Menopause Guide Podcast, with RhondaNP

Ever wonder what is going on with these crazy things called “Hot Flashes”?  Do you want to learn how you can make things better through natural solutions?  We knew it!  That’s why we created our new FREE mini course all about hot flashes.

Do you get hot flashes? Do they kind of freak you out or make you feel uncomfortable because you’re not quite sure how to make them better?  You are not alone.

Hot flashes are the number one symptom associated with menopause.  The biology of a hot flash is only one side of the equation. Psychological pieces come into play too.  For instance, they can be unpredictable and embarrassing.  Ever get a hot flash during an important meeting or at the most inappropriate time?  The pits!

Although there are a lot of hilarious comics floating around social media, there is a serious side too.  Hot flash symptoms left unchecked may cause significant issues with sleep, concentration and self esteem.

Wait.  What?

How many times a day do you find yourself searching for the right word to complete a thought? Or maybe, your ability to multitask like you use to is just a little out of reach.

What is going on?  Another perimenopause and menopause symptom?

Sorry to be the bearer of challenging news, but yes, brain fog is a real thing.  And, it is a scary and unnerving, especially if you are a GSD type of gal.  You know the, “get sh*t done” type.  Somehow, this brain fog thing is interrupting your usual flow.  And, man, is it annoying!

In this week’s podcast, we look at brain fog, why it happens and some ways to help.

Here’s a sneak peek:

How satisfied are you with your current job or career choice?  Do you love what you are doing as well as your company and your co-workers? Or, do you look around each day during work hours and think, “What, am I still doing here if I am so unhappy?”  Menopause is an ideal time to stop and evaluate these topics.

Many of my patients tell me of their dissatisfaction with their work.  Some have grown to a place of silent suffering (or maybe not so silent), stress, sadness or downright dread as it relates to their employment.

At menopause (around your early 50s) more than likely you may plan to work for at least 10 to 15 more years.  So, why be miserable?  We give you permission to explore this topic a little deeper.  Will changing things up a bit be a new direction to consider?

Menopause is a time of explosive creativity.  You may be unfamiliar with this concept, but it is true.  Many of my patients express their interest or passion in a whole host of areas during menopause.  These things can range from a new hobby, like painting, or even learning a new language.  This creativity can also be expressed  by starting a business or perhaps volunteering for the first time for a non-profit whose mission resonates with you.

A multi-faceted topic, we look at these areas related to career change consideration in this podcast:

You’ll never know until you try!  🙂

Really? Never?

Of course not!  However, due to the hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause many familiar things change. It’s nothing your momma ever told you about and certainly nothing you expect.

Sexual health and the challenges related to this topic can be one of the most bothersome and discouraging of all of our perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

There may be pain involved (vaginal dryness).  There’s emotion wrapped up inside of this whole thing too.  You may feel as if you’re losing something that has been a part of your life and your relationship with your spouse or partner. Loss of libido is a common symptom during this time. You don’t know what to think, how to articulate your feelings or frankly, what to do next to make it better.

Sleep is a precious thing women chase during perimenopause and menopause.  On many nights we just can’t catch it!

Between the hot flashes, night sweats, and “mind chatter”, many times, the restful and restorative sleep that your body requires is elusive. Let’s not sugarcoat it here, it is a huge problem for women during this time in our lives!

Perimenopause and menopause pose one of the greatest challenges in a woman’s lifetime.  Hormonal shifts throw almost every system in your body new and changing dynamics.  These changes, in turn, trigger new biological scenarios which may lead to insomnia.

In this episode, we discuss insomnia during menopause and other related topics.

Plus many other useful tidbits…

For additional background and information on perimenopause and menopause, we recommend you check out these podcasts:

Episode 001 – Menopause 101, The Big Picture (FREE RESOURCE AVAILABLE)

One of “Rhonda’s Favorites” for her patients to support healthy cortisol levels.

