Common Sense Medicine
Ways to support yourself in perimenopause
Menopause can affect people in different ways. Some women have few symptoms, while others experience:
Hot flashes
Fatigue and Brain Fog
Sleep disruption, such as frequent waking or insomnia
Mood instability
Dryness
Researching ways to support yourself can be overwhelming, with so many available. The question is, which approach (or combination of approaches) is right for you?
Some basic considerations include:
Lifestyle: What is your stress level like? How is your life arranged? This may be a time in your life where your interests, needs, and focus are changing. Just see this without judgment, and let yourself be open to exploring new activities and relationships.
Diet: What you want to eat, and how much you need, may change during this time. Again, stay flexible—eat a wide variety of whole foods that feel nurturing for you and that leave you feeling energized.
Caregiving: Many women are tending to partners, kids, and elderly parents at this time in their lives. You can best support others if you first support yourself. Bringing self-care into each day can help you cultivate more balanced and harmonious relationships with yourself and those around you. Self-Breema and the Nine Principles of Harmony offer direct support for you to be present in all your interactions.
Hormones: Whether or not to take hormones is a common question, and recommendations change as the trends change. There are reasons women may wish to try hormone replacement, and other compelling reasons to try non-hormonal methods—such as herbs, supplements, or diet and lifestyle changes—first.
Herbs and supplements—Two popular herbs right now are siberian rhubarb and maca root. I have seen both effective, with minimal side effects, for symptoms including night sweats, hot flashes and brain fog.
Menopause is a natural process. There are simple, non-toxic, and effective ways of supporting your body as it changes.
How can you decide what is right for you, and stay balanced while exploring your options?
Breema Perspective
Breema is a dynamic modality that includes bodywork, self-care movement exercises, and Nine Principles of Harmony. It is a practice of being present in daily life. Breema helps you develop skills to be present in different settings and different life circumstances, which can support you through whatever life brings!
Life transitions can offer new challenges, but also a new perspective.
You may recognize that you can be supported by the health professionals you trust, the food you eat, and the time you spend in places and around people that have a balancing effect on you. Even the condition that you are experiencing right now supports you, because it has inspired you to search for more balance in your life.
Alexandra Johnson, MD practices integrative, functional family medicine and Breema bodywork. She finds this approach invaluable for supporting mental, physical and emotional health. She has clinic locations and teaches workshops in Santa Cruz and Oakland and internationally.
Upcoming Events:
Perimenopause Retreat: Sat, May 23, 10am–5pm, Hummingbird Valley
Santa Cruz. Tuition $150 (includes lunch)
Connecting to Life – Bodywork, Exercises and Principles for Daily Life: Sat, May 23, 10am-1pm, Hummingbird Valley Santa Cruz.
Bringing Harmony to Life – Breema Bodywork: Tue, June 2, 7-8:30 pm, The Breema Center 6076 Claremont Ave., Oakland
Germany
Intensive in Buehl: Wed, May 13-Sun, May 17, Seminarhaus Waldmatt in Bühl