Hormones, Humor & Hot Flashes – Surviving Menopause
Hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, muscle aches, weight gain — oh, and did I mention the occasional demonic possession? That’s menopause. For those of you suffering through it — and yes, we do mean suffering — you’re not alone. And we need to talk about it.
The eye rolls from my kids. The deep sighs from my husband. The moments when I consider spiking their dinners with hot sauce just because. My patience level? Picture a teacup on a rollercoaster — shaky, unpredictable, and prone to spilling over. That’s menopause.
Some days, I don’t even recognize myself. It’s like I’m sitting between an angel and a devil, waiting to see who shows up to handle the next situation. The woman at the grocery store who just had to cut in line — will I channel Mel Robbins and “let them,” or will I unleash my inner “customer service nightmare”?
Then there’s the ever-expanding waistline. Will I fight it with green smoothies and yoga… or surrender to cookies and wine? And those girls’ weekends? Absolutely essential right? If my husband asks why I need one every month, I feel like I could either; spread my angel wings and explain they feed my soul, or point my devil horns in his direction and suggest it’s that he accept the monthly gathering (or how ever often then occur)… or he faces my honey-do list and my hormone-fueled mood swings.
Which let’s face it — girls’ weekends or not, he’s dealing with those mood swings anyway. Poor guy.
This begs the question; why aren’t we talking about this, especially with the people who live with us — our partners, families, and coworkers — the ones directly in the blast zone of our mood swings, brain fog, and unpredictable energy levels? Menopause isn’t just happening to us; it’s happening to everyone around us.
According to the National Institute on Aging, menopause is the stage of a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop permanently, and she can no longer get pregnant. It’s not a disease or disorder — it’s a normal part of aging.
Normal? Well, nothing feels “normal” when your body is holding spontaneous bonfire sessions at 2 a.m.
And for the record, according to the World Health Organization, the average age of menopause worldwide is about 51, but symptoms can start up to 7–10 years earlier during perimenopause. That means you could be riding this hormonal rollercoaster for a decade or more.
This Is No Small Thing.
Google defines menopause as: “The period in a woman’s life (typically between 45 and 50 years of age) when this occurs.”
Really? Well, let me tell you — “this” is one of the most life-altering physical and mental changes a person can go through. If you’ve given birth — yes, that’s life-altering — but after a while, things often normalize. Your body bounces back (mostly), and your mind, while busy, can keep most things straight.
With menopause, its pre-menopause, then menopause, then post-menopause — and you’re in post-menopause forever. Symptoms can linger for years, and yet, only now are we starting to normalize the conversation.
Thanks to trailblazing women like Jacquie Burge, founder of the Menopause Blog; Mel Robbins, author of Let Them; and The Menopause Doctor podcast, the conversation is finally starting.
Menopause may be unavoidable, but feeling alone, ashamed, or in the dark about it, that we can change. And if we share our stories with humor and honesty, we can turn “the change” into a change worth talking about.
Call to Action — Let’s Make This Normal
- Start the Conversation – with your partner, friends, and family. They can’t support you if they don’t understand what’s going on.
- Find Your Tribe – join online menopause support groups or in-person meetups. Laughter really is medicine.
- Talk to Your Doctor – about treatments, supplements, HRT and lifestyle changes that can help.
- Prioritize Self-Care – even if it means booking that extra girls’ weekend.
Resources Worth Checking Out
- The Menopause Doctor podcast – factual, approachable, and real.
- Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” philosophy – great for picking your battles.
- Jacquie Burge’s Menopause Blog – relatable, raw, and funny.
- North American Menopause Society – evidence-based info and treatment options.
A personal note from the Author – Lisa Viliott – ABC Community and Marketing Liaison:
This article reflects my own experiences and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I hope you found something in it that resonates with you. If you have any questions, thoughts, or would like to chat more about the topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to connect and offer any advice or support I can!
