Menopause - The Power of Sound

Before I talk about the wonders of sound used therapeutically for the menopause transition (and it really can be wondrous), I want to explore and share more about peri and post menopause. My experience, both personal and professional, has shown me that it's so important for women of all ages to be empowered, prepared and educated. There is so much information out there already, much of it conflicting, so rather than telling you what to do, I hope to spark curiosity and inspire a re-connection with yourself and your wisdom, so you can find your own way to and through this powerful life stage with ease and balance.

I come to this subject with the benefit of training and practice in nutritional medicine, Ayurveda, energy medicine, sound therapy and aromatherapy, plus the benefit of hightsight from 10 years of a pretty bumpy perimenopause, and a few years being out the other side. We all experience this transition differently of course, but here are some pearls and insights I learnt along the way from my training and research, from my own journey, and from helping many clients through theirs.

First things first, it's safe to say that peri and postmenopausal symptoms can make life feel really hard. And it doesn't just affect older women! I want to stress that point very loudly and very clearly.

The changes of perimenopause can begin from your mid-thirties. And knowing this can make all the difference.

You may be going through life, happily focused on your job, your children, your friends, perhaps pushing yourself quite hard and not meeting your own needs very well, but generally feeling OK, Then all of a sudden the ground shifts beneath your feet in a strange and unsettling way. What felt known and predictable suddenly feels unknown and unpredictable. Strange symptoms set in, then go away again, then come back again. You may be dismissed by your doctor when you reach out for help, or offered anti-anxiety / anti-depressant medication or birth control. You feel like you're going a bit crazy, you don't feel the same as you did, you don't know who to talk to about it and you can't get back on an even keel.

I learnt the hard way that you can, and many women do, start to experience hormonal shifts in their mid to late thirties. I remember turning to an older friend of mine to discuss how I was feeling, but was met with resistance - "Oh you're much too young for all that" she said, and that was that - I wasn't allowed in the wise woman club, the door was shut. So on I went, confused about these strange symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, super heavy and irregular periods, hot flashes. It must be my thyroid, I thought (I have hashimoto's disease) or something I'm eating, or stress, a nutrient deficiency, or a virus. I tested for things, I researched endlessly. It took quite a long time for the penny to finally drop, and to understand that the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause, specifically low progesterone and the ups and downs of oestrogen, were responsible.

As I discovered, the journey towards menopause can be surprisingly long and winding, not to mention confusing, and it’s so very important to know what to expect and be prepared for this important life stage early if you want to avoid an unnecessarily bumpy transition!

Here's what I learned along the way...

Symptoms of perimenopause include:

• Hot flashes/night sweats

• Irregular cycles and skipped periods

• Heavy periods / flooding

• Heart palpitations

• Low mood

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Brain fog

• Body shape changes

• Aches and pains

• Insomnia

• Increased allergies

• Skin irritation

• And lots more!

These symptoms can come and go as hormones fluctuate, often grow in intensity as you move towards your final period, and may continue beyond your last period for a number of years.

Menopause is a natural life stage, not a health problem or disease to be cured. 

That’s not to say it’s easy, for some it can be extremely challenging, but there’s no magic potion or one-size-fits-all solution and you don’t need to spend a lot of money on ‘miracle menopause’ products in order to get through it, like face creams, supplements or superfoods.

Menopause is a great opportunity for change.

It can act as a wake up call. Those difficult, uncomfortable symptoms, feelings and experiences serve to open our eyes and shine a light on where we may need to make adjustments in our life if we are to move forward in this next phase of our life in health and balance. 

Stress can make everything much worse.

This isn't something that can be glossed over, it's a biggie. Chronic, unresolved stress (emotional or physical) can cause your cortisol levels to become elevated too frequently, derailing and upsetting your hormone balance and worsening perimenopause symptoms. Look at the next section to try and identify where in your life you need to make changes to restore balance and reduce stress.

It’s time to ask yourself some important questions.

We are bombarded by the idea that miracle supplements, powders and gadgets can fix anything and resolve our symptoms but they can't fix a broken diet and lifestyle. If you were to appraise your life with a kind but honest pair of eyes...

• How would you rate your stress levels?

• What do you think of your choices and habits around food and alcohol?

• Do you feel well nourished physically and emotionally?

• How do you talk to yourself, are you generous and kind, or critical and judgemental?

• Do you spend enough time outdoors, or are you sitting in an artificially lit environment for much of the day?

• And how about your movement, do you do enough, or too much?

• How long do you spend on screens?

• Do you prioritise your sleep?

• Do you ever close your eyes and consciously breathe?

• Do you meditate or journal?

• Do you sing, or dance?

• Do you laugh and play with your children, partner or pets?

• Do you make time for face to face contact with friends?

• Are you able to say no when you need to?

• Can put your needs first when it matters or do you serve others at the expense of your own wellbeing?

Sometimes it's hard to know the answers because there's so much conflicting information out there about the best way to live healthily, but most of us know when we're not meeting our needs, when we're being pushed to our edges, putting ourselves last, and living out of harmony with nature and our bodies.

It’s tempting to reach for quick fix solutions and avoid making big changes.

It’s especially hard when menopause has been turned into a profitable industry, a disease that needs to be cured by using special menopause products. But leapfrogging over basic pillars of health and plastering over the cracks isn’t the answer. 

Change doesn’t need to be complicated, and don’t try to be perfect.

Take it slow, focus on what you enjoy, and what you need, and try small, easy, achievable and gradual shifts one at a time - it all adds up to make a real difference. 

Consistency is key, and meaning is everything.

Set intentions, know why you are making  changes, embrace conscious routine and make sacred ritual your new best friend. 

I believe that menopause, and the lead up to it, is an invitation to get off the railroads of life, embrace a different way of being, and make choices that nourish your body, mind and soul. 

That may not be easy at first, but it’s often what moves the needle, leading to meaningful, long term results, and access to a deeper relationship with yourself and what you really need as you transition through this important life stage. Tend to yourself with care, find ways to deeply relax, which brings me on to....

Sound Therapy!

Sound is a wonderful, powerful therapy to help you care for yourself during this transition.

Enjoying regular sound therapy, also known as sound healing, as part of your toolkit during your menopause journey can be transformative, and offers an opportunity for support and healing that goes beyond normal self care, giving you precious time to reconnect with your inner world and switch off from everyday life.

But how and why can does it work?

Sound therapy includes the combination of different healing sounds to produce sound waves that are both audible and inaudible to the human senses, creating a relaxing sonic experience intended to guide, or resonate, you back to balance. When carried out by a skilled practitioner and with healing intention, it can be deeply relaxing, creating a sense of grounded safety and childlike wonder, helping to still even busy minds, calm and settle the nervous system, and enable a peaceful, meditative state. This relaxed state, along with the resonance of different harmonious sound frequencies, can release stress, help with emotional states like anxiety and overwhelm, improve sleep, increase creativity, and support overall physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Sound can take you on a journey deep within yourself, opening up creativity and intuition and connecting you with who you really are.

Everyone's experience of sound therapy is different - some feel emotions bubbling up, have insights flash through their minds, or feel certain parts of their physical or energetic bodies tingling, and in almost all cases, people go deep within, and feel very relaxed and peaceful.

I love to work with people on a 1-2-1 basis to offer a truly personalised and private experience, using a range of instruments to create a multi-layered, unique soundscape of healing frequencies. During the sound session, I also offer guided relaxation and my own blends of essential oils to promote a deep feeling of calm and tranquility, ensuring my clients are in an optimal state to receive the healing frequencies.

You can find out more, and contact me to book a session here.

Wishing you the best of health

Emma