Yes. Pause. Pause and take a moment and realize, this is a new you that you need to get to know. You might be different, at least in the short term. You might not recognize the you that you are. But this is you, for now.
And now, well, it's not easy, and it's not fun. And as much as you may not believe this, it's not all about you either. The symptoms suck. Hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, mood swings, irrationality. As hard as this is for you, remember, your family, spouse, are living through it too, and they are not in it, only you are, they can't begin to know what is happening to you. And they can't begin to know how to help you.
So, pause. Think before you speak (or yell or cry!) and try to help them help you. Be honest, talk about things that are way uncomfortable to talk about. Vaginal dryness, yeah, it's a thing, but it doesn't have to ruin your sex life. No libido, yeah, that's a thing too, but if you're honest, it doesn't have to become a reason for divorce, or even hurt feelings.
Lost control over the latest Folgers home for the holidays commercial, and your idiot brother laugh his ass off at your uncontrollable tears? Pause. Leave the room. Breathe. Regain your composure. And then go out and explain that you are in menopause. (Trust me, with the most insensitive brother around, you will shut him up, because he doesn't really want to talk about your lady parts! And when you're done, well, maybe you will have educated him just a bit)
Your best allies are going to be your family and your friends. So talk to them. Ask for help. Tell them what is happening. And whenever you can, pause. Take a breath, think, then speak. And when you muck it all up and say a whole lot of things you didn't mean. Apologize, ask for forgiveness. And if you've explained it from the beginning, shared what you're going through, it will be a lot easier to ask for forgiveness and get it.
Just Pause.
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