Menopause – Not just a hot flush
About 5 years ago I became irritable, moody, negative, felt overwhelmed and was prone to crying for no reason, my periods were all over the place and I felt on edge all of the time and had a constant fear that I was drowning in the demands of life, at one point I said to my husband that I felt I was losing my mind.
The only thing I didn’t have was hot flushes – so yes, I do consider myself lucky!!!
It was a while before I visited my GP as I am a ‘coper’ however I realised this wasn’t something I could just cope with and as it interfered more and more with my day to day life I made an appointment with my GP. Once results were sent back menopause was confirmed although it was stressed to me that the tests were not conclusive and could change depending where I was in my usual cycle (but I didn’t have a usual cycle??)
Possible Treatments
HRT was offered, and we also discussed stress and lifestyle changes – at the time I was commuting 2-3 hours a day for work but had just found a new job very close to home that I was excited about. I decided that I would make some changes, more exercise, more relaxation, basically a little more time for me. This worked for about 12 months, but it wasn’t long before symptoms started creeping back in again with the addition of night sweats!!! (Just so not sexy).
After a particularly tearful and irrational episode at home I went back to my GP who confirmed that I was indeed menopausal. Feeling completely lost and not feeling like me at all I weighed up the pros and cons and decided HRT was probably right for me at that moment in time. I wish now I had known about Solution Focused Hypnotherapy!
Hormone Replacement Therapy is not for everyone. If you have a history of blood clots or untreated high blood pressure, then you can discuss with your medical practitioner what the best options may be for you. The NHS website has some very helpful information regarding the subject of HRT
How Solution Focussed Hypnotherapy Could Help
It is recognised that the menopause is not an illness and is very much more about your emotional wellbeing including your self-confidence, as you transition into a new chapter of your life. In the day of our parents there was huge stigma and embarrassment surrounding menopause however these days we are much more informed and speak openly about how we feel and our symptoms.
While medication can help some but not all symptoms Solution Focused Hypnotherapy has been found to relieve most day to day symptoms and help you feel in control again, it can be called upon mentally at any time of the day to get you through a difficult moment. I am very pleased to say that there is substantial research to back this up. In 2016 The International Menopause Society (IMS) produced new recommendations for the care of women’s health during menopause. In the section of the report for the application of non-pharmaceutical treatment during menopause they produced evidence stating that ‘meditation, relaxation and controlled breathing, CBT and mindfulness’ training showed promise in managing hot flushes, they also reported that hypnosis was shown to reduce the frequency of hot flushes and improved sleep quality.
There are many menopausal symptoms that Hypnotherapy can assist with:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Low mood
- Depression
- Headaches/Migraines
- Low libido
- Stress
- Hot flushes
- Feeling out of control and helpless
- Frustration and Anger
Using deep relaxation and positive visualisation Hypnotherapy can help you use your powerful imagination to take back control of your body and mind.
2 years on and I am in a much better place mentally and physically. By practising the techniques I use on my clients and listening to my colleagues’ relaxation download my menopause symptoms are practically non-existent. I am also aware of triggers such as caffeine, stress and alcohol and have made a concerted effort to reduce all three!! I run (not far) 2 – 3 times a week and there is always ice in the freezer for my iced water!
My work in Hypnotherapy has brought me huge peace of mind, less daily stress and a complete sense of positivity and while I do still have the occasional night sweats my overall mental wellbeing has improved 100%.
Contact Us Today
If you would like more information about how Hypnotherapy can help you whether it be with your menopause symptoms or another issue that is troubling you, please contact me to book in for a free Initial Consultation.
Caron Iley
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Solution Focused Practitioner
Havisham Hypnotherapy
T: 07580 041394
E:to:ci@havishamhypnotherapy.co.uk”> ci@havishamhypnotherapy.co.uk