Riana asks: Everyone tells me to prioritize my mental health which I seem to be able to manage when I'm feeling well ... but when the overwhelm, anxiety, and dark clouds set in, I feel doomed. Any recommendations?
My reply: You are not alone.
I feel this, and I feel my own “mental health pendulum” has been swaying back and forth for years. It's never a box I can check, but rather, always a work-in-progress.
My first recommendation is to join me on Wednesday (or sign up for the replay) as we are, for the first time, inviting a MD Psychiatrist to Menopause Chicks! Tap here for full details. Dr. Ariel Dalfen, of BetterBria.com, will be explaining & sharing insights on anxiety, anger and mood changes.
Additional ideas/suggestions for navigating new or a reoccurring onset of mood changes, anxious or depressed feelings include:
Remember: you are not alone. And, that you {truly!} deserve to feel amazing…even if your current journey is taking you through a place that is “not yet amazing;" these reminders can help to keep leaning into curiosity (and leaning away from doom.)
ASK for HELP! Your mental health IS health, and we are not meant to somehow magically “solve” or navigate this journey by ourselves.
Take a look at the “pyramid” on page 25 (posted below) for clues and insights. Start at the top and work your way down; get curious about the possible root causes to any shifts in your mental wellbeing and then possible solutions. This is a great way to prepare for an upcoming health conversation--be it your family doctor, a counsellor or other practitioner.
How would you rate how you are fueling your body: with food? with movement? with sleep?
How might stress (cortisol) be playing a role in your overwhelm and recent changes in your mental health? Do you have a regular practice for stress reduction, such as exercise, walking in nature, mindfulness exercises
Are you missing anything nutritionally? Often I meet other members, like you, in perimenopause, who are iron deficient or who really benefit from magnesium (two common examples; best to discuss this with your health team to determine the best nutrition solutions for you.)
Is there anything else going on with your life/health that is influencing your mental wellbeing--grief and relationship stress are common, and so are other un-diagnosed conditions, like thyroid issues.
And then being really aware of the roles & responsibilities of our hormones is key! Progesterone, for example, is the hormone produced in the second half of our cycle when cycles are regular--and it is responsible for many things--INCLUDING regulating our periods, our sleep and our mood!
Because you are in your mid-40s, you might be at a place where you are just noticing and paying attention to this potential hormone shift. OR, you could be at a place where you are motivated to have an investigative conversation with your health team about what options are available to you. (I encourage the latter so you can be prepared, understand all of your available options and you can ask questions about how to choose the journey that is best for you!)
Speaking of asking questions…if you have any, reply to this email or join me in The Nest 🪺 today for our ASK ANYTHING session at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET!
p.s. Reminder to add your name to this list (TAP HERE) for this important conversation!
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