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Children and Divorce
You and your spouse have decided to end your marriage. Although this has been a difficult decision for you and your spouse, it can be a very complicated one for your children. Divorce in many ways is like facing a death in the family, and a...
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From Children's Stories to Study Skills: Help Your Children Succeed in School
Introduction
As a parent who wants the best for your children, there are undoubtedly many things that you already do every day to help your children succeed in school. The purpose of this article is to provide some practical...
What are you creating?
What are you creating? Money from work you love: love in a soul-mate relationship, peace and harmony around us; a stronger sense of who you are; inner wisdom and personal power; a confident, thriving family; improved health; a stronger sense of...
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Pagan Religions Taught In Public Schools
In classrooms throughout the country, Judeo-Christian beliefs are often cast aside or ridiculed. Multiculturalism studies, environmental propaganda, and Save-the-Earth classes now indoctrinate children with New-Age religious beliefs, often without...
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Menopausal Facts: What will I experience?
The topic of menopause is everywhere today. It's in the
magazines, on television, in books, in display ads on busses,
and even has been made into a musical. With all this exposure,
menopause continues to be shroud in mystery. How can that be?
The simple explanation is that it's still an unknown in terms of
"what will I experience?"
That simple, single question has no simple, single answer. A
woman's reaction to perimenopause and menopause is
multi-factorial meaning that there are many factors that will
influence her reaction. These range from her state of health,
nutritional status, level of fitness, and any unhealthy habits
such as smoking, drugging or excessive alcohol use.
Another very important factor includes attitude and culture. We
now know our thought processes have a major impact not only on
our reaction to menopause, but our entire state of health and
well being.
Listed here are some facts and common experiences of menopause.
As you go through the list of symptoms, keep in mind that each
woman's experience is unique. It will vary both with the
symptoms experienced as well their intensity. Fact: Women
"normally" go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55
with the average age being 51.
Fact: Perimenopause (that period of time before menopause) can
start as early as age 35 and last a few months to a few years.
You really cannot predict how long it will last.
Fact: Menopause is defined retrospectively or after the fact.
You are menopausal after you have not had a period for 12 months
(assuming there is no other cause for this).
While many women will report some degree of the following
symptoms, many women report no such symptoms at all. (Note: this
list is not inclusive.)
--A change in cycles. You may find that the time between your
periods, as well as the degree of flow, changes from month to
month.
--Abnormal bleeding or "spotting" is not uncommon. However if
you experience this after you have stopped bleeding for 12
months (in a row), it's called post menopausal bleeding and can
be a sign up uterine cancer. See your health care provider!
--Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes/Power Surges. It has many names, but
the result is the same...you get warm/hot and flushed in the
neck, face and chest.
Some of us feel this over the entire body
and even experience chills at the same time.
--Night sweats and sleeping problems. Again, not uncommon. It
can cause you to feeling tired, stressed and tense.
--Vaginal Changes. The tissues of the vagina may become dry and
thin. You may find sexual intercourse or a vaginal exam to be
painful.
--Mood changes. This may include mood swings, depression, and
irritability.
--Urinary problems. Some women experience leaking (when
sneezing, coughing, laughing) or a heightened sense of urgency
("have to go RIGHT now").
--Problems with concentration or memory. Some women call it
fuzzy thinking, brain-pause, holes in the brain, etc. Rest
assured...it passes!
--Diminished libido. This means less interest in sex. Then
again, some women tell me they actually have a heightened
libido...again, individual responses.
--A thicker waist. The body redistributes body fat to the waist.
You may see this even though you don't gain a pound.
--Weight gain is generally a result of a slowing metabolism. We
may or may not have changed our eating habits and probably don't
exercise as much. Think "calories in - calories out".
--Hair thinning and loss. This occurs both on your head and in
the pubic region.
While all these potentially negative sounding changes can
happen, it's worth noting again, that they do not occur
universally. Indeed, many women report some wonderful things
happening at this time of their lives such as freedom to once
again (or for the first time) be themselves. They now have a
heightened sense of creativity, more confidence and find
themselves experiencing more piece of mind than at any other
time of their lives.
So what can you do about all of this? Well...that's a topic for
another time. For now, realize that the time of menopause is
something you pass through - just like you passed through
puberty. The rest of your life is waiting on the other side!
About the author:
©2005, Barbara C. Phillips, NP is the founder of
OlderWiserWomen(tm) where women are inspired to embrace the
freedom, magic and wisdom of Successful Aging. Visit
http://www.OlderWiserWomen.com for your copy of "Celebrating
You: 50 Tips for Vibrant Living".
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