By Nutritional Therapist, Sarah Brereton

We are all getting used to living in isolation. Going through menopause in isolation is not recommended. We know it's important to talk to our doctor when unusual changes occur with our body, but we can be embarrassed to open up to our friends and family, and this shouldn’t be the case.

For example, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, urinary incontinence, mood swings, anxiety, fuzzy thinking are all symptoms that many women report when the menopause transition hits, yet many women don't tell anyone. Women need to seek support during menopause and talk. We shouldn’t feel the need to try prove ourselves as superheroes that can juggle everything and not complain.

Seeking support during menopause from our family and friends is just as important as considering the many options for symptom relief. Let's start with friends first – women form strong bonds with other women starting in childhood. We do this by sharing our most intimate feelings about our lives. Sharing your feelings, fears and concerns with your loved ones about menopause is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. Chances are, they are going through it, too. The experience may not be exactly the same, but you will receive the most important thing that will help you move through it, which is support and sharing stories and experiences.

If sharing your feelings and experience with menopause feels intimidating to you, start with someone you know is safe and will listen without judgment. This person may be a family member, like a sister, or a best friend.

Many women have also reported to me that they are reluctant to share what they're going through with their partner. They report feeling embarrassed about mood swings, particularly if their symptoms have affected sexual intimacy with their male partner.

Partners want to know what they can do to help. Many men feel powerless to help their partners ease the discomfort from hot flushes, mood swings and sleep disturbances.

These are all natural symptoms and part of our transition from menopause to post menopause.

It’s that knowing what to expect in menopause can in itself ease some of the discomfort of the transition. We can carry negative connotations from this stage from our mother’s and aunties and stories they have told us.

Some of the symptoms of the menopause are too often under recognised, undervalued and not taken seriously. The psychological symptoms associated with the menopause such as loss of self-confidence, low self-esteem, anxiety and low mood and can be the ones that often affect women the most. We need to help each other through these challenging times.

If you are looking for extra nutritional support during the menopause, consider taking Cleanmarine MenoMin. This unique Omega 3, phytonutrient and vitamin blend is rich in Omega-3 with Phospholipids, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and D3, as well as Rosemary Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Folate and Biotin. With Vitamin B6 to help regulate hormonal activity, biotin to help maintain normal mucous membranes, as well as Vitamin B2 to reduce tiredness and fatigue and Vitamin D to help maintain healthy normal bones. Cleanmarine MenoMin has been formulated specifically to give extra nutritional support for peri-menopausal and menopausal women. This synergistic formulation is ideal for women approaching the menopause who want to feel good every day.