Menopause: Your Natural Upgrade

Author – Written By Sonia O’Donell (Founder and Naturopath)

Menopause is usually talked about as a problem to fix or a life stage to dread and we all know people who have really suffered, so it’s no wonder many women approach this stage with real concern. But what if it isn’t something we need to be afraid of? What if, instead, it’s a biologically intelligent transition, perfectly designed to move you into what can be the best phase of your life?

This phase of life is simply the time when you shift from childbearing years into a new stage. This change is profound on every level, physically, emotionally, and spiritually but while it can sometimes feel like a storm, it’s actually a pathway to transformation, and when you work with your body rather than trying to override it, the results can be magnificent!

The Ripple Effect

This process doesn’t just affect the woman experiencing it, it ripples out and can affect our relationships, especially if you’re usually superwoman who takes care of everybody else. The emotional and physical changes can feel overwhelming, but when partners and loved ones understand what’s happening, they can make a world of difference.

When you’re feeling upset / tired / fed-up / crazy (delete as applicable) it might not be easy to say, “I’m struggling right now,” so get ahead of the curve and make a plan with your loved ones. Sharing this article might be a good starting point. Try to talk about what helps when you feel out of sorts and maybe agree on a code word or phrase that means you need space, a hug, or a listening ear without having to explain everything in that moment.

Menopause is a time when taking time out for yourself, thinking about what you need, and sharing this with your nearest and dearest you will make all the difference. The most helpful thing they can do is offer space and patience while you do that. It’s a time to listen and to respect the changes that you might want to make in your routines, diet, sleep, or work life and then to pitch in, so the changes become reality.

A sense of humour also goes a long way! There have been days when my partner knew to bring me a bowl of chicken soup and sit with me without any chat. And then there were days when he’d blast loud music in the kitchen and dance around like a complete loon. For me, that mix of thoughtfulness and silliness helped me feel cared for and seen and oftentimes it was exactly what I needed.

We Need To Menopause

At its most basic level, the changes happen because your body no longer needs to be ready for pregnancies. We’re tend to think of this as a sign of ageing and a slide into decline but it’s a more a form of evolution, and it frees you to focus on the next chapter of life.

Many women spend their earlier years focused on children, home, and career, which can be all-consuming. The plate spinning life of many women is not always fulfilling and we can reach mid-life and wonder what happened to the girl we used to be. Menopause opens a door to re-evaluate: What do you want life to look like? What makes you happy and what needs to change? What dreams have been put aside but can be looked at again?

Your hormones are simply shifting to support this new phase. The changes with hormone levels don’t happen by mistake, they are healthy adaptations. Hormones are the bodies messengers that direct all the other body systems, from digestion to brain and heart health. We need a little oestrogen and progesterone to stay healthy through the next stage, but when we are in balance we naturally make enough for our needs. Excess stress, gut problems and nutrient deficiencies might need to be resolved, but your body knows how to do this!

The Rocky Side

For many women, the transition can feel like battling through an assault course in a blindfold. Symptoms such as hot flushes, poor sleep, low mood, and joint pain can be overwhelming, affecting confidence, relationships, and daily life. We naturally turn to health professionals for answers but are usually offered only quick fixes like HRT or other medicines. Online information has become vast in recent years, but it’s also confusing, so it’s hard to know who to trust and what to try.

The answer lies in understanding your symptoms. They are your body’s way of communicating with you, showing what it needs and highlighting issues that may have been building up for years. Take sleep, for example. If it suddenly becomes restless or unreliable during menopause, it is a sign to look at stress in your life, nutrition, and lifestyle factors like working or eating too late. By listening to these clues, you can strengthen your whole health and wellbeing. 

It is understandable to reach for HRT or medication when symptoms are intense and you don’t know what else to try, but there are alternatives that work too. By nourishing your body with herbal remedies, lifestyle changes and reaching out for emotional support, you can ease symptoms while also resolving the deeper patterns behind them. Working with a practitioner (even if you are a practitioner yourself) is a really valuable investment at this time and will allow you to move through this phase of life and emerge feeling stronger, clearer, and more vibrant than you did before.

Herbs and Lifestyle: Gentle and Powerful

Herbs have been used for centuries to aid women through menopause. Some, including sage, red clover, and adaptogens, contain natural plant compounds that gently balance hormones, soothe the nervous system, and ease physical symptoms. Others support your bones, brain, bladder and other organs while your body is transforming and can help you be a stronger and healthier person the other side. Hello Menopause herbal blend was designed specifically with this in mind. It combines carefully selected herbs to ease symptoms like hot flushes and sleep problems while helping with emotional balance and long-term hormonal health.

Herbal remedies work with your body and provide what your system needs to transition through the changes, helping it to make the necessary adjustments smoothly and gradually. They don’t try to pump up the hormones that your body doesn’t need any more and try to freeze you in the past; they help you step confidently into the future and be the best version of the new you.

Changes with food choices might be helpful as well. Eating more whole foods and reducing caffeine / sugar / alcohol will help most people but listen to your body and choose the foods that feel good when you eat them.

Lifestyle changes can also make a huge difference. Maybe you don’t have to be everyone else’s cheerleader and try to do it all? If you had a genie to grant your wishes would you enjoy long baths and early nights, regular yoga or time for a run, a quiet place to read or a space to play drums, nights out dancing, a new job or a new pet? It’s about deciding how you want life to be and finding a new balance. There is space for you to be you alongside the care you give to others.

Moving Forward Positively

One of the most empowering things about choosing this path is knowing that you are helping your whole self to move through the change, rather than holding yourself back. When natural remedies and lifestyle work together, they create a foundation for health that you will benefit from for decades to come.

You’re not losing anything. You’re gaining clarity, freedom, and strength. This stage of life brings incredible opportunities for deeper relationships, new passions, and the opportunity to live life your way.

Change takes time, energy and focus and you might not be used to thinking so much about your own needs, but if you can make room in your life for this process you will not regret the investment you made in yourself.

And if you’re supporting someone through this journey, remember that your role is vital. You’re walking alongside a woman who’s becoming the most empowered, vibrant version of herself and you get to be part of that transformation.