3 Keys to Dealing with Peri-Menopause

There is so much mis-information out there about what happens to a woman's body as she enters the new phase in her life known as peri-menopause (PM) and eventually menopause (MP). I remember when I turned 40 I received a book called Menopaws as a gag gift. I was so hurt and insulted that I never even opened up the book. Now, 12 years later and having gone without my period for 8 months most physicians will tell you I'm officially in menopause.

I wish I still had that book because I could use a few laughs about what has transpired over the past 12 years as I made the transition into menopause.

Luckily for me my partner, Chris Kahl, is an R.N. and an expert in women's health. She has been an R.N. for over 25 years. In addition, she is well trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbology and various other natural approaches and let me tell you that all these perspectives are important. It is having a well-trained and well educated healthcare practitioner that will make getting through this long and sometimes challenging life change easier.

Here are my three keys for dealing with peri-menopause:

Key #1: It's your body. If you are in touch with what's "normal" for you then you'll know when it's time to consult a healthcare professional if you are experiencing something out of your range of normal. Listen to your body. Notice what's different and DO stay calm. One thing is for sure, when going through peri-menopause, many bodily issues that seemed normal in the past may suddenly become “abnormal.” Stay calm.

Key #2: Educate yourself just enough to understand that you are not going crazy. There is an old saying “you have just enough knowledge to make yourself dangerous.” Learning about your body is important. Going to the Internet to self-diagnose and self-treat is dangerous. I’m pretty knowledgeable about my body, but I’m not objective and I’m not an expert in vitamins, over the counter supplements and herbs. That advice needs to come from an expert who can evaluate your individual physiology and needs.

Key #3: Find a superb practitioner who listens to you, encourages you to listen to your body, understands traditional allopathic medicine and can give you natural options to good health. There is a time and place for the benefits of traditional allopathic medicine and yet this option can be very limiting (often confined to synthetic hormone replacement therapy) or nothing at all. Explore other healthcare practitioners. Acupuncturists are considered primary care physicians and can often treat peri-menopausal issues successfully, however most of them are not trained to understand traditional allopathic medicine so you may have to find an open minded allopathic physician to work with you if you choose this path.

• Ask for referrals to a healthcare provider from friends, neighbors or co-workers who have experienced what you are going through.
• Do NOT think that what works for your friend is what you should go out and buy from the local health food store. Everyone’s physiology is different and you should be treated as an individual.
• Self-treating can often be a waste of money and time and in some cases lead to dire results.
• Invest in your health and you’ll reap the rewards

Julie Hawkins is a co-founder of NewLogic Solutions Alternative Health & Wellness, www.newlogicsolutions.com. She is a Certified NLP Trainer and Coach; Creator of Energy Grid™ Healing, a rapid, multidimentional painless approach to clearing disempowering emotions and beliefs; Huna Alakai`i, teacher of ancient Hawaiian spiritual practices for the modern mystic. Julie is known as The Breakthrough Mentor.