This post was originally published on 09/05/2019 and updated on 24/02/2020.

Our survey on over 1100 women regarding their attitudes about menopause found that 96% of the women did not feel prepared for menopause. Roughly 68% were actually shocked by their menopause. We also learned that only about 11.5% of women were asking their doctors for help.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent time with ten women who had previously been seriously overwhelmed by their menopause symptoms both in their personal life and at work.  Some felt so bad they admitted contemplating ending their lives. At best they felt like a shadow of their former selves which they described as incredibly scary.

These women are symptom-free now after going through my natural menopause programme. They are able to think clearly without brain fog.  Feel calm instead of anxious. Cool instead of having hot flushes. Energetic instead of tired and achy and generally feeling much more like their old selves, or even better.  I plan to share their stories with other women to give them hope that it’s possible to overcome symptoms and move on to enjoy the next chapter of life.

The first in the series is Danielle Chamberlin’s story.  Danielle’s symptoms came on after her hysterectomy.  She felt desperate and weepy as she couldn’t see her way out of the foggy and painful tunnel. She was scared because she couldn’t remember things, had nightmare hot flushes which were hugely embarrassing, and felt completely exhausted which made it very difficult for her to function in the workplace. She had migraines every month. Sex was painful and she felt far from sexy.  Her doctor prescribed antidepressants but she refused as she didn’t feel she was depressed. She couldn’t take HRT as breast cancer runs in her family. After a couple of weeks of following my natural programme Danielle began to see a change. After 6 weeks she was sleeping better, her migraines every month had gone, the brain fog has lifted, her joint aches had improved, she was sleeping peacefully and feeling much more energetic.  She is now able to focus on enjoying her life rather than being plagued by symptoms.

Unfortunately, menopause symptoms are not likely to magically disappear without help. Research shows they can last up to 5¹ to 10 years after menopause, in addition to perimenopause, those years leading up to menopause when hormone levels are changing. The good news is once you understand what is going on in your body, you can make adjustments that will significantly reduce your symptoms. In addition, these changes will allow you to reclaim your wellbeing from menopause and beyond.

View Danielle's Story

Understanding What’s Happening in Your Body

During this stage of life, your body is often depleted of essential nutrients, which does not improve on its own as we age.  The low level of nutrients interferes with your brain and hormone function, causing many of us to go into “economy mode”, making it hard to function in the normal way.  It’s a bit like having a hole in a bucket; nothing you do makes you feel better. Many women end up feeling desperate, reeling from symptoms such as brain fog, confusion, low energy, fatigue, achy joints, hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings. Therefore, it is important to understand what’s happening in your body and to know that a midlife ‘refuel’ will help to eradicate symptoms and help reclaim wellbeing and further protect your future health².

How to Get Yourself in Better Place During the Perimenopause Stage

You can boost your nutrient levels and regulate your hormone levels naturally by making changes to your diet and taking the right type of supplements. I find that women who make these changes - even in the space of six weeks - see a significant improvement. It’s like when someone switches the factory lights back on again, allowing you to feel much more like your old self.

My Natural Menopause Programme

Over 27 years, I have developed a five-month programme that has helped literally thousands of women overcome their menopause symptoms. All of my work is based on published medical research, so I leave nothing up to guesswork. This is not a magic fix or a pill to pop, it requires work from your end. But over time the results are overwhelmingly positive and the tools you learn can be used to keep yourself in good health long after menopause.

The 6 Week Cruising Through The Menopause Boot Camp

Twenty months ago I set up the  Six-Week Natural Menopause Solution for women in my private the Midlife Switch. This allowed them to create the same programme that I use with my one-to-one patients. But what actually happened even surprised me! Not only were the women able to create their own programmes and see their symptoms disappear, but many said that their lives had completely been turned around for the better. I must say that it is absolutely amazing to see these women transform from shell shocked menopause victims to vibrant confident women ready to take on the world.

First Aid Tips to Relieve Common Menopause Symptoms

Getting Your Nutrient Levels Back into an Optimum Range: It takes time to get your nutrient levels back into an optimum range. I recommend taking a good multivitamin daily such as Fema 45+. Many women think that the menopause will just happen and it will be over in a relatively short amount of time, but for the majority of women that’s just wishful thinking.  You need to carefully consider your personal journey through menopause as there are options. And, remember to treat yourself as a priority as it isn’t something that comes naturally to most of us.  We are used to doing things for everyone else first!

Daily Relaxation:  Formal Relaxation³ for 20 minutes a day can reduce your flushes by 50 to 60 percent. What is formal relaxation? It’s the type of relaxation which takes you into a deep meditative state. A terrific tool to help you achieve this “deep relaxed state” is the Pzizz app which uses psychoacoustics and technology to create an environment, via our mobile devices, that lulls you into a deeply relaxed state. For those suffering from insomnia, the Pzizz app also has a programme that facilitates a better night’s sleep. You can download a free version to try it out first. The paid version has a variety of dreamscapes and customizations that are really worth the price. Plus if you use the code BESTPZIZZ you will receive a significant discount. Go to www.pzizz.com/buy and check it out.

Hot Flush/Night Sweats Relief: Hot flushes and night sweats are very common symptoms of menopause. Not only are they annoying, but their sudden onslaught can be embarrassing, distracting and disruptive. But I have found a great solution in the form of intelligent clothing by a company called BECOME™. Their line of clothing (ranges from vests and knickers to leggings) uses Anti-Flush Technology™ to address sudden surges in body temperature, profuse sweating and extreme chilling. The fabric is silky soft and feels great against your skin. Many of my patients and former boot campers have praised these products.

To learn more about what’s going on in your body and how to manage menopause symptoms naturally please join me at my free virtual menopause class.  I will be answering questions live at the end of the session. Make yourself a priority and say no to suffering with menopause! and join my virtual class!

¹ J E Blumel et al. Menopausal Symptoms Appear Before the Menopause and Persist 5 Years Beyond: A Detailed Analysis of a Multinational Study. Climacteric, 15 (6), 542-51 Dec 2012
²Rene Rizzoli et al. The Role of Dietary Protein and Vitamin D in Maintaining Musculoskeletal Health in PostMenopausal Women: A Consensus Statement From the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) Maturitas, 79 (1), 122-32
³Crowe BM, van POuymbroeck M. Enhancing problem and emotion-focused coping in menopausal women through yoga. International Journal of Yoga Therapy 2019; 29(1):57-64