Beat Menopause Brain Fog

We know about hot flushes, but menopause can also affect memory, mood and more. Here’s how to cope at work and at home…

YOU’RE ABOUT TO INTRODUCE your boss of six years to a visitor when your mind goes blank. You make a joke and the moment passes, but it’s not like you. Worse, though, is the sweep of anger triggered by a colleague nitpicking over a set of figures. Help! Did you really lose it and tell her what to do with her spreadsheet?

Sound familiar? Brain fog, hot flushes, mood swings, memory blips and poor concentration are all too real, and, while they may be bothersome at home, menopause is still something of a taboo subject in the workplace.

Now the first generation of 50-plus women to be employed in such large numbers is set to change that, helped by research led by Myra Hunter, professor of psychology at King’s College London. This has shown that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is useful for managing hot flushes – and can improve mood and concentration.

Boost your confidence

‘CBT is a life skill that anyone can use and it can increase confidence,’ says Hunter. ‘I use it to deal with stressful situations; mindfulness is helpful too. When women think they’re not coping, they often react by working even harder. This can lead to a vicious circle of fatigue and stress that can affect self-esteem. The quickest way to feel better is to give yourself more time, find ways to delegate both at home and at work, and deliberately find something positive to enjoy, however small.’

There are practical steps you can take to make life easier if brain fog and mood swings are making you think you’ve lost the plot.

What causes foggy brain?