A Reblog: The Great Search to Maintain My Mental Health During Perimenopause

I am always grateful to Kathy, the host of Navigating the Change, for publishing my work. It reminds me that I am not alone in describing the various changes we may endure as we age. It reminds me that I still have a voice and others want to hear (read) it, too. Here is a snippet from the article, but to read it in its entirety and comment, please proceed to the actual published article on the site. Thank you in advance. Peace and blessings.

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with chronic adjustment disorder with intermittent anxiety and depression. And now I’m facing the ultimate test. My therapist has announced that she will be retiring.

Though my therapist and I have worked through strategies on how to live with this diagnosis, she did not prepare me for what I am supposed to do if she should announce her retirement during my fourth year of perimenopause.

My initial response was one of happiness; I was and am happy for her. I celebrated the reality of this new venture with her during our last session. I told her I was proud of her. A leap like this is monumental.

We chatted about it a bit before the end of our last session, and she communicated that she would help me to compile a list of recommendations.

But it is scary.Tremaine L. Loadholt, Navigating the Change

NaPoWriMo #9

breaths of fresh air

Spring kicked down
my door and sat its
funky self down in
my living room–pollen
dangling from its feet

funny, I don’t remember
inviting such a threat to
my well-being over for
afternoon tea, but here we are

Benadryl has been getting
cozy with me during
the owl hours of night
and Claritin-D wakes up
with me to usher in
a new day

with Spring planning to
stick around for a few
more months, we’ve had to
adjust our schedules

it’ll be a long time
until we can breathe
healing breaths of fresh
air again unless we opt
to forcefully remove this
torturous season from
our home

and I don’t think any
of us are strong enough for
a plan as thick-headed
as that one

so, we’ll suffer in
peace