Meno Mix Tape Vol. 3 Truth About HRT
Meno Tip
My annual exam was a few weeks ago. A my appointment with my doctor, we talked about whether or not I needed HRT. I shared with my amazing doctor (lmk if you need a recommendation) that some nights I don’t have great sleep and most days I have hot flashes, but by no means are they affecting my quality of life. (Some days I may find it harder to count backwards from 10 when training a client, but that is neither here nor there! Ha ha!) I asked her if I should go on HRT and she shared that HRT is about managing symptoms. After further discussion and me telling her that despite some extra sweating and a little less sleep here or there, I truly feel the best I have felt in a long time. She assured me there was no reason to go on HRT at this time. If my symptoms get worse or I don’t feel great, my plan is to call her and have another conversation.
The point of this story is that there is a lot of stuff out in social media land telling women “THEY NEED TO GET ON HORMONES” and I want you to know (along with my doctor), that menopause is not a one size fits all experience. HRT can be helpful or it may not be. If you hear/see/read info out there, allow yourself to engage in conversation with others, talk with your doctor and other trusted resources. Please know you can reach out to me and I will happily find you a trusted resource to talk to.
Quote of the Week
“People will always have their opinions. Only you know who you really are. Focus on living authentically and honestly, have integrity in all that you do, and those opinions won’t matter.”
Resource/Media Recommendation
Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck.
I recently listened to this book and found it to be full of wonderful tips and practices that we can apply to our lives on a daily basis.
This review is from Goodreads.
“We live in an epidemic of anxiety. Most of us assume that the key to overcoming it is to think our way out. And for a while it works. But there is always something that sends us back into the anxious spiral we’ve been trying to climb out of.
In Beyond Anxiety, Dr. Martha Beck explains why anxiety is skyrocketing around you, and likely within you. She also tells you how to not only reduce your anxiety but use it to propel you into a life filled with peace, meaning, and joy.
Using a combination of the latest neuroscience as well as her background in sociology and coaching, Beck explains how our brains tend to get stuck in an “anxiety spiral,” a feedback system that can increase anxiety indefinitely. To climb out, we must engage different parts of our nervous system—the parts involved in creativity. Beck provides instructions for engaging the “creativity spiral,” in a process that not only shuts down anxiety but leads to innovative problem solving, a sense of meaning and purpose, and joyful, intimate connection with others—and with the world.
The opposite of anxiety, it turns out, is a wonderful new way of life—one that can calm and inspire us as individuals and help us become a source of healing for everything around us.”
Fun Fact
More than 75% of working women in the US will work though.out the menopause transition and into their postmenopausal years. 69% of menopausal women will experience sleep disturbances.
Poor sleep may have negative effects:
Lower immune system
We may choose unhealthy foods and this can cause weight gain
Heart disease, obesity, cancer
Poor memory, organization, judgement or problem solving
The statistics were presented at an event I attended in November 2024 by Sleep Expert, Dr. Whitney Roban of Solve Our Sleep (@solveoursleep).
If your sleep has been affected my menopause, be sure to talk with your doctor. There are professionals who do cognitive behavior therapy for sleep (called CPT-I).
If you are having a little trouble with sleep, look at your sleep routine. Initial steps that may help could be:
Take extra time to unwind at night
Keep your room cool
Create a nighttime routine or ritual of washing face, journaling, stretching
Put down electronics 1-2 hours before bed
My Mix
P!NK is one of my idols and Prince is truly one of the talented artist of all time. It only made sense for these two to have a playlist together in Stephanieland. Enjoy belting out tunes in the car or jamming to a workout with this playlist.
I hope you have a great week. Thank you, as always, for being a part of this community and for your support.
XO,
Stephanie
