Therapy for Women
Is Menopause Throwing You For A Loop?
Are the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause causing you physical discomfort and emotional distress? As you get older, do you feel increasingly unseen and unheard? Would you benefit from having a therapist in your corner who can help you navigate this next season of life?
Although growing older is inevitable, perhaps you feel unprepared for the changes taking place. Despite thinking that menopause was still a long way off, you may be experiencing its onset with physical symptoms like body aches, joint pain, weight gain, brain fog, lowered libido, and changes to your skin and hair. Emotionally, you may feel isolated, depressed, and prone to tears. You may notice that you are frequently impatient and easily frustrated. What’s more, the reality that your window for having children is closing may be causing anxiety or grief.
You Might Feel Isolated By The Changes Taking Place
Even if your partner is supportive, you may feel they don’t understand what you are going through. If you experience pain with sex or your desire has waned, it may be difficult to talk about these changes openly. Or maybe intimacy issues have negatively affected your relationship.
The gradual changes in your body may impact your self-esteem, making you feel less attractive and like you are gradually disappearing. Between the hot flashes, fatigue, and trouble remembering things, you may be frustrated by how different you feel. But you might be so busy at work or caring for others at home that you haven’t focused on yourself.
Fortunately, therapy for women can help you normalize perimenopause and menopause and navigate its ups and downs more confidently. Women’s counseling not only helps restore your self-esteem but also encourages you to prioritize your own needs to improve your well-being.
The Onset Of Perimenopause Can Vary Drastically
Although most women are aware that menopause is defined as the end of menstruation and usually occurs in our 40s or 50s, many women don’t realize that perimenopause, the precursor to menopause, can begin as early as our mid-30s. “Perimenopause means ‘around menopause’ and refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.” [1] For women who start experiencing symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and mood swings in their 30s, the onset can feel isolating and disorienting. If we haven’t yet closed the door on having children, bumping up against an expiration date on our fertility can leave us feeling anxious and depressed.
What makes matters worse is that our society centers around youth. Consequently, everywhere we look, we see images that perpetuate the idea that being young, healthy, and giving birth to children is our only value. We may worry that as we age, we lose our place in society and question where we will fit in moving forward.
As We Age, We Often Feel Like The Forgotten Woman
Although every woman eventually experiences perimenopause and menopause, we are often unprepared for the physical and emotional toll it takes. Unfortunately, as we age, we realize fewer conversations focus on what happens to our bodies once we move beyond childbearing years. We may reach perimenopause and not recognize what’s happening because we don’t know what symptoms to expect.
Fortunately, therapy for women can help address how you are feeling and provide you with psychoeducation, support, and advocacy. Women’s counseling will ensure you navigate this chapter feeling empowered to take on whatever comes next.
Therapy For Women Is Supportive, Knowledgeable Care
If you are struggling to cope with the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause with no one to talk to, it can feel isolating. You may feel anxious or depressed about the changes in your body and wish you had guidance for what to do. Therapy for women’s issues helps normalize what’s happening so you no longer feel alone. Talking through your worries about menopause helps you put your fears in perspective and create a tangible game plan for moving forward.
After dedicating so much time to your family and rarely putting your needs and desires first, perhaps you feel burnt out and depressed. In women’s counseling, we can talk about how you want the rest of your life to look and ways to achieve what’s important to you. Focusing on self-care and empowerment in counseling allows you to prioritize your well-being without feeling guilty or selfish.
What To Expect In Sessions
I aim to provide you with a safe space to talk about what you are thinking and feeling. Once I have a thorough understanding of your concerns, we may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness skills in counseling for women to help you cope with the emotional effects of menopause.
CBT can help you better understand how your thoughts are connected to your emotions and behaviors and how menopause in particular can intensify self-doubt and erode self-esteem. By learning CBT techniques, you can distinguish thoughts from facts and break the loop of negativity that impacts how you think, feel, and behave. Mindfulness will teach you how to slow down and pay attention to what your body is telling you so you can normalize what is happening and learn how to respond more favorably.
Therapy For Women Provides Advocacy
An important part of female therapy includes teaching you how to navigate the medical system and advocate for yourself. We will discuss all of your options for alleviating perimenopause symptoms so you can make the best choices for yourself. I can help you pinpoint the care you need and find providers in your network specializing in women’s health.
Understanding what to expect from each specialist and knowing what questions to ask beforehand can help alleviate your anxiety and ensure you get the most beneficial care available. We can also discuss the benefits of alternative modalities like acupuncture or finding different specialty providers if necessary.
I’ve walked in your shoes and understand what this stage of life looks like. The good news is that you are not alone and help is available. When you build the right support team, you can navigate this season of life more confidently and find solutions.
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Therapy For Women Is Right For You…
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Medication taken in conjunction with talk therapy is often a successful formula to manage women’s mental health issues like anxiety and depression. But whether or not you decide to include medication or over-the-counter supplements in your treatment plan is ultimately your choice. We can discuss your concerns before you decide what works best for you. Additionally, if there are other medications you have considered taking to address other menopause symptoms, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), we can talk about the pros and cons of each.
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Despite whatever reluctance you may have to discuss your issues with a therapist, women usually do better when they talk things through rather than keep fears bottled inside. Counseling for women is a safe space where you can open up about the issues you are experiencing without fear of judgment. Together, we can delve into what is clouding the picture for you—physical, mental, and emotional—and determine how best to address it.
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As both a therapist who specializes in therapy for menopausal women and someone who has firsthand experience with this challenging season of life, I am eager to share the lessons I’ve learned. I will provide you with the support and guidance you need to navigate whatever your issues are, including getting the right medical services to address your concerns and help you improve your overall well-being.
With Support, Aging Doesn’t Have To Be Scary
It is my honor to help guide you through this season of life. To find out more about counseling for menopausal women with Dallas-Fort Worth Talk Therapy, you can visit my contact page to schedule a free 15-minute inquiry call.
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397