Understanding Menopause Symptoms and Hormonal Changes

Menopause brings real and complex neurochemical and hormonal shifts. As estrogen declines, many women experience:

• Mood swings or irritability

• Increased anxiety or depressive episodes

• Brain fog and memory lapses

• Sleep disruptions leading to chronic fatigue

• A sense of disconnection from self and others

These symptoms can significantly affect a woman's wellbeing, especially when she is part of a sandwich generation. Where is taking care of children and also aging parents. That’s not even the worst part. Most women are told to “push through”, to continue to show up, nurture and work in all the roles they hold. Here’s what we need to understand: “Menopause is not aside note but a major life transition that affects every part of their wellbeing.

So this mother’s day let’s widen our perspectives. Beyond just honouring all that they do, let’s pause and ask, How are they ‘really’ doing? So next time when you see a mother who is managing school lunches while navigating mood shifts and hot flashes, or a grandmother still offering emotional support to adult children as her own body adjusts post-menopause or the caregiver holding everyone else together while managing brain fog, fatigue, and identity shifts.

That’s when I hope you acknowledge that these aren’t just personal phases, they’re real, biopsychosocial transitions that impact well-being, often in silence. Let’s not wait for women to speak louder. Let’s listen better. They deserve more than a thank-you. They deserve to be seen, supported, and understood. If you are a woman going through menopause as you read this, consider embracing one of the supportive practices whether it’s reframing your thoughts, reaching out for support, or simply allowing yourself the grace to navigate this change with compassion.