Cortisol Pro – The Stress Hormone Stabilizer

Cortisol Pro has been formulated with stress-reducing ingredients and botanicals to promote relaxation, help alleviate fatigue, and support healthy cortisol levels.* By balancing cortisol levels, Cortisol Pro can help reduce stress, which supports a restful nights sleep without diminishing daytime alertness.* Cortisol Pro is formulated with:

These two concepts are not something you think of together, but you should.  If you consider some of the most important ways to balance your perimenopause and menopause experience, exercise should be close to the top of your list.

If you don’t exercise at all you need to start.  If you tend to over-exercise, (yes it is a real thing!), you need to rethink your approach.

The number one reason exercise during menopause should be on your “get it done” list is because it helps balance out your hormones.  Another added bonus? Exercise lowers insulin levels.   Why is this fact important?  Insulin plays a significant role during menopause as it works to compensate for diminishing estrogen levels.

So, then, what type of exercise is best for menopause?  How much?  How often?

Don’t worry, we break it all down in this week’s episode.  Here’s a little preview:

…and more

Article mentioned in this episode:

New York Times – The Value of Exercise 

Wan’t to read this week’s episode instead?  Download the transcript here.

Do you know the difference between a fun-filled, exciting and satisfying day and a downright crappy one?

Is it the juicy projects you tackle at work, the idiosyncrasies of a co-worker or the unexpected visit from a friend that make or break your day? Well, it’s not the series of events, people or circumstances you experience within a 24-hour time period that dictate how your day turns out.  It’s your mindset.

What makes up mindset anyway?  Is it upbringing, attitude, natural disposition or maybe a combination of these things?  Perhaps, it’s a new way to look at something, a paradigm shift in your current thinking or a swift kick in the butt that shakes your viewpoint to try on new perspective.

Menopause is the perfect time to develop a shiny new mindset.

This mindset is full of possibility, not pity.  It is open to opportunity and does not fall into the ditch of depression.  It is empowered and does not embrace the victim perspective that society seems to push on us through marketing and aging stereotypes.

The best part is that mindset is yours.  You get to shape it through choice.  You choose which way to go.  Will you select the direction of bitter and negative or optimistic and energized about this natural transition in your life?

Of course, for some, this positive mindset might be unthinkable in the midst of new and challenging symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings, sexual dysfunction and foggy brain.  Let’s face it…this menopause stuff can be rough.

…plus more

Prefer to read this episode instead?  Click here to download the transcript of this week’s episode.

One minute you feel so cranky that you want to rip your poor innocent husband’s head off and the next minute you start to cry for no apparent reason.  Your co-workers and your kids (or maybe both) drive you nuts.  It feels like anything and everything brings a new round of tears.  What’s going on?

As part of the menopause experience you’re complex neurotransmitters, your mood regulators, get a real workout.  Neurotransmitters are complex chemical messengers that coordinate communications between neurons, which in turn affect every cell, tissue, and system in your body.

It would be difficult to overstate the complexity of your vast network of specialized cells that make up your nervous system.  The average human brain houses over 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) with each connected to 10,000 or so other cells.

If you do the math, that equals about 1000 trillion connections in your brain!  No wonder during perimenopause and menopause things can go a little sideways when your hormones surge.   Mood, appetite and sleep are just a few of the functions regulated by neurotransmitters.

Ready to start to get a handle on some of this stuff?  Learn about what’s going on with your brain chemistry and more in this week’s episode.

…plus more

Prefer to read this episode instead?  Click here to download the transcript of this week’s episode.

Do this breathing exercise multiple times a day to relieve stress.  You can be seated in a comfortable position or standing.  

There are stages of menopause, do you know what they are? Menopause is a natural transition in a women’s life. As such, there is a beginning, middle and end goal.  However, because you are unique, your menopause experience will be too.  Based on many factors like genetics, stress, and lifestyle, just to name a few, your journey will be different from your mom’s, sister or best friend.

…plus more

Prefer to read this episode instead?  Click here to download the transcript of this week’s episode.