Empowering Women Through Menopause: Beyond Gaslighting and Generic Solutions

Recently, The Lancet, a respected Medical Journal, published an article on Menopause.  I was very happy to see this article because there is not much information found on the internet on menopause. The information found is usually from an “influencer,” turned “expert.” 

Many women, experiencing symptoms of menopause, who turn to their medical doctor for advice are often gaslighted.  They are told that their symptoms are just, “part of getting older!” and they will soon, “get over it.”

We need to understand that Menopause is not the same for every woman.  Some women have overt hot flashes and all the typical symptoms such as an inability to sleep and weight gain in the abdomen.  Other women have completely atypical symptoms like vertigo, itchy skin, and a burning mouth, amongst others.  Some women do not have any symptoms at all.  For myself, it was a tumultuous reckoning. I now know that it was an amazing time of transformation. In hindsight, my experience would have been less tumultuous if I realized that this transformation was due to Menopause instead of thinking it was the stress of the Global Pandemic.

I admire The Lancet article and its attempt to educate doctors by encouraging holistic treatment and self-care for Menopause.  However, the article suggested that, if a woman of Menopausal age comes into a doctor’s office with complaints of depression, anxiety, and sleep issues, then the doctor should give them a referral for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy before Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). 

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I disagree. Evidence has shown that depression, anxiety, and sleep issues are directly correlated to the decline in progesterone and estrogen levels.  Don’t get me wrong, therapy can and is often essential to healing.  However, as a Naturopathic Doctor, I know that true healing comes from root-cause resolution.  If we balance a Menopausal woman’s hormones, we will arrive at healing faster than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, thus avoiding needless suffering. 

To balance hormones, I am not singularly suggesting HRT even though it has helped many women and is an effective treatment.  Many herbs and natural supplements are safe and have long histories of effective use in balancing progesterone and estrogen for Menopausal women.   

First, we should balance hormones to help women through Menopause! Then, afterward, therapy and other forms of support and self-care will assist further!