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Betty, 47: "I thought I was heading for burnout"
Written by:
Sofi Persson
Betty Wassenius, 47:
A couple of years ago, I started experiencing flu-like symptoms and terrible muscle soreness. I felt really unwell and began to withdraw