Menopause It’s just hot flushes and no periods, isn’t it?My journey to becoming a Menopause Coach.
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
By Julie Cosgrove
Julie Cosgrove aka Julie Menopause Coach. FD, DipHE., RGN. Certified Menopause Coach.
Menopause is just hot flushes and no periods, was what I understood it to be. I hadn’t heard of perimenopause, even when I was in the midst and I’m a Registered Nurse.
I’d heard of menopause, or ‘the change’, but no-one talked about it. Even in my late 40s, my General Practitioner (GP) asked, ‘are you still having periods?’ I laughed, said unfortunately, she laughed and changed the subject.
Over several years I experienced a range of symptoms, a few days of hot flushes, changes to my periods, joint pain, psychological challenges, hay fever, frozen shoulders etc. Nothing made sense. I put the anxiety and depression down to the pandemic. But what caused the loss of confidence? Why hay fever? But I never sought help.
By now, I had been doing Occupational Health assessments for a few years. During one assessment, I was talking to a lady, who made an off the cuff comment, ‘I’m really struggling with my menopause symptoms’, I thought – how hard can it be? It's only hot flushes and no periods. She described how she was struggling. Googling I found a website, listing the symptoms, we were both gobsmacked at the number. I gave her some general advice and finished the call. A few weeks later, I had a similar call, again giving some general advice. But knew I needed to know more.
My manager had emailed us with information on upcoming menopause awareness sessions, so I signed up. Listening to the speaker, the penny dropped! I was in perimenopause, everything made sense. Following up with the speaker afterwards, I asked about further training, she invited me into the first cohort of her Menopause Champion Training course, which I jumped at. Then a few months later, she invited me back to be part of the first cohort of her Menopause Coach Training course, which I agreed to. I hadn’t got a clue what a menopause coach was or did, I just saw it as a way of helping more women!
I completed the 6-month Menopause Coaching diploma, which included learning her signature programme – The Menopause Plan. A comprehensive holistic 7-week programme, that helps improve menopause symptoms. Taking my practice clients through the programme, I thought this can’t work it’s too simple, they are going to call me fit to burn for wasting 7 hours of their life!
However, the results were amazing, they both raved about how it had helped. I was gobsmacked, but so excited that I could now help others, knowing that small lifestyle changes have such a big impact on how we feel.
My biggest regret is not getting help when I knew what was happening. Thinking there was only HRT. I was wrong! I wish I had known about and worked with a Menopause Coach.
My advice to you:
If you are struggling, reach out for help. Don’t despair if your doctor doesn’t seem to want to help you. There is a Menopause Coach who wants to help you.
If you aren’t perimenopausal yet, attend awareness training, so you can advocate for yourself when the time comes.
Prioritise time for you, allow your body to relax. Reducing your stress levels can help reduce your symptom intensity.
Ensure you are fully hydrated. Dehydration causes stress, headaches and brain fog.
Have a good sleep routine, sleep is needed to allow the body to relax and repair.
Boost connections with friends, family or loved ones to boost your oxytocin levels and reduce your stress.
Don’t despair, you will come out the other side.
HRT is not a magic pill, lifestyle changes are still needed.
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