The Menopause — Time With You counselling

The average age to go through the menopause is 52, however the peri-menopause can often begin anytime from our early 40's lasting upto ten years, with side effects such as anxiety, poor sleep and memory, irratabilty and reduced concentration, loss of libido as well as the usual hot flushes.

Some will go through the menopause in their 30's or even younger, from having premature ovarian insufficency (POI). Some will be plunged into the menopause at any age from having their ovaries removed (surgical menopause) or from cancer treatment, resulting in a instant loss of fertility.

This can all be at a time when we are facing many other challenges with life, wanting to, or becoming a parent or grandparent, having our parents to look after, changes in our own health and work life stresses ramping up.  It can also bring up feelings from the past that we maybe have not fully processed.

The old thoughts of 'well you just have to get on with it' hopefully are becoming a thing of the past, and there has been a somewhat radical shift in how the menopause is seen, but there is still lots more to be done. Whether you want to, or can go the 'natural' route, want to have HRT, or have no choice in the matter, there is now help available if you can be heard.

The menopause happens to everyone assigned female at birth. It is an inevitable part of life of which there is no escape.

Some will experience very few symptoms, however, 3 out of 4 of those assigned female at birth will experience more severe symptoms, for  1 out of 4 people those symptoms will be debilitating.

It can leave us feeling like we are entering a terrain we are ill prepared for and which is little spoken about. There can still be a certain stigma around the menopause and female reproductive health, leaving us feeling isolated and having no-one to speak about our experiences with.

Indeed, for those going through or for those who are post menopausal, 59% say it has negatively effected their work life and 51% say it has had a detrimental effect on their sex life, which can lead to intimacy problems.

How can counselling help?

The pyschological and physical symptoms of the menopause can be exhausting and it can be hard to be heard, either by our GP'S, work places, family and friends. Thoughts of what will my body do next as it changes, weight gain, vaginal symptoms can for some, be embarrassing to speak about, especially to our partners, which can lead to relationship difficulties.

It can be a time of loss, a loss of who we once were, a loss of fertility and a sense of loss of sexuality. The menopause will impact us all differently, and for some it can be a rollercoaster of emotions and physical ups and downs.

Having someone to talk these feelings and emotions through, who is there to hear your experience from your own unique perspective, can be liberating. Someone who isn't there to compare their own experience but to hear yours and help you make sense of what is happening for you.

I can be that person, to work alongside you to process all that is going on for you, in the present moment or any feelings that may have come back for you from the past. I will deeply hear you, without any judgement and provide that compassionate space to give you the time you need to speak about anything you wish, whether that is pyschological or physical including sex.