'I just don't feel like myself anymore': A peri-menopause journey

My peri-menopause journey started on New Years Day in 2022.

Lots of women leaders are also experiencing this phase of their life and hot damn it can be a ride.

One of the key senses I got, and have since heard others get too, is: 'I just don't feel like myself anymore'. Physical symptoms, lacking confidence, feeling full body rage with no real reason why, anxiety out of no where and the odd memory glitch thrown in for good measure - it's a huge phase in someone's life. With very little research until now, the path has been unclear on where to go, what to do and how to navigate this period of your life.

I've been on this journey for the last 2 years and many women I meet and many of my clients are in this phase of their life knowingly or unknowingly.

To help raise awareness with women, with people who have women in their teams and their lives, I've written a blog to share my experience (which includes 45 out of the 65 symptoms and how I experienced them), what I did about it all and the journey since HRT. Perhaps it might help someone like you, or someone you know.

You can access it here: www.jennischanschieff.com/blog/peri-menopause-journey

The best thing I've listened to recently on the subject is the DOAC podcast with Dr Lisa Mosconi who is a neuroscientist - her research studies peri-menopausal and menopausal women's brains.

My takeaways from this were:

?? Peri-menopause is a brain condition, but the professionals that prescribe and diagnose are not trained in the brain (e.g. Gynaecologist)

?? Black and brown people suffer more greatly with peri-menopause and professionals don't know why because…..it's never been studied (this was like wow WTF and I hope that more is done asap).?

?? Menopause that is surgically induced (e.g. Cancer patients) also affects trans people who have had a hysterectomy to transition, which can be as a teen in some cases.

?? When the media originally reported that HRT was dangerous and increased risk of breast cancer, they didn't tell the whole story in that the group of people being given HRT in this study were 70-80 year olds, which yes, HRT is not beneficial then. Now the research shows the risk is minimal.

?? Get rid of as much plastic in your kitchen and toxins from your home, skin, beauty.

?? Eat legumes.

?? What women have been saying for YEARS is now backed up by science. Trust women.

Through body-oriented coaching with me, women can be supported in navigating this time of their life to remember who they were before the 'I just don't feel like myself anymore' phase. To restore lost confidence, regulate their nervous system so that they feel calmer and work on their self belief, self worth and resilience so that they feel happier and more positive overall.

To explore how Executive Somatic Coaching could support you or someone in your team - drop me a DM.

Jen

PS, the link to the blog is here: https://www.jennischanschieff.com/blog/peri-menopause-journey