Menopause not only affects our hormones and physiology, it affects our mood, outlook and emotions. Forgetfulness, night sweats, slower metabolism, loss of energy, losing sexual desire and having pain during sex are just a few of the challenges we face as we enter menopause. It’s no wonder we might be feeling a little down. From the onset of menopause to post-menopause, it can be difficult to find humor in any part of the journey.
What can help us through the menopause blues? Remember the old adage, laughter is the best medicine?
A giggle a day may just be the best remedy since laughter it’s a natural mood booster.
Rebecca, a writer with Poise remembers the first day she really realized menopause had started. She recalls waking up from a good night’s sleep, she didn’t feel bloated and it was a good hair day. She left the house like any other day and hopped into her car. As she backed out of the driveway she looked in her rear view and what she saw shocked her “ Instead of some kids in my path, I saw the longest black hair sprouting from the side of my face and I was horrified. Where did this come from?.” She wondered how long has it been there, why she didn’t see it when she put on makeup everyday, and why her best friend didn’t tell her. Oh yes, eyesight begins to change too, so her friend didn’t see it either!. From that day forward, Rebecca vowed to never leave home without a magnifying mirror and a pair of tweezers. Have you experienced something similar?
What about the utter exhaustion that sweeps over you at random times of the day? Catherine from the blog My Second Spring warns against soft furniture in the late afternoon. “In the last few months I’ve learned that if I want to achieve anything after about 4pm on any given day, I need to keep away from soft furniture. If I land on a sofa or bed, however briefly, I WILL fall asleep. Instantly and deeply. The fatigue is extreme and overwhelming. There are also occasional spells of dizziness and lightheadedness where, like a posh Victorian lady, I’ve had an attack of the vapours necessitating a little sit down because I feel weak. Smelling salts please!” Does this sound like you? You are not alone.
Your unique perspective
We all have these stories like this, and while they may seem embarrassing, it truly is good to laugh at ourselves and not take things so seriously. With age comes wisdom, so recognize how much wiser you have become, the problems you worry about less (you’ve been down that road 1000 times) and look for all the things in life that bring you laughter and joy. The power of social media and video is the power of emotion. If you’re feeling a little down, just google “funny cat video” or “family blooper videos” and you’ll find thousands of videos that will make you laugh, and even feel better about yourself.
Joy is beautiful at every age. So smile, and laugh, and let the world know that no matter what happens to your body, your age does not define your beauty!
A good friend of mine, Sher recently said, “Well, we are in the afternoon of our lives. It’s time to take nurturing ourselves more seriously and laugh a whole lot more”. I couldn’t agree more.
