Menopause Support Groups: Aid During Transition

Menopause is a huge transition for women that brings a whole host of physical and mental symptoms. The symptoms of menopause include:

• Irritability
• Joint Pain
• Heart Palpitations
• Painful sex and low libido
• Brain fog 
• Frequent UTIs
• Hot flashes
• Weight gain
• Anxiety
• Trouble sleeping

With menopause being such an important transition, and the symptoms being so extreme, you’d think there’d be a lot of support for those going through it. However, like many health issues exclusive to women, the support for it is lacking.

Women often have to rely on each other to get the tips, support, and knowledge needed to get adequate services.

In this article we’re going to cover everything you need to know about menopause and perimenopause support groups, why they’re important and how to find and join one.

The Benefits of Perimenopause and Menopause Support Groups

Many female-exclusive medical conditions are misunderstood and undertaught. This means many practitioners lack the understanding necessary to offer support and resources to those experiencing menopause and perimenopause.

That’s where support groups come in. Menopause and perimenopause support groups help women in so many ways.

1. Shared Understanding & Support

Going through menopause in a male-centric society can be maddening. When you attend a support group, you’ll meet other women who are going through a similar experience, and who won’t think you’re overreacting.

The other women in the support group will understand what you’re going through on a personal level, and are there to offer support through the transition of menopause. A support group is a community where you can freely share feelings and, and feel heard.

2. Tips for Managing Symptoms

The symptoms of menopause are challenging. They can make even daily tasks difficult, but with the right strategies, they can be managed.

Support groups for menopause help women learn new skills and tips for managing symptoms from shared experiences and finding what worked well for them.

Hearing about how other people are managing their symptoms can help you find ways that could work for you.

3. Resources and Knowledge

Women often have to advocate for themselves to get the proper menopause support they deserve. Support groups are a place where women can share knowledge and offer recommendations for resources that can actually help.

A good menopause support group will include expert-led discussions from professionals who reliably provide evidence-based information for managing symptoms, advocating for yourself, and finding the help you deserve. 

How Menopause Affects Mental Well-being

Menopause isn’t a nuisance; it’s a major life transition that can last up to 10 years, including perimenopause. 

The menopause transition affects women’s wellbeing in several ways.

Hormonal Shifts

Menopause is a natural transition that starts when hormones start to shift; namely, when there’s a decline in estrogen and progesterone.

This shift is the main culprit for most of the symptoms.

Menopausal Grieving

Menopausal grief is an often overlooked, but valid and normal experience for women going through this transition.

This includes grieving:

• Loss of fertility
• Loss of youth
• Changing roles
• A changing body

Processing this grief and treating it the same way you would treat any grieving process is important. These changes shouldn’t be brushed off or dismissed.

Societal Pressures

Many women experience a sense of loss of identity during menopause due to the societal pressures they experience.

These pressures can show up in just about any role, career, or stage of life. Women are often thought of primarily as mothers, caretakers, and birthers. Menopause marks the end of being able to explicitly fulfill some of these roles. Even though we know these pressures shouldn’t exist, they are an all-too-common experience.

This transition is also very difficult for women who take pride in having children and taking care of their family. Menopause is often the time when children are starting to move away.

Getting Care For Peri+Menopause

Societal messages minimize menopausal symptoms and either frame them as something to push through or “get over.” Women are also often gaslit into thinking they’re overreacting — they are not.

Getting the proper care for menopause requires breaking through the lies and advocating for yourself.

Find a Menopause-Informed Physician

Most doctors are not well trained on how to treat menopause and perimenopause. Unfortunately, many colleges do not provide the proper training for would-be doctors.

A menopause-informed physician will understand the wide range of physical, emotional, and mental symptoms and how to tailor care accordingly. This includes discussing pharmaceutical treatment options as well as other therapeutic options.

If your concerns about menopause are being dismissed, or minimized, consider talking with a different physician. If you feel you are not being heard, you likely aren’t.

Attend Talk Therapy

If you’re wondering; Should I get therapy during menopause? You likely should. The mental and emotional impact of peri and menopause is enough to seek professional assistance.

Therapy can help in a number of ways during menopause. It can be an important space to freely discuss your experiences — including emerging identity and relational shifts — and learn new skills for daily life.

Take care of yourself during this transitional phase by attending talk therapy.

Introduce Yourself!

Verdant Hope is a professional counseling and therapy practice in Mesa, Arizona that is dedicated to providing women experiencing menopause the care they deserve.

If you are experiencing menopause and are looking for support, contact Verdant Hope. We’re here to listen and assist you.