In ancient times, the female life cycle was separated into three eras: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. 

We’ve come a long way since then, and know much more about what happens when our periods stop. 

Although menopause is a completely natural process, the time when it takes place varies from person to person. It can also be triggered by some surgical procedures and in some cancer patients. 

In recent years, more light has been shed on this important life stage, with celebrities and the government pushing for greater support and transparency for people undergoing menopause.  

Everyone’s experience of menopause is different, but if you’re having a hard time dealing with the wide range of symptoms that come with this hormonal gear shift, hypnotherapy can help. 

What is menopause?

Cast your mind back to your teenage years, when puberty hit and you became a raging ball of hormones. Menopause is the other end of that road and means “the last menstrual period”.

Fluctuating and falling levels of oestrogen and progesterone hormones slow down to the point where periods eventually stop. Unfortunately, those hormone levels can vary a lot and take several years to drop low enough to eliminate monthly periods. 

During that time, many women end up dealing with an array of symptoms, from heart palpitations, hot flashes and broken sleep, some of which can disrupt their lives and careers. 

According to experts, 50% of perimenopausal or menopausal women deliberately sidestepped a promotion or chose early retirement. It begs the question – why?

The three stages of menopause

The hormonal slowdown can take years for many women, and largely breaks down into three menopausal stages:

Premature menopause

This menopause stage generally begins before the age of 40, and can be triggered by treatments for illness or surgery. 

Peri menopause

This stage often begins when we’re in our mid-forties, and can last up to 10 years. 

Post menopause 

You are deemed to have entered this final phase if you haven’t had a period for 12 months and you still have ovaries. 

In the UK, the average age for postmenopausal women is 51 years, but it can occur any time between the ages of 45 and 55. 

Menopausal symptoms

There are lots of physical and mental health issues that come with symptoms of menopause and peri menopause. Women whose ovaries are removed are deemed to be immediately post-menopausal. 

Women can experience one or more at any time, and some may even find they change from month to month. The most common symptoms include: 

• Frequent hot flashes, night sweats and chills
• Sleep disturbances or poor sleep
• Mood swings, anger, irritability and impatience
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Memory and concentration difficulties (‘brain fog’
• Reduced interest in sex (libido)
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
• Itchy or ‘crawling’ feeling
• Joint stiffness and aches
• Sore breasts
• Weight gain.

Can hypnosis help with perimenopause?

Absolutely! As a fully qualified Solution Focused clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapist, I can help you deal with some of the most debilitating symptoms that are associated with perimenopause and menopause. 

Hot flushes and night sweats

Also known as hot flashes, these episodes can occur during the day or night (despite the name) and are among the most common menopausal symptoms. 

Hot flushes are characterised by a sudden feeling of warmth over the face, neck and chest, while night sweats can result in women waking up soaked to the skin. 

Some hot flashes can also increase your heart rate, and episodes can last between 10 seconds and a few minutes. 

Mood swings 

Just as teenagers dealing with swirling hormones can be irritable one moment and fine the next,  the same goes for anyone going through peri menopause or menopause. 

Like hot flashes, it is one of the most impactful menopausal symptoms. A dizzying shift in emotions or feeling inexplicably angry, snappy or impatient can exact a heavy toll on you and those around you.  

Brain fog 

As well as grappling with hot flashes and irritability, many women have difficulties with memory and concentration during peri menopause and menopause, common symptoms that have been dubbed ‘brain fog’. 

It can be incredibly challenging on both a personal and professional level, particularly if there’s a lack of understanding or empathy from loved ones or employers. 

Sleep disturbance 

Another one of the most impactful menopause symptoms, many women suffer from broken or poor sleep during this stage of their lives. 

Some find it easy to fall asleep but are wide awake just a couple of hours later. This disruption to their deep sleep patterns not only affects how they cope with the menopause transition, but can also have a significant impact on their mental health and daily lives. 

Each of these menopausal symptoms is challenging enough to cope with on their own, but many of them overlap. 

Hot flushes and memory issues can combine to make daily life tough, while insomnia and palpitations can make it almost impossible to get the rest we need. 

So, what are the solutions? 

Hormone replacement therapy

Arguably the most popular medical treatment, hormone replacement therapy, also known as HRT, uses oestrogen to replace the body’s natural levels around the time of the menopause.

There are different types and doses of HRT, and menopause symptoms can improve when you and your GP identify the right dose and type.

However, for anyone looking for non-chemical ways to cope with the symptoms of menopause, hypnotherapy is a tried and tested alternative. 

Clinical hypnotherapy and menopause symptoms

There are many ways in which hypnotherapy can help perimenopausal and postmenopausal women deal with their most debilitating symptoms and regain control of their lives. 

Studies of clinical hypnosis demonstrated that it was better than a ‘structured attention’ therapy, particularly in postmenopausal women who were having lots of hot flashes. It is also an effective treatment for menopausal women with a history of breast cancer. 

From reducing hot flashes and anxiety levels to boosting self esteem and getting better sleep, hypnotherapy and clinical hypnosis can help make this natural part of ageing a time in which you feel relaxed and feel empowered.

How hypnotherapy helps menopausal women

Some people turn to cognitive behavioural therapy to help them deal with menopause issues before and after their periods stop. 

CBT can help with some symptoms, such as irritability due to a lack of sleep or joint pain, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a more effective treatment. 

It blends modern psychotherapy methods with hypnosis. I use hypnotherapy treatment to focus on how to solve a patient’s issues, rather than dwelling on their problem itself. I can help quickly bring about positive change for women that lasts. 

Even better, when hypnotherapy is combined with lifestyle changes, such as taking up yoga as a regular exercise, it can have a significant impact for the better. 

Easing menopause symptoms with hypnotherapy

During a hypnotherapy session with me, patients are gently put into a trance. It is a 100% safe, natural and focused state of mind during which I can introduce thoughts and suggestions that will bring about the positive change you need. 

This therapy approach has been proven to help reduce anxiety and help with insomnia. As anyone knows, a lack of sleep can lead to depression and leave some women with a negative impression of their body. 

Easing anxiety and improving mood sessions of menopause hypnosis not only ease anxiety, but they also help women feel relaxed, improving their sleep and allowing them to see their body in a more positive way. 

Hypnotherapy is a treatment for menopausal symptoms that goes a long way to improving mood and the mind body connection. 

Imagine stepping into work after a decent night’s sleep with a rested body and mind. Fewer or no night sweats or hot flushes, less tension in your muscles, more clarity of thought. 

With my hypnotherapy treatment, this can be a reality. 

Book a hypnotherapy session 

Before your first hypnotherapy session, I will conduct a free, initial consultation via Zoom, which you can book here. 

It gives me a chance to get to know you and find out what you’re hoping to achieve.

My hypnotherapy sessions take place on Thursdays at Salus Wellness Clinics in Cambridge and on Fridays at Coach House Health Care, Trumpington, Cambridge. 

Contact me

For a chat about your menopausal symptoms and how hypnotherapy can prevent them negatively impacting your life, you can email me at sevarin@lifeflowhypnotherapy.co.uk, call 07359 188625, or fill in this contact form.