Most women go through life with the knowledge that they’ll experience menopause at some point in their middle-age years. However, even with this knowledge, menopause is still a challenging transition for many women.
Some of the most famous symptoms are hot flashes and mood swings which make coping with everyday life frustrating. So, if you’re searching for some sort of guidance during this time, then look no further. Here are three smart coping mechanisms to keep in your back pocket as you navigate this transition.
1. Surround yourself with a support system.
One of the biggest challenges with menopause is that other people in your immediate family likely aren’t going through the same transition as you. Plus, for some reason, some people treat talking about menopause as taboo, when in reality most women have gone through it at some point in their lives too. Always remember that there’s no reason to feel ashamed when you’re dealing with symptom management.
So, having a safe community that understands what you’re going through it might help you navigate this uncharted territory. Use available resources like this perimenopause quiz to help you understand where you’re at in your menopausal journey based on the menopause symptoms that you’re experiencing. Plus, with this quiz from MenoLabs, you’ll also be able to search their site to utilize their community of women and their products too.
2. Consider taking supplements.
As anyone gets older, it’s common for collagen levels to drop. To be specific, collagen levels drop one percent every year after age 25. Unfortunately, it decreases even more for women after they lose their menstrual cycle and head into perimenopause. By the time many women reach menopause, collagen levels are likely even lower. Now with all of this in mind, you might be wondering why collagen is important anyways?
To put it bluntly, collagen is important for your tendons, joints, cartilage, ligaments, other connective tissues, and hormone levels. Plus, low collagen adds to wrinkles and sagging skin which most want to avoid if possible. In addition to these important factors, collagen peptides may also help your hair follicle health too. To help manage your collagen levels consider adding a scoop of this collagen protein powder to your smoothie or morning coffee. In turn, you’ll have a beverage that’s abundant in protein and has the power of collagen that’s great for the human body as it undergoes this transition. As with any new health products, make sure to consult with your physician before ingesting.
3. Find ways to relieve stress.
Coping with menopause is stressful. The process leaves many women with irregular periods, hot flashes, irritability, headaches, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. With all of these symptoms, it can feel difficult to manage fitting in any type of activity. However, exercise is a great way to cope with stress during this time. Exercise won’t automatically fix your menopausal symptoms, but it will promote a better quality of life that allows you to handle the stress and symptoms as they come.
When searching for the right kind of exercise, just remember that any activity is a great first step towards feeling better mentally. If you love to partake in cardio, then set a walking or jogging schedule. On the other hand, maybe you’d enjoy strength training that challenges your muscles differently. Or, if you’re wanting something a little more relaxing and meditative consider joining a yoga session to zen out and still get that much-needed workout in. Regardless of what type of activity you decide to join, this is a smart step towards achieving personal health goals and dealing with the stresses of your transition.
