Perimenopause & Teens: A Wild Ride of Hormones

Perimenopause & Teens: A Wild Ride of Hormones. Let’s be honest, raising teenage daughters is a whirlwind all on its own. I hope that teenage boys are a little bit more chill. I will keep you informed as we are not fully there yet. But throw in the glorious hormonal roller coaster of perimenopause, and things can get a little…dramatic. Yeah, that’s putting it mildly.

I did the maths; if your child was born whilst you were in your 30s, it’s likely that you will find yourself in the perfect hormonal storm of puberty plus perimenopause. You are experiencing considerable transitions and entering into an intense shift in your identity at just the same time as your child, double trouble!

Lost in Translation: When Your Brain Goes Blank

Have you ever forgotten a word? Like, the most basic word that should be readily available, but instead your brain throws up a blank space? Welcome to perimenopause, my lovelies. Conversations with my sharp-tongued, future-leader daughter sometimes feel like I’m fumbling through a confusing dream. She dissects topics with laser focus, while I struggle to string a coherent sentence together. It’s enough to make you want to  hide under the bed covers like a teenager. I am just gobsmacked, where did she get the debating skills from?

The Fog of War: When Your Memory Does a Disappearing Act

It happens quite frequently that I walk into a room wanting to do something and only to stand there, completely perplexed, what I was supposed to do. I feel I have to squeeze my brain really hard to remember what I was supposed to do. This memory fog is another delightful perk of perimenopause. The worst part? Sometimes it extends to entire conversations. Imagine the fallout when you’re accused of something you have no recollection of, and your defence sounds unconvincing. Or the conversation you thought you had was different to the one your daughter recalls.

 The Perils of Perimenopause: The Smoking Frying Pan Incident

Do you ever get that feeling where you’re going about your day, on autopilot almost, then suddenly hit a wall of confusion? The other night I was prepping dinner, convinced I’d just placed the frying pan on the cold hob. But then I walk back in to the kitchen and – the whole kitchen is covered in smoke! “What the heck?” I think. Did I turn on the hob? I honestly can’t remember, but with so much swirling around in my head lately, it wouldn’t surprise me. 

When Patience Wears Thin

Perimenopause loves to mess with your emotions, doesn’t it? One minute you’re calm, the next you feel like you’re about to explode. The other day, a simple disagreement with my daughter morphed into a full-blown argument. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. Most of the time, I know to walk away and not engage in said disagreements but this one I couldn’t let go. My internal volcano erupted and I shouted back at her as I was feeling quite upset. I am not forgetting things on purpose, there is a lot going on in my little brain.

But Wait, There’s More! (Because of Course There Is)

Thankfully I haven’t had the pleasure of welcoming hot flushes yet (hello, perpetually cold feet!), Mother Nature hasn’t quite gotten the memo about my reproductive retirement plans. My periods are still going strong, complete with the occasional “leak before you even reach the bathroom” moment. Let’s just say predictability is a precious gift, even if it comes with a side of minor panic attacks. I, for one, am eagerly counting down the days until these monthly visits become a distant memory!

Last week my daughter arrived home with an amusing anecdote. She was late to her lesson due to mother nature calling, and when she justified her late arrival, she was met with “Why don’t you just hold it in?” from one of the schools top male biology students. Despite popular belief, it is simply NOT POSSIBLE. Just take my word for it. Life would be so much easier if we could!

As for my body’s continued insistence on ovulation, well, maybe the stork delivery service got lost on its way here? I’ve definitely hung up my baby-making hat, but apparently, the message hasn’t reached all internal departments. Let’s hope it arrives soon!

Taking Back Control: A Battle Plan

So, what’s a girl to do? Well, for starters, I’ve armed myself with some natural allies. Rhodiola, a trusty herb that helps me weather the emotional storms (somewhat, let’s be honest, some days are just rough!). Next up is magnesium, my ticket to a (hopefully) forgetfulness-free sleep, unless Mr. D decides to unleash his inner symphony of snores, especially after a little alcoholic beverage. I love you dearly Mr D, but your sleep song is not singing to me to sleep!

Omega-3s are my go-to brainpower boosters. Let’s face it, between work, family, and the ever-present internal monologue, my brain needs all the help it can get these days. Finally, collagen – the secret weapon for keeping everything “down there” (and let’s not forget my youthful glow!) elastic and, well, plumb. Let’s just say it’s a battle against gravity, and collagen is my trusty sidekick in this fight!

Sometimes I have the urge to crawl under the covers and hide until this whole Wechseljahre (Translated Change years -as we say in Germany) ordeal is over. Trust me, I get it! But here’s the secret weapon– my amazing “swimming ladies.” These incredible women are not just my fellow mermaids, they’re my confidantes, my cheerleaders, and my partners in navigating this hormonal roller coaster. Sharing experiences, laughter (and maybe a few tears!) with them reminds me I’m not alone in this journey.

And speaking of powerful allies, the cold water swim itself acts as a glorious volcanic eruption extinguisher! The refreshing shock of the water does wonders for cooling down those internal flames. It’s a temporary reprieve, yes, but it’s a reminder that even the most intense heat eventually dissipates.

Cheers! To Solidarity and Survival

Perimenopause may feel like a never-ending hormonal hurricane, with our teenagers as our only first-aid kit (bless their hearts, they’re trying!). But here’s the truth bomb: we are strong, resourceful women. We’ve navigated life’s storms before, and this is just another chapter in our story. We will get through this, together. So, let’s raise a cup of chamomile tea to the amazing women we are, and embrace this journey with humour, support, and a whole lot of resilience! We may be forgetful, confused, and occasionally overwhelmed, but we are not alone. Love to you all!

I found this list here What helps

• be aware of your triggers – knowing these can help you prepare and mitigate when your teen presses those buttons
• notice when your stress levels are rising
• pause
• take some deep breaths
• remind yourself that you are the adult
• take a step back when you need to
• look after your own wellbeing
• remember that teens learn how to regulate their emotions by seeing us regulate ours

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