Tell us about your menopausal mood swings.

In episode 30 of the Read. Talk. Grow. podcast, we talk menopause! You can listen to the episode, “Feeling the rage of the menopause transition” or wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode summary

For many women, midlife take the shape of a perfect storm: High-stress careers, kids transitioning out of the home, and then an onslaught of (sometimes severe) hormonal symptoms. For the protagonist of “Amazing Grace Adams,” it’s all too much. Author Fran Littlewood explains how her protagonist breaks out of the “good-girl narrative” and unleashes her suppressed rage, with expert menopause insight from Dr. Lisa Larkin.

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discussed:

• Shame around symptoms. Symptoms can be severe and life-altering. Sometimes it feels like bodily aging changes come overnight. But many people don’t talk about these symptoms because they’re ashamed of them. They may not realize these symptoms are due to menopause — or if they do, they may be dismissed by their healthcare providers when they try to get treatment.
• Feeling the rage. The book starts with Grace getting out of her car, abandoning it, deciding to walk across London, and letting out all her rage. We discuss how menopause can come with all sorts of mood disturbances: rage, anxiety, depression.
• Seeking relief. Many women feel much better after the waves of perimenopause — but we talk about effective treatments that can help in the meantime.

More resources:

For more on menopause, check out these Read. Talk. Grow. episodes:

• Unlocking the mysteries of perimenopause with author Heather Corinna and Dr. Jewel Kling
• The mystery, mayhem and joys of middle age and beyond with author Laurie Notaro and Dr. Erum Jadoon
• Flipping the script on menopause with author Kirsten Miller and Dr. Paru David

Questions for discussion:

• Did/do you find menopause affects or affected your mood?
• If you read the book, did you find yourself identifying with Grace? Or wanting to distance yourself from her?

Share your thoughts, questions and opinions below!