Putting the Pause in Menopause 

By Dr. Julianne Arena

Waves of Awakening

. https://www.cliovana.com/practitioner/dr-julianne-arena-waves-of-awakening/

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Putting the Pause in Menopause 

Five Things You Can Do to Lose the Menopause Brain Fog!

National Menopause Day is just around the corner – and this one is important. Every woman will go through menopause, and it’s usually no picnic.  If you are on the menopause journey, at some point, you may feel like you have “lost your mojo” and more. The changes in body and mind can affect the spirit too. But fear not – you CAN take action to reverse these effects!

Let’s focus on “Cognition and Mood” -this year’s National Menopause Day theme. The mind is powerfully affected by what the body is physically going through, and menopause is no exception. There is a neurological change that happens. In addition to general forgetfulness, you may find yourself “searching for words”; menopause can cause delayed verbal memory too. For some women, the neurological changes occurring around this time can trigger depression and anxiety.  The great news is there are things you can do to get through the peri, post, and menopausal years without losing your mind! 

Fight menopause brain fog and improve your mood with five simple steps:

1. Protect the Heart – You may be surprised to learn how connected your heart and mind are. As progesterone and estrogen levels decrease with menopause, cholesterol levels can increase, upping the chances of heart disease.  Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of mental deterioration due to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Focus on small but mighty steps to being heart-healthy, like moderate exercise (starting with just a 10-minute walk a day), ditching bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking, and upping your healthy foods are great places to start.

2. Stay Active – You already know that exercise may improve your mood, but it can also be highly beneficial for your brain. Exercise increases your neurotransmitters which pump up your endorphins – the feel-good chemicals that boost your mood. For extra endorphin boosting, invite a friend to walk with you. The friendship connection is powerful for endorphin levels too. Studies show that regular exercise changes the brain, not just cognition but also memory. (Oh, and added plus, regular exercise also boosts the libido.) Stay sharp, ladies!

3. Establish a Sleep Routine – Hormones and hot flashes significantly impact sleep. And we don’t have to tell you, but less sleep = a bad mood, especially as we age. Good sleep is also one of the primary factors for overall good health, and studies show that varied sleep schedules worsen women’s cognition skills. It’s all about routine and sticking with it. We’ve probably all heard the basics of developing a sleep schedule: setting a consistent bedtime, limiting alcohol, putting the screens away well before bed, and so on. Try finding a mantra you can say in the middle of the night to get yourself asleep quickly and shut down the nighttime worrying. Remember how we were told to “count sheep” when we were little? There is something to that. Figure out a way to keep your mind busy and the worries away, you aren’t going to solve any problems in the middle of the night, and everything looks brighter in the morning anyway! Putting sleep as a top health priority will pay off in many ways.

4. Get your Mojo Back – Your estrogen and testosterone dip following menopause, leading to changes in sexual drive. In addition, less estrogen means less blood flow to the vagina, more dryness, and painful intercourse. Also, mood disorders and depression can cause low self-esteem, physical fatigue, lowered libido, and Anorgasmia, or trouble having an orgasm. Cliovana can help with these issues. The sound wave technology boosts the process of regenerating cells in the genitals, resulting in improved blood flow to the clitoris, which creates a long-term increase in women’s sexual responsiveness and intensity, helps with painful sex and lubrication, and increases orgasm frequency. It’s a quick and easy, entirely non-invasive treatment that creates a long-term increase in women’s sexual responsiveness and intensity. 

5. Be Friends with your Gynecologist – Many people in the menopausal years suffer from moodiness, anxiety, and even depression. It’s not just the hormones; some people feel sad that the childbearing years are over, and other significant mid-life changes make it complicated physically and emotionally. Everyone’s journey and body are different. As uncomfortable as it may be, talk to your doctor. They have the resources and the knowledge to help you get back on track.

You can take charge of menopause and positively affect cognitive and emotional changes with some extra effort and put the PAUSE in menopause!