October is Menopause Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on an often-overlooked stage of women’s health. Conversations about pregnancy and fertility are common, yet menopause—the natural biological milestone marking the end of menstrual cycles—rarely receives the same attention. Affecting roughly half the population, usually between ages 45 and 55, menopause brings a range of physical, emotional, and social changes that deserve recognition and understanding.
Understanding Menopause
Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It occurs when the ovaries gradually stop producing estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate menstruation and fertility. This transition often begins with perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, when cycles become irregular and symptoms first appear.
Common Symptoms
Menopause experiences vary widely, but frequent symptoms include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood changes, irritability, or anxiety
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort
- Weight gain and changes in body composition
- Brain fog or memory challenges
These symptoms can range from mild inconveniences to significant disruptions, affecting daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.
Mental Health, Relationships, & Other Risks
To understand the full impact of menopause, here are some statistics and findings that relate closely to mental health, relationships, and physical well-being:
- Depression prevalence: About 28% of postmenopausal women globally report symptoms of depression.
- Suicide risk & early menopause: Women who go through menopause early (before 40 or 40-44) face significantly higher risk of suicide compared to those in average age groups.
- Diagnosis & mis-treatment risks: Many women’s mood disturbances during menopause are misdiagnosed or treated only with psychiatric medications rather than considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormone-informed approaches. (While studies do show some risks associated with various forms of systemic hormone therapy, local hormone therapy may carry different risk profiles.
- Weight gain: On average, women between ages 45-55 gain about 1 pound/year during this period, due more to changes in lifestyle, metabolism, body composition, and aging, than hormones alone.
These added stresses—mental health issues, weight changes, changes in self-image—can also strain relationships. There is anecdotal evidence and some research pointing to increased divorce or relationship difficulties during menopause, but strong, consistent statistical data specifically showing a rise in divorce rates tied directly to menopause is still limited. If you find reliable local data, including it may strengthen your argument.
Why Awareness Matters
Despite being a universal stage of life, menopause is too often surrounded by stigma, silence, or misinformation. Many women feel isolated or uncertain about where to seek support. By raising awareness, we encourage open dialogue, empower women to advocate for their health, and foster understanding in workplaces, families, and communities.
Support and Treatment Options
Managing menopause is not one-size-fits-all. Options include:
- Lifestyle adjustments: Regular exercise, balanced nutrition (including managing sugar, protein, fats, and fiber), sleep hygiene, and stress management.
- Medical treatments: Hormone therapy (when safe and appropriate), non-hormonal medications, and supplements (when advised by a healthcare provider). It’s important to assess risks and benefits individually.
- Support networks: Counseling, support groups, peer networks, and open conversations with family or friends to reduce isolation.
Looking Ahead
Menopause is not an ending—it’s the start of a new chapter. With greater awareness, education, and support, women can navigate this transition with confidence, dignity, and strength.
This October, let’s take the opportunity to break the silence, share knowledge, and stand together in supporting women through this important transition.
Engage with others and spread awareness using the following hashtags:
- #MenopauseAwarenessMonth
- #BreakTheStigma
- #MidlifeHealth
- #MenopauseMatters
- #HealthyTransitions
Resource: Find a Certified Menopause Provider
For those seeking medical professionals with special training in menopause care:
- The Menopause Society (formerly North American Menopause Society) offers a directory of menopause practitioners certified to provide care through perimenopause and beyond. You can search by ZIP, telehealth, country, etc. portal.menopause.org
- Let’s Talk Menopause also has a feature to “Find a Menopause Provider” to connect with clinicians knowledgeable about menopause care. letstalkmenopause.org
Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational and awareness-raising purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs and before starting or changing treatment plans.

September marks recovery month and this year the theme was Recovery is REAL: Restoring Every Aspect of Life, highlighting the holistic nature of recovery. Keeping that in mind, I asked several amazing women in recovery to talk about different aspects of life they feel have been restored in their recovery journey and what specifically helped them. Read below to hear how these women have experienced that restoration firsthand.
person. We’ve been fortunate to be a part of thousands of recovery journeys over the years and it certainly fuels our passion for what we do and keeps hope alive for future clients.
When I first began my career as a therapist, I dreamed about someday stepping into a leadership role. Therapy has always been my passion, and the vision of guiding healing and growth—both in my clients and among fellow clinicians—was a lifelong goal. I vividly remember the ambitious “plans” I created as a teenager, imagining myself working within a collaborative team of specialized providers, developing and nurturing a diverse and skilled group of clinicians, and, most importantly, surrounding myself with professionals who shared my deep passion for therapeutic work.

Happy New Year from Chrysalis Center! As we embark on 2025, we look back upon all that was accomplished in 2024 and are excited about the prospect of what is to come moving forward. We are proud to share that our outcomes for 2024 were outstanding! First and foremost, client satisfaction was rated extremely high. Ninety-five percent of those who completed the survey strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with the services they received and would recommend Chrysalis to family and friends. With acceptance and creating a healing environment being paramount to our vision and values, we were thrilled to see that 98% of respondents reported feeling welcome and comfortable at Chrysalis and 97% of clients saying their experience was helpful.
Finally, I am very excited to announce the promotion of two long-term Chrysalis Center employees to leadership! Lauren Francis, MA, LPA is our new Clinical Director. Lauren has been with us for over a decade now in various roles (starting out as an undergraduate intern) and brings new ideas and energy to all aspects of programming here at Chrysalis. Don’t worry, she’ll still be leading the outpatient exposure meal group she created and has fostered over the past several years. Macy Baynor, MSW, LCSW is our new Assistant Clinical Director and will be heading up our training program and outreach efforts. Again, not to worry, she will also still run our Adolescent Recovery Circle (ARC) and exposure meal groups for teens. For those who don’t know, we precept doctoral practicum students, masters in social work interns, and counseling interns from various programs, hoping to share our clinical knowledge and eating disorder expertise with the next generation of professionals. I know that Lauren and Macy’s compassion, creativity, and commitment to exceptional care will surely contribute to Chrysalis Center’s mantra of “Thrive in 2025!”





