Does drinking alcohol make menopause symptoms worse?

Have you ever noticed that on the nights you have been on the booze that certain menopause symptoms are increased? If you have- read on!

To flip that- what if- STOPPING drinking alcohol made menopause symptoms improve by upto 80%!

What if- STOPPING drinking alcohol made menopause more enjoyable and perhaps even more meaningful?

WTF is going on inside me?!

Menopause onset can happen at any time from around 40 to 55 years old.

There are 3 stages to the menopause-

1. perimenopause- there are some changes beginning to take place such as fluctuations in cycle length, missed periods, changes in mood, weight increase.

2. menopause- you are officially in menopause when you have been period free for excactly 12 months . This label stands for just 1 day.

3. post menopause- this refers to all the time after your menopause. Periods are a thing of the past and you are navigating a new way of living & being.

The symptoms of menopause can vary a great deal between different women- depending on age, diet, genetics, weight and other health and lifestyle choices.

These may include-

see pic to the left.

But what do you notice about the sympoms listed?

Are there any similarities to other states you have experienced?

This is because both low oestrogen and progesterone exert the same physical changes on the body as alcohol intake does.

These changes include- see pic to the right.

This is very sobering right?

So to put that in a different way. Drinking alcohol may make the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, insomnia, weight gain, low mood, anxiety, declining gut health WORSE.

This is mainly due to -

• increase in heat and inflammation

• decrease in liver function and ability to metabolize toxins

• decrease in nutrients

• changes in cardio vascular health

• declining metabolic rate

• increase in oxidative stress.

But it is not just about what you are feeling on the inside. It is about what is actually taking place physically. Menopause represents a time in female health where we must STOP, take stock & evaluate out health. Where do we want to be in 10 years, 20 years etc?

This is mostly because we have lost the protective nature of oestrogen and progesterone.

Things can literally "go down hill" pretty rapidly post 50 UNLESS we make some really great choices. Here are some factors we need to be super mindful of-

1. investing in bone health

2. investing in heart health

3. investing in metabolic health

4. investing in emotional health.

Drinking alcohol not only impairs us from doing this but during a time when we are already vulnerable to rapid changes in health- drinking alcohol in combination may leave us more predisposed to the onset of certain diseases.

But this is no just about physical health and aging. This is bigger- a lot BIGGER.

So to focus in on point 4 from above-

"Emotional health"- what is the deeper meaning of the menopause?

This is already a tricky time emotionally. Our bodies are changing, our self confidence may have taken a knock, our moods are changing, things that seemed easy suddenly feel tricky. We may be experiencing slower cognition, problems with recall and brain fog.

This is a time where a deep and self compassionate approach is required to allow us to SURRENDER, to allow us to remove resitance to this new phase. To be proactive but to stop fighting the transition.

What if i told you that alcohol blocks this?

What if I told you that alcohol tries to keep us in the previous phase?

What if I told you that alcohol prevents us dropping completely into the "great softening" that the menopause is.

The work of Debs De Vries -

https://debsdevries.com/

Describes this new power, awakening & kundalini energy that rises between the age of 42 & 52. She believes this is a natural process we need to embrace and feel wholeheartedly in order to develop the skills required to help us travel into the next phase of life.

Here is great article from the Mayo clinic for further reading

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-why-alcohol-and-menopause-can-be-a-dangerous-mix/#:~:text=Juliana%20Kling%20with%20Mayo%20Clinic's,can%20be%20a%20dangerous%20mix.

If this has ignited something in you and you would like some help and support as you embark on your sobriety journey- My next Shes Sober AF sobriety course starts on 18th September-

You can book your place here-

https://www.suzeetylee.com/sobriety-courses

Use the above link to secure your place on the course.

Terms and conditions apply.

Together we rise. xx