My wife is currently going through menopause. She’s taking Black Cohosh and 400mg of vitamin E daily. However, she is getting very irritable and experiencing mood swings. She tries to go on a daily walk but smokes and drinks alcohol daily. Do you have any advice on helping her to feel better?

 

Answer:

 

It’s really nice to see a concerned husband while his wife is going through menopause, especially if your wife isn’t taking the change very well. I can tell that you are very caring and supportive, and that’s the most important thing you can be for you wife right now.

 

Going through the “change of life” takes its toll differently on different women – it can be a very emotional time in a woman’s life. For some, the symptoms are not that bad; while for others, it can seem like their mood swings are out of control. You just have to understand that this is a difficult time and try to be patient while she goes through the change.

 

You could try getting her some books to read that may help her through the transition of menopause.

 

• The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change – By Christiane Northrup. Through her personal story, the author portrays the positive aspects of going through menopause and offers comfort and support for dealing with the symptoms. It shows women how they can make menopause a time for personal growth and empowerment.
• The Menopause Bible: The Complete Practical Guide to Managing Your Menopause – By Robin N. Philips. This is an illustrated handbook on everything a woman needs to know about menopause. It provides a lot of information about dealing with “the change” physically, mentally, and emotionally.
• Your Perfectly Pampered Menopause: A Health, Beauty, and Lifestyle Guide for the Best Years of Your Life – By Colette Bouchez. This is a fun, enjoyable read designed to show how to live fabulously during and after menopause. The book contains advice on how to help women look and feel better about themselves during this time, as well as dealing with symptoms and treatments.

 

There is also a book written to help husbands deal with menopause. It’s designed to help men understand what their wives are going through and how menopause will affect them:

• No, It's Not Hot In Here: A Husband's Guide to Understanding Menopause – By D. Roth. It’s a fun, easy read that offers men tips on how to help their wives through this stage. It is written by a man, for men. It’s designed to help men understand what their wives are going through.

 

All of these books are available through amazon.com, and you can probably find them in your local bookstore. You can also check out the books in our online bookstore.

 

In addition to reading about menopause and reaffirming for your wife that she is not alone, here are some other forms of relief which may help your wife manage her symptoms:

• Herbal remedies - natural herbs have been known to help alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause. You could try Gingko Biloba, St. John’s Wort, Wild Yam, and/or Black Cohosh. Make sure your wife talks to her doctor before trying any of these.
• Supplements - menopausal supplements such as vitamins, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids can help ease symptoms.
•  Progesterone creams - help to rebalance hormones and relieve some symptoms.
• Oral hormones - be sure to ask a doctor about the risks involved with hormone replacement therapy.

 

Alcohol can increase the intensity and severity of almost all the menopausal symptoms, as well as lead to health problems. You should talk to your wife about this. By drinking alcohol, she may be making this stage in her life more difficult than it has to be. She should limit her alcohol intake or avoid it completely. The same thing goes for smoking as it also elevates menopausal symptoms. Caffeine is another drug that has the same effect. Staying active and healthy will help menopause go more smoothly.