Loneliness during the menopause
As we all know this time of year can be very hard for some people, especially if you are suffering from the symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause and you are already not feeling like yourself.
It is very common to have feelings of low mood and confidence during the menopause, in fact about 20% of women will feel like this at some point, particularly in the workplace.
Feelings such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue can contribute to us shutting ourselves away. Many women end up feeling utterly exhausted during menopause, giving us less energy for social get togethers. Suffering from tiredness, anxiety and depression is very difficult making it easy to isolate yourself away from friends and events which in turn leads to feeling even more alone.
What can we do about it?
- Join a group – Learning something new or joining in an activity is great for our mental health. It is also a good way to meet new, like-minded people.
- Talk about how you feel – Opening up to people you trust and letting them know how you feel can be such a relief. If you feel you don’t have anyone you can open up to, join an online support group. Menopaus’ull has its own private Facebook group, but there are lots of others out there too, including The Menopause Support Network, Menopausal Mayhem, U.K. HRT and Menopause Support Group, Let’s Talk Menopause and Perimenopause, Perimenopause Hub Support and Friendship
- Get plenty of sleep – Sleeping too much or too little can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. Try and take some time to rest before going to bed and stick to a schedule making sure the room is at a temperature you can sleep well in. The Balance App has a number of Sleep experiments that you can get involved with, why not download the App and give them a go!
- Get outside – Something as simple as going outside for a brisk walk releases the hormone Cortisol which will help to give you more energy. Walking is a distraction from our minds and any intrusive thoughts you may be having, it gives your brain something else to focus on. There are lots of local groups around Hull and East Yorkshire, our friends over at Fitmums host a range of outdoor activities or keep your eyes peeled for our Menopaus’ull Walk & Talk sessions too.
- Eat Well – Eating a well balanced diet is a good way of helping to relieve the symptoms of menopause. It is advised to decrease or stop your intake of alcohol and caffeine as these can affect our hormones too.
Take a look at these below websites for more information
Tips to manage loneliness – Mind
How to Cope with Loneliness during Menopause | menopause-ology.com
Loss of confidence during menopause | A.Vogel Talks Menopause (avogel.co.uk)
