are working together.
Even today, in postmenopause, I know certain things can bring my hot flashes back.
If I’m experiencing more stress, consuming too much sugar or alcohol, or not moving my body enough, I sometimes notice those familiar sensations returning.
That’s my body telling me something.
And now, instead of simply becoming frustrated, I pay attention.
I ask myself what I’ve been doing differently. What’s happening in my life? What have I been eating or drinking? How am I responding to stress?
Recognizing those patterns helps me make more conscious choices about how I’m caring for myself.
Our bodies are constantly changing, and the way we support them needs to reflect those changes.
Understanding Your Health Starts With Advocating for Yourself
I’m a firm believer in being proactive about our health.
Personally, I like to have blood work done every six to eight months. I want to monitor what’s happening in my body, including my estrogen, progesterone and vitamin D levels.
That’s something I’ve established with my doctor because being actively involved in my healthcare is important to me.
Our bodies aren’t static. Hormonal changes, nutritional needs, medical conditions, stress and other factors can affect how we feel throughout midlife.
For example, thyroid conditions and vitamin deficiencies can contribute to symptoms that overlap with those associated with menopause.
Where we live can also influence our health. Here in North America, vitamin D is something I pay particular attention to during the winter months.
I want to understand as much as I can about what’s happening in my body.
Having information gives me an opportunity to ask better questions and have more meaningful conversations with my healthcare practitioner.
Of course, different tests provide different information. Estrogen and progesterone levels can fluctuate, particularly during perimenopause, so blood test results need to be considered alongside symptoms and other health factors.
The point is to advocate for yourself.
Ask questions. Discuss what tests are appropriate for you. Pay attention to changes in how you’re feeling and work with your healthcare practitioner to determine what care and monitoring best support your individual needs.
For me, it’s difficult to put a plan of action together if you don’t understand the full picture.
And I believe every woman deserves to be actively involved in understanding that picture.
Sometimes We Are Our Own Worst Enemy
Now, here’s something I talk about in The Menopause Mindshift Self-Love Podcast that might make a few people uncomfortable.
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.
I know that sounds bold, but hear me out.
If I know a sugary alcoholic drink can trigger my hot flashes and I choose to have it anyway, I’m making a conscious choice.
I know how my body might respond.
And believe me, I enjoy dessert just as much as anyone else!
But I’ve learned to ask myself whether the choices I’m making are supporting how I want to feel.
The same applies to movement.
We know how important physical activity is for our health, particularly strength training as we age. Maintaining muscle mass, supporting our bones and staying strong are all important aspects of healthy aging.
Yet it’s easy to settle into routines that don’t necessarily support those goals.
We get busy. We get comfortable. We tell ourselves we’ll start tomorrow.
I’ve had to challenge myself in those areas, too.
And sometimes that means acknowledging that taking better care of ourselves requires effort.
I believe caring for ourselves through our daily habits remains an important part of our long-term health.
We can make choices about how we think about menopause, how we respond to stressful situations and how we prioritize ourselves.
Those choices matter.
What Does Self-Love Have to Do With Menopause Symptoms?
Everything.
And I want you to think about that for a moment.
We talk about self-love as accepting ourselves, appreciating our bodies and treating ourselves with kindness.
But self-love also involves paying attention.
It’s recognizing when something doesn’t feel right. It’s listening to our bodies and being willing to make changes that support our well-being.
Sometimes self-love means choosing to move your body when you’d rather sit on the couch.
It’s acknowledging a relationship or situation that is creating unnecessary stress and deciding how you want to respond.
It may even mean having a conversation with your doctor, asking for testing or exploring treatment options.
And sometimes it’s undertstanding that menopause is affecting you more than you previously realized.
That acknowledgement can be incredibly empowering.
Because once we understand what’s happening, we can begin exploring what might help.
That’s one of the foundations of my Menopause Mindshift Methodology. Through eight core elements, I focus on sustainable tools and strategies that support our physical, mental and emotional well-being.
I believe we have more influence over our menopause journey than we give ourselves credit for.
And it begins with awareness.
Start Paying Attention to Your Menopause Symptoms
If you’re beginning to recognize some of the changes I’ve been talking about, here’s what I’d encourage you to do.
Start paying attention to your body.
Notice when symptoms occur. Think about what was happening beforehand. Were you feeling stressed? Had you consumed alcohol? Had you slept poorly? Were you dealing with something emotionally challenging?
You might find it helpful to keep a journal.
Write down what you’re experiencing, when it happens and anything you think might be contributing.
Over time, you may begin to notice patterns.
If you make adjustments to your thoughts, actions and words, pay attention how those changes affect you.
The goal is to become more aware of your body and the things that influence how you feel.
You can begin making those changes at any stage of your menopause journey.
Acknowledgement Is the First Step
I want to leave you with something I said during my podcast.
You can’t manage menopause symptoms if you’re not acknowledging that they’re there.
Sometimes we give menopause far more power than we need to.
Believe me, after navigating more than 30 symptoms myself, I know how difficult they can be.
But I also know how much can change when we start paying attention to our bodies and making conscious choices about our health.
We can educate ourselves. We can advocate for ourselves. We can explore treatment options and develop habits that support our well-being.
Most importantly, we can begin recognizing that our menopause journey is something we can actively participate in.
So, here’s my question for you.
Are you experiencing more menopause symptoms than you think?
And if you are, what is one thing you could begin doing differently to support yourself?
Remember, acknowledging what’s happening in your body is one way of showing yourself self-love.
It’s time to write your own menopause story, define your own journey and unleash your Inner Queen.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the author and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you’re experiencing symptoms or have concerns about your health, consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for advice specific to your individual needs.