It's true, small memory lapses and difficulty concentrating may easily occur during menopause with the decline of estrogen. You are right to write down everything in your cellphone or planner to take with you. Would you like another tip? Devote yourself to activities that exercise your memory (reading, puzzles, studying, games). This does not rule out the option of studying or enrolling in a course online (there are all kinds). In short, exercise your brain! Use "tricks" to help you remember things; always put things in the same place, make a list of things to do, etc. Stay in contact with nature as much as possible; it has been demonstrated that this helps to improve the memory. Remember that smoking is not good for the memory; now that you know, you have no more excuses!

The effects of stress are the result of an increase in adrenaline that accelerates the activity of the heart and increases blood pressure. Here are some tips to keep it at bay. In any case, it's time to dedicate some time to yourself, without feeling remorse - it's good for your health! Change your routine to allow you to relax better. Plan your day and set realistic dates at work. Follow a healthy, low-fat diet. Practice a physical activity that you enjoy, perhaps in the company of a friend. Try not to fight stress but to adapt it more flexibly to life situations. Learn a relaxation technique; this is a very effective way to combat anxiety and tension, and promote a sense of calm and concentration.

"In fact I had become hysterical. I was always nervous and irritable; I didn't recognize myself anymore," wrote Veronica. "I couldn't deal with anyone, and nothing was ever good for me - I couldn't even stand myself." Then finally, after unsuccessfully trying this and that, on the advice of friends I went to see my gynecologist. He listened to me and advised hormone replacement therapy. I felt reborn, and with greater awareness. Women, listen to your gynecologist and have a look at something new. Even for this therapy, research has been moving forward, and today there are new options that are even better tolerated by us women. Ask now, and don't waste time trying solutions that have no scientific evidence. Knowledge is health!"

Be yourself with all of your mood swings; YOU ARE HOW YOU ARE, and that is the beauty of you! Make the most of the small but important things. Make mistakes and learn to forgive yourself, it's been ages since you've done that! Love like there's no tomorrow (remember, menopause is the golden age of love!). Spend more time on the things that really make you happy. Every now and then just do what you like! Laugh often, and if you laugh at yourself it's even better. Even when everyone else sees the negative side of things, be optimistic. Give out mountains of hugs, it will benefit even you!

For us women, growing old means losing our beauty, seduction, capacity to reproduce, etc. We feel less interesting, less attractive, but more often than not it's quite the opposite. Try to rethink your perspective. Instead of focusing on what you lost, focus on everything that enriches you and makes you the beautiful person you are! Instead of complaining about not having time, work to regain a confident outlook on life. Meditation, yoga, movement, massage and other such things all help to put us in contact with our body and to make us more serene, curbing our feelings of inadequacy. By controlling our body and spirit better, we acquire greater awareness and love for ourselves.

When you have an extra moment of time, don't waste it on the couch in front of the TV and demean yourself. Go out, invite people over, cultivate new interests. In short, get moving! Travel whenever you can. Read. Today, life does not end at forty or fifty years. Far from it. It's just a matter of grit, determination and motivation. There are many women who even radically change their profession when others think they are already past their prime.  "It's never too late to be what you might have been"* reads a quote by George Eliot. We have finally reached the age to do exactly what we want for ourselves. And this freedom is priceless, don't you agree? 

* "It's never too late to be what you might have been"

Anxiety, mood swings, nervous tension and being extra emotional are very common during this time, and are also linked to the progressive loss of estrogen. Carrying out regular physical activity can help you. Even just a walk or a nice bike ride can improve your mood thanks to the release of endorphins, the "good mood" substances produced by your brain. Another useful strategy is to learn a relaxation technique or to follow a course of meditation. These help to fight anxiety and tension, promoting a sense of calm, and can also help you to maintain concentration.

You don't recognize yourself anymore. You were always daring throughout your life, and now you find yourself more insecure in your personal choices and your relationships with others. Anxieties and fears may increase in some women during menopause, but these must be addressed as soon as they present themselves, and worked on to make sure they don't increase. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, our emotional well-being depends on us, and on our attitude. Therefore, we are able to work on it. Fifty years is a difficult age. You start making assessments, you look at the past with a more critical eye, sometimes, you look toward the future with greater anxiety. We must accept our own difficulties. Being aware of them is the first step towards being able to solve and overcome them. Knowing that they are a part of our life in this moment is important so we don't despair. Remember that this is a moment of transition, followed by a new and better balance. Take it from those who have already gone through it - this thought can help you start the journey with yourself more serenely.

"I have always been an anxious woman, I must say," begins the testimonial of Enrica, "but with the approach of menopause the problem had become unbearable for me, but also, I realized, for those who were close to me. I asked my gynecologist for advice, and as alway she was invaluable. She calmed me down and advised me to take hormone replacement therapy. In reality I never would have thought of that, but it was great advice. I was able to control my anxiety, but I also got obvious benefits throughout my body, even in the most "intimate areas" where I suffered from dryness. Even though we are still very close as a couple, this created considerable embarrassment for me with my husband, and also caused pain during sex. I was not handling it very well, but with hormone replacement therapy and a lubrication cream recommended by my gynecologist, I was able to solve my problems in that aspect as well.  I feel so much better and I am happy with myself."

For many women going through menopause, mood changes resemble a roller coaster ride. It starts with mild sensations, such as tremors, nervousness and irritation, but all it takes is a little stimulation for it to transform into a violent, disproportional reaction. We tend to lose patience easily. The brain centers that control the sense of well-being, positive mental attitude, the feeling of self-control and peace of mind are affected by the lack of estrogen. In some cases, the emotional disturbances are due to lack of sleep. This generates daytime fatigue that accumulates, causing irritability and states of anxiety. There are many ways to keep the insomnia under control. Find the one that works the best for you and start using it.

The first thing you should consider is that the vision you have of yourself tends to affect your behavior; this is the so-called mechanism of "self-fulfilling prophecy." If your self-esteem is good, you will tend to confidently face any situation. If the opposite is true, you'll be convinced of failing, and as a result you'll put little effort in. In other words, the expectation of failure opens the way to failure, with a further reduction of self-esteem. This is why it is critical to learn not to give too much weight to fears, insecurities, alleged defects and deficiencies. Keep in mind that we tend to believe that we are judged by others in a way that is far greater than what actually happens in reality. It's time to have more confidence in yourself, and to love  yourself more.