New Book Tells You What to Expect When You’re Entering Menopause
Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife, A Woman’s Guide to Health in the Body You Actually Have, by Mikala Albertson, MD is the book all women need. Consider it the “What to Expect” book for those entering or in the midst of perimenopause.
It’s nice to see talk about something as normal and ordinary as menopause being talked about. Roughly half the world’s population will experience this life change, but it’s rarely ever discussed. This means many women spend too much time wondering if their experiences are normal, or even worse, assuming that difficult symptoms that can be treated are “just part of the process.”
In this informative and engaging book, Albertson shares information and anecdotes, many of them personal, that will help women better understand their bodies and feel less alone. A board-certified family practice doctor, she explains the medical and emotional changes many women will experience and talks about the importance of caring for not just the body, but also the mind and spirit. Helpful appendices at the end provide brief health screenings and reliable resources to help you learn even more about your own personal circumstances.
Chapters cover not only the expected changes that hit women at midlife (such as hot flashes, weight gain and brain fog) but also talk about physical concerns to watch for, common mood disorders, and the importance of taking care of one’s mental and emotional health. Albertson talks of building a team to get you through this game of life and ends chapters with suggestions on what you personally can focus on for better physical, mental and spiritual health.
Reading this book is like sitting down and chatting with a good friend, one who has the knowledge and experience to provide sound advice. Albertson is quick to note that there is no quick fix or “one size fits all” treatment (in fact, one should be wary of such promises), but her matter-of-fact treatment of these very ordinary life events offers readers reassurance that even if it’s all a bit scary, you’re not alone.
