By Tana McKee, LMFT
At the risk of sounding stereotypical, sometimes women tend to take care of things for everyone around them while putting their own needs or challenges to the side to address later.
But the problem with this behavior – life keeps coming at us, and the things we’ve strategically put off to the side can end up getting overlooked. Until we come to a point where we can’t continue pretending they don’t exist. And then we need to do something different. But what?
First, it’s important to acknowledge some things are specifically experienced uniquely by women. Hormonal changes can contribute significantly to depressive symptoms as well as increase overall anxiety, irritability, etc. These changes can also lead to physical symptoms such as sleep disturbance, muscle loss, hot flashes, and night sweats, just to name a few.
Second, it’s also important to understand that several life circumstances can contribute to how women may experience these hormonal changes. Menopause, perimenopause, post-menopause, pregnancy, post-pregnancy (aka post-partum), infertility, miscarriage, post-miscarriage. All of these possible circumstances are very real overall, but they are especially real to the person experiencing them.
No matter what is going on for you, taking time to reflect on your own mental health and wellness during this month of May would be a good investment in yourself. Here are a few suggestions:
- Simply pay attention to how you’re feeling—physically, emotionally, and in all other ways. Have you noticed that you are more tired than usual? Any changes in your appetite or your overall mood? If so, acknowledge those observations about yourself and see if you can adjust your daily routine, which might help alleviate some of those things.
- Intentionally schedule some time reserved just for you. If this seems difficult, it’s okay to start small. But no matter what—carve out at least a little time for yourself. Every day or every week—whatever works best for you. Do something that brings you joy and makes your heart smile.
- Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to talk about what’s going on in your world — ESPECIALLY if you’re experiencing any of the aforementioned circumstances. Talk to a co-worker, a friend, or a relative. And remember that there are also professional folks out there who are able to lend a listening ear. If your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) such as empac or something similar, utilize the services. Help identify strategies and tools that can increase your focus on your own mental wellness. And/or—talk with your Primary Care Physician (PCP).
We should all strive to regularly think and talk about women’s mental health and wellness. Even more importantly, we should keep working to make it easier and safer for every individual to talk about their struggles without stigma or shame. If we can learn to do that for each other, we can effectively learn to change our world.
Need help now?
