What’s the Secret to Good Relationships through Menopause?

February is Healthy Relationships Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the vital role that positive connections play in our lives. Whether with partners, family, friends, colleagues, or even ourselves, nurturing strong, healthy relationships leads to greater emotional wellbeing and overall happiness.

Menopaue can have a profound effect on our relationships. This natural stage, while often overlooked, can introduce physical, emotional, and psychological changes that impact the way we interact with those around us - and the way we see ourselves. This month let’s explore how menopause affects our relationships and how we can foster more supportive and greater understanding during this time.

How does Menopause impact our Relationships?

?? With our Partners: Hormonal fluctuations can affect our mood, how we sleep, how sexy we feel, and how much energy we have, which can sometimes lead to miscommunication, frustration, or emotional distance between us and our partners. Very often our partner may be unaware of how menopause is making us feel and might misconstrue our words or actions, thinking that maybe we aren’t as in love with them as we used to be. Opening up about menopause is key but isn’t easy. We need to have more open and honest conversations with our partners about what we’re feeling. We both need to be patient and try to build mutual understanding – these are key to maintaining intimacy and closeness.

???? With Children and Family: Menopause can bring increased stress and emotional sensitivity, making interactions with all of our loved ones feel more challenging. Setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and explaining what we’re experiencing can help loved ones support us better.

?? With Friends: Some of us may feel withdrawn or self-conscious about the changes we’re experiencing. However, reaching out and sharing with friends can provide comfort and reassurance - many are going through similar challenges and will be able to share their experience helping us all to feel less alone.

?? With Colleagues: Hot flushes, brain fog, fatigue, and mood swings can make things more difficult at work – I struggled with mood swings that were exacerbated by my lack of sleep which made it really tough for my work colleagues as my behaviour became somewhat unpredictable. A supportive work culture where menopause is acknowledged and understood can help maintain positive professional relationships. Workplace misunderstandings can lead to increased conflict, stress, and reduced productivity.

Top Tips for Strengthening Relationships During Menopause

Whilst relationships might feel strained during menopause, or we may not understand what is happening or even realise that menopause is affecting our relationships with those around us, there are some things we can do that will help to bring our relationships back onto an even keel.

?? Communicate Openly – Whether with our partners, families, friends, or colleagues, clear and honest communication helps others understand what we’re going through and how they can support us. But remember we shouldn’t use menopause as an excuse for behaving badly towards those around us! If we need to say sorry, then we should go ahead and do it but at the same time talk about what we may need to differently and what those around us can do to help.

?? Prioritize Self-Care – A strong relationship with ourselves is the foundation for healthy connections with others – remember you have to love yourself before you can love others! Exercise, rest, drinking enough water, and mindfulness can help ease our symptoms and improve our emotional resilience. Try to change your internal dialogue to one that is more supportive and positive – it’ll help us to feel more compassionate.

?? Educate and Get Support – Understanding menopause yourself and sharing that knowledge with loved ones fosters empathy and reduces stigma. Consider joining a support group or talking to a professional if needed. Menopause Cafes or Staff Networks can be invaluable in providing a safe space for you to talk about your experiences and feel less alone.

?? Set Healthy Boundaries – If certain environments or expectations feel overwhelming, it’s okay to say no and prioritise your wellbeing. Setting boundaries around your “me time” is important to ensure that you eat well, get downtime and a good night’s sleep.

?? Stay Connected – Even when you don’t feel like it, staying engaged with friends and family can be incredibly uplifting. A simple check-in or quality time with a trusted person can do wonders. I find this really helps me to feel better and gives me a space to talk through what’s bothering me. My friend always gives me an objective view of what’s happening and some great advice to make things better, plus we get to share a coffee in our favourite coffee shop!

How can you support Better Relationships at Work?

?? For Staff: ? Practice empathy - colleagues may be experiencing physical and emotional challenges. ? Communicate openly and offer support rather than assumptions. ? Recognize that menopause symptoms, like forgetfulness or fatigue, are not a reflection of competency.

??For Managers:? Provide flexible working arrangements where possible to accommodate symptoms.? Educate teams about menopause to reduce stigma and promote awareness.? Encourage an open-door policy so employees feel safe discussing workplace challenges related to menopause.

? Implement policies that support employee well-being, such as access to wellness programs or quiet spaces for relaxation.

By fostering a culture of understanding and support, workplaces can reduce conflict, improve team dynamics, and ensure all employees feel valued.

Final Thoughts

Menopause is not just a phase - it’s a transformation. By embracing the changes with understanding, patience, and self-compassion, we can maintain strong, healthy relationships and build a deeper connection with ourselves.

As we celebrate Healthy Relationships Awareness Month, let’s remind ourselves that relationships thrive when we invest in communication, empathy, and self-care. ??

For More Help

Menopause Cafés – if you’re Kent based then look up the many Menopause Cafes that are held locally. There are two established ones in the Medway Towns and Maidstone plus another being planned for Eastern Maidstone and surrounding areas. These are informal gatherings where you can talk to others about your symptoms and get some great support. Menopause Cafes help you to build your social network which we know is important at this point in our lives. ?

To learn more about Menopause Cafes in other areas that are hosted by the Menopause Café Charity go to https://www.menopausecafe.net/events-calendar/

For information on Menopause Café Medway Towns join our private Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1856006858175965

For more support on menopause wellbeingjoin our private Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2795782627318675