WomenSpeak

It occurs to me that AOL might yank this entry, but there's no reason to.  This is a fact of life - something that in my Mom's day was not spoken, and perhaps should not be spoken here, but - what the heck.  We're all progressive women, and if television can sell spots for tampons and pads, we can blog about it.

Two weeks ago, I was surfing the web for insight into a new problem.  I had spent the day hoping I wouldn't embarrass myself in public, and wanted a solution.  What I found was a forum for women that discussed menopause - not a lot of help, because all they basically did was list their symptoms.  A few of the posts went something like:  I don't know what's happening to me!"  Well, yes you do...but like me and thousands of other women, you don't understand how to cope with it.  I read horror stories by the dozens, then decided to add my own, stating I was afraid to sit down, stand up, lay down, cross my legs or cough, lest the need to change clothes should arise, added something about beach towels and used Times New Roman to voice my dissatisfaction with Eve for eating that damned apple.

And THEN, a week later, I was watching Oprah.  That is something I seldom do, but her guest was Dr. Christiane Northrup, and she had written a book called "The Wisdom of Menopause."

"It's MINE!" I shouted at the television screen.  I hopped on the computer, found it for 99 cents on ebay and got the winning bid.  It finally arrived yesterday, and it is a treasure for any woman approaching this crossroads in her life.  I could identify with what Dr. Northrup in her book - the irritability, depression, flooding, and memories popping up out of nowhere.  I learned that they are unresolved issues.  According to Dr. Northrup, issues we put aside in our child-bearing years come to the foreground during perimenopause.  Interesting.

I haven't finished reading it yet.  I skipped a few chapters to read the chapter on supplements, diet and exercise.  It was informative.  And I believe I will take her advice and make a doctor's appointment. 

So...I'm no longer worried about the stereotype of the insane menopausal woman, but I will admit that at first, I felt like I was becoming a has-been, unattractive.  It doesn't have to be that way, thank heavens. This is a time in a woman's life when she can focus on and nurture herself.  That's not such a bad thing.  I'm looking forward to the day I can walk into a room and own it - without having to rush home and change clothes.