It began in a massive Ikea store in Spain.
My husband and I were travelling in Spain and that day, we’d decided to get out of the sun by going on a hunt for ‘useful things.’
It was a hot afternoon and I was struggling to navigate the size of the store, as well as the number of potential purchases.
I felt hot, sweaty and completely overwhelmed. My husband handed me a small kitchen knife and in a moment of anger, feeling at the end of my tether, I picked it up (luckily packaged) and threw it at him!!!!
While my husband remained totally unharmed, losing control in this way, came as a huge shock to me. I’d always been such a moderate person, I really struggled with the anger I felt in that moment!
It reminded me of my own mother who, every month or so, would have a big emotional blow up and angrily throw things.
In the middle of that Spanish Ikea, I was suddenly confronted by the enormity of my anger, was feeling triggered by childhood memories, whilst having the realisation: I’ve changed!
It was the first time I knew, for sure, I was menopausal. I was struggling with menopause - the problem was, I had no idea what to do!!! But I definitely knew I didn’t want to spend the next few years throwing cutlery at my husband, every time he wanted to go shopping.
When I got back to New Zealand I did some research.
I realised my angry outburst was brought on by a sudden drop in oestrogen that happens as we begin our menopause journey. I understood such a big hormonal change is a massive shock to our body and mind. No wonder I felt so overwhelmed and out of kilter that day!!!
Like many other women, I visited an integrative doctor and found relief from many of my symptoms by taking bio-identical hormones. But I soon grew tired of constant blood tests and the medicalisation of a very natural process.
After my holistic health practitioner training, my decision to take this medication didn’t sit well with me. I wanted to switch to managing my menopausal symptoms naturally.
Here's my top 5 tips to stop struggling with menopause and manage your symptoms naturally...
Shift your diet to low carb, high protein and good fats. Hormones are made from cholesterol and fat - so when you eat this way, you’ll see a decrease in your mood swings and an increase in your energy levels. Some people find they can reduce to two meals a day and still feel full and full of energy.
As part of your low carb approach, cut down on sugar. Sugar is a hormone disrupter - it spikes insulin production and leads to a roller coaster ride of energy highs and lows. Long term it will also lead to insulin resistance and weight gain. Insulin is closely related to all the other hormones. As soon as you reduce your sugar intake, you’ll feel calmer and have more even energy levels.
Find ways to reduce stress. High levels of stress make cortisol levels sky rocket - perpetuating hormonal imbalance. Over time, this can cause burn-out, fatigue and lower your thyroid function.
Yoga and meditation can be great tools to reduce stress and best of all - you only need to practice them for 10-15 minutes a day to notice significant changes.
Acupuncture can be effective in reducing stress, rebalancing hormones and bring our body back to a state of calmness and deep relaxation. Many women report that acupuncture makes them feel balanced and ‘whole’ again, especially during menopause.
When I switched from taking bio-identical hormones to managing my menopausal symptoms naturally:
I didn’t try to incorporate all these changes at once, I made one change at a time, over a few months.
I didn’t feel instant relief, but I noticed with each day I felt better than the day before.
I found changing my diet was the most challenging thing. For me, I found getting off sugar altogether (including wine and chocolate!) was easier than reducing my intake.
I found that repeating the same 15 min yoga and meditation practice everyday created a much bigger change, than attending one yoga class a week.
I noticed that taking my health into my own hands was very empowering and encouraged me to do more for myself.
It will take a few months to make the changes you need to manage your menopause symptoms naturally. But the benefits include feeling calmer, cooler and more in control of your life. As well as having a happier marriage because you’re not constantly angry while your husband desperately tries to hide the cutlery!!
Hey there, I'm Belinda
I'm the owner of Aroha acupuncture. I have a BHSc Acupuncture, plus Diplomas in Tuina Massage and Qigong & Taiji. I've studied many forms of acupuncture, including Japanese-style acupuncture. I love this style of acupuncture because it’s so gentle, yet so effective.
I'm passionate about all aspects of women’s health, especially women facing menopause and mid-life changes. I also love to help women through their pregnancy journey and preparation for birth. Find out more about Belinda