Female friendships are powerful. Women derive a sense of simpatico when surrounded by one another. We share our moments of joy and sorrows of pain. We lean upon one another and take comfort in the ears that listen and the words that tell us the truths that we really need to hear but may not want to hear. (#AD)

These female connections are even more important when a woman reaches menopause. Although there are various schools of thought on the timeline, many women will experience menopause naturally between 45 and 58 years old (but the symptoms can begin several years before that).

Then there are those women who are unceremoniously thrown into menopause (either naturally or induced) because of chromosome defects, chemotherapy, a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), bilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of both ovaries) or an autoimmune disease. Many times, these women experience the onset of early menopause.

Menopause can be a bumpy landscape to navigate alone, especially when we’re not equipped to handle this pivotal change of life. That’s why female friendships are so important during menopause.

Bonding and sharing with other women during menopause can have an almost therapeutic effect. It’s a connection that forms a community of like-minded women, all dealing with the symptoms of menopause in one form or another. They walk the journey with you. And those connections can reap positive benefits.

Menopause symptoms aren’t limited to the physical; our emotional health is also at stake. Anxiety, depression and changes in mood are culprits of menopause that can affect your quality of life. When our significant other stares at us in bewilderment as we complain of being exhausted and we’ve barely lifted a finger all day, or mood swings cause us to morph from angelic to demonic in a matter of seconds, we need the grounding force of a good girlfriend chat. We feel less isolated when we know that someone else has been through what we’re going through.

For the most part, this bonding comes natural to us. We’re nurturers by nature and, for many women, it’s intuitive to reach out and help others. When we extend that caring towards our sisters-in-menopause, we become open not only to receiving but to sharing as well.

You know that wonderful, cathartic feeling you get when you have an intimate talk with someone about something that has been bothering you? Often what you really need is simply someone to listen, to soak in what you’re saying – someone free from judgment. That. That’s what strong bonds of female friendships will do for you.

You don’t have to go through menopause alone. Having strong friendships can be the difference between merely surviving menopause and thriving in menopause.

Need help managing your menopause symptoms or looking for lifestyle tips and answers to your questions? Visit www.forevher.com.

All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
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This post is sponsored by TherapeuticsMD, Inc.