My approach to the big M

I promise, this will be the last post on this subject for a while. But because I mention it throughout my posts, and it’s just a reality in my life at the moment, I want to devote one post to my mindset towards menopause. And then I’ll start writing about fucking again. Promise.

I’m trying to be like my mother and just deal with the shit. It’s something that happens to all women. I remember her talking about her sister-in-law, who spoke frequently and clinically about her symptoms. Every one in detail, ad nauseum. My mother was having none of this moaning and bitching. Why did my aunt think we were all interested in every little change in her body? Everyone gets more forgetful. Everyone has good days and bad days. The brain just slows down with age. And that’s not just menopause-related – it happens to men too. Sometimes you just have to shut it and get on with life. My mother figured if you didn’t make it a big deal, it wouldn’t become a big deal.

It’s like the time I was standing in front of the 3-way mirror staring at my hair, tweezers in hand, looking aghast at endless silver strands. “Look at all of them! What am I going to do?” I wailed at her. My mother said, “Stop staring at them and put the tweezers down. Just don’t look at it anymore.” Then she walked off shaking her head. That’s my mother.

I know women who have opted for synthetic hormones to get through it, including my aunt. And if that works for you, then go for it. But that’s not my style. I’d rather avoid putting more chemicals in my body than I’m already getting from living in a urban area. I use all-natural deodorants. I tried different all-natural toothpastes and a whole foods cleanse. I like going to spas to detox. And moreover, my body isn’t meant to have the same levels of estrogen now as it did years ago. It’s supposed to drop. That’s just called physical aging and I’m not inclined to step in the way of nature and my body doing it’s thing because I don’t like the pain and inconvenience. I’m trying to embrace the new phase of my life.

Personally, I dislike the mental impact the most. I hate the fact that my mental acuity is on the decline. I think I’m dealing better with the physical signs – the hot flashes/night sweats, sagging skin and droopy flesh. But talk to me in a few months and I might be saying the opposite. Because, well … I forgot what I said now.