Carina (53) is an entrepreneur, mother of two, partner, and above all, a woman. She leads a busy life, not only managing her own business but also caring for her family, which includes two teenagers. As menopause approached, she began to notice subtle changes in her body and mind. “That wasn’t always easy alongside my demanding job.”
In the beginning, it felt like I was becoming a different person. I had to get to know myself all over again. But in a way, that was also very beautiful.
When her periods started to change at the age of 48 and her energy levels began to fluctuate, she realised her body was entering a new phase.
“I could feel in every way that this was a turning point in my life. Several of my friends and my sister were already going through menopause, and I started to recognise myself in their stories. I just thought my symptoms wouldn’t be as bad. Pure denial, I realise now.”
It was as if menopause gradually entered my life. At first, I didn’t notice it, but as time went on, it started to have more and more of an impact. I went through a whirlwind of emotions.
Menopause didn’t go unnoticed for Carina, both in positive and negative ways. “On the one hand, I felt freer. I became more aware of my own needs and boundaries and noticed that I cared less about certain expectations or responsibilities. That was quite a relief. I also learned to enjoy moments of rest more, which is still such a wonderful addition to my life.”
How did the people around her handle this shift? “My family really had to get used to it,” Carina shares openly. “They saw a different woman and mother. I also noticed that my urge to take care of everything diminished. If someone lost something, I used to jump up to help find it. Now I think: just figure it out yourself.”
On the other hand, menopause challenged her both physically and emotionally. “It affected me in my daily life,” she says. “I struggled with hot flushes and mood swings, which made it hard to concentrate on my work.”
Her energy levels also took a hit. “That fatigue sometimes overwhelmed me. I wasn’t nearly as productive or creative as I wanted to be and couldn’t accomplish as much in a day. I really had to learn how to deal with that.”
What helped her? “I was able to adjust my work routines to better accommodate my needs and symptoms. This meant, for example, reorganising my schedule. Sometimes I postponed a deadline and took more breaks during busy periods.”
She began researching hormone therapy. After thorough discussions with her doctor, she decided to give it a try to alleviate her symptoms. “I was able to talk openly with my doctor about it, which I really appreciated because I’ve heard different stories from friends.”
It was a decision that changed my life. I had the energy again to do everything I wanted to do in a day.
“With the administration of hormones, I regained a sense of balance and stability in my life. I felt like myself again. The hot flushes subsided, my mood swings became less frequent, and I rediscovered the energy I had been missing for so long.”
What advice would she give to other women experiencing symptoms? “Explore your options and seek proper advice. It’s such a relief when you notice the symptoms gradually diminishing.”
Where I once felt stuck, everything is now flowing again.
