Understanding Menopause: A Natural Transition
Menopause can feel like a big and sometimes overwhelming word. At its core, it simply marks the time when your periods stop and you can no longer become pregnant naturally. While it’s a normal stage of life, menopause can bring a wide range of changes that affect both your body and your mind.
What Is Perimenopause?
Before reaching menopause, many women go through a phase called perimenopause. This typically begins in your 40s sometimes even earlier and is marked by fluctuating hormone levels, especially oestrogen and progesterone.
These hormonal changes can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Hot flushes
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating or memory lapses
Although perimenopause and menopause are not illnesses, the symptoms can feel intense and sometimes overwhelming. Recognising that these experiences are normal can bring relief and reassurance.
Why Talk About Menopause in Counselling?
Because menopause isn’t just physical , it deeply affects mental and emotional wellbeing.
Many women report:
- Anxiety and low mood
- Loss of confidence
- Feeling disconnected or “not quite yourself”
- Fear of developing a new mental health issue
In most cases, these emotional changes are part of the menopausal transition, not a separate mental illness. Understanding this can be empowering. You are not alone, many women experience the same emotional challenges, and there is support available.
The Wide Range of Menopausal Symptoms
Menopause affects each woman differently. Beyond the well-known hot flushes, symptoms can include:
- Sleep difficulties and night sweats
- Changes in sex drive and vaginal dryness
- Fatigue, joint pain, and muscle aches
- Panic attacks, mood swings, or anxiety
- Brain fog, forgetfulness, or poor concentration
- Hair thinning, dry skin, or breakouts
- Weight fluctuations, bloating, or digestive issues
- Relationship strain or loss of self-confidence
- Feeling unsafe driving or managing tasks you once handled with ease
- Late-diagnosed neurodivergence, such as autism or ADHD, becoming more noticeable
This list isn’t meant to alarm you. It’s here to validate your experience and help you understand that these symptoms are real and often connected to this life stage.
Breaking the Silence Around Menopause
For too long, menopause has been a taboo topic something women were expected to deal with quietly. That silence has held many back from seeking support or even recognising what’s happening.
It’s time to change that.
By talking openly about menopause, we give ourselves and others permission to seek help, share experiences, and feel less alone. Whether with friends, partners, or colleagues, starting the conversation can be incredibly freeing. You might be surprised how many people are going through the same thing, just waiting for someone to speak up.
How Counselling Can Help You Navigate Menopause
At Donna Morgan Counselling, we offer a compassionate, confidential space to explore how menopause is affecting your life emotionally, mentally, and relationally.
Counselling can help you:
- Understand and normalise your experiences
- Manage anxiety, low mood, or panic attacks
- Rebuild self-confidence and self-esteem
- Explore relationship or identity shifts
- Develop coping strategies tailored to your needs
- Prioritise self-care and emotional resilience
Menopause is not the end of something , it’s the beginning of a new chapter. With the right support, you can approach it with strength, awareness, and self-compassion.
A Final Word
If you’re finding this stage of life difficult, know that you don’t have to go through it alone. Whether you’re in perimenopause or menopause, your feelings are valid, and support is available.
👉 Contact Donna Morgan Counselling today to schedule a confidential consultation. Together, we can help you navigate menopause with clarity, confidence, and care.
