Perimenopause isn’t just hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and period changes. In fact, according to a survey done by Women Living Better, the phrase “not feeling like myself” may actually be a reliable clinical indicator that a patient is experiencing the earliest signs of perimenopause. The phrase was strongly associated with symptoms of fatigue, feeling overwhelmed or less able to cope, low mood, and anxiety (and unfortunately, many respondents reported feeling dismissed by doctors when sharing their symptoms). Read the Washington Post article here.

This week’s Five Senses Friday comes from Alyson Lippman–a women's health advanced practice nurse (Certified Nurse Midwife) with certifications in menopause and hormone therapy. So who are her patients? Women experiencing physical and emotional symptoms of midlife, perimenopause, and menopause and who value easy access to long appointments to work through everything, Alyson is right there with you: approaching 48, navigating career, family, relationships, and friendships.

TASTE: I’m not a coffee drinker, so those of you who love that warm mug or cup in your hand and those first warm sips might appreciate that instead of coffee, yes, I go with hot chocolate. Yup, there’s straight-up dairy and sugar in there, and it is my comfort treat! I am also a little picky about where it’s from and how I make it at home. Recently I discovered cacao, which offers me a healthier way to have my hot chocolate! I don’t have a favorite brand and don’t feel the need to spend $90 on a bag, but https://www.foodandwine.com/news/chocorotica-why-cacao-ultimate-superfood shares why cacao can fill my desire for that morning (or afternoon) warm snuggle and also provide health benefits! (Pro tip, a little flavored syrup cuts the bitterness.)

SEE: For me, nothing beats the rush and vibration of live music. This summer, I’m seeing a few of my favorites. While I enjoy new music this summer, I’m opting for nostalgia with Better Than Ezra, Alanis Morissette, and my favorite small-time singer-songwriter Martin Sexton. For some reason, I’ve been feeling more nostalgic lately, driving through neighborhoods where I used to live, belting out 90s songs in the car. When I start to feel sad and long for those days, I remind myself that I was there and I’m lucky I lived them. And when I look back, I’ll be lucky I lived these days. So I stop feeling sad and enjoy the then and the now.

SMELL: This was the hardest one for me. If I’m honest, these are the first things that came to me: the sweet warmth of a baby’s head, the rubbery, competition-inducing smell of an outdoor track, and (here’s where I might lose some of you) the smell wafting out of Abercrombie & Fitch as I used to walk through the mall. SO GOOD! But as an active person in my late 40s, I have lots of aches and pains (I didn’t know I could get injured turning over in bed), so I’m going to go with DoTerra Deep Blue Rub. It feels tingly and warm (I don’t recommend it right before hot yoga), and the smell is bright but soothing. My kids say it’s something between peppermint and root beer, but somehow, there’s also lavender, and it works!

HEAR: As a yoga teacher, I count on my playlists to provide rhythm and support for the active, strength-building classes I like to teach. Just like my “see” section, that shift of energy and the way we feel when we hear a certain rhythm or song can create a visceral reaction. Here is a fan favorite of chill hip-hop covers from my earlier days of teaching:

Here is my most recent one that focuses on energy, along with a theme of using breath, feeling the vibration of our lips and chests when we hum, and feeling the synergy when we practice together as a community:

TOUCH: I provide health care and support for women in midlife through menopause, and my office feels more like a living room than a doctor’s office. If you’ve been in my office, you’ll also find a bowl of these worry stones, and hopefully, I’ve offered you one to hold and take with you. Anyone who picks one up feels the effect right away. It somehow fits perfectly between your first and second fingers, and the glazed “breathe” part fits your thumb. It is a great reminder to take a breath; something soothing for a stressful situation, and at only $2, the price is right!

SOURCE