Mindful Menopause: 5 Tips to Help Cultivate a More Positive Mindset During Menopause by Dr. Julianne Arena

Approaching or in dealing with menopause? World Menopause Day was October 18, but we can still all celebrate our menopause! Instead of obsessing about hot flashes or your other menopausal symptoms, why not try having a more positive mindset?

Here are five ways to help cultivate a more positive mindset about menopause:

1. Meditate: Meditation is an underused and potentially powerful stress-management technique. One way to make it easier to get started is to find a partner and trade off guiding each other through the process.
2. Be Mindful: Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention to the present. It means knowing what you are sensing and feeling in the moment. Better yet, practice mindfulness every day so it becomes a habit. You don't have to join a class or attend special sessions. Practicing mindfulness on a daily basis can help reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation and improve overall health.
   
3. Stay Present: Avoid dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, which can contribute to a lack of appreciation for the present moment. When you focus on the present, your sense of time expands, enabling you to enjoy every moment.
4. Laugh (A lot!): Laughter is a beneficial way to combat the negative effects of menopause and other mood disorders, such as depression. Laughter can stimulate your immune system, enhance your learning and memory functions and help you cope with stress. Make it a habit to laugh frequently, surround yourself with people who have a good sense of humor, watch comedies and make sure that others do not take everything too seriously.
   
5. Seek Help: It’s OK to ask for help. Menopause can be a time of change, confusion, fear and embarrassment for women. But it doesn't have to overwhelm them. With the right knowledge, women can find ways to live with and manage the experience more successfully. Women have access to all the information they need, and with that information, they can make decisions that are best for them and their bodies.

Women’s bodies are going through so many changes during menopause that stress can exacerbate. I hope that women have honest conversations with their doctors about how they feel mentally, emotionally and physically because there is help and support.

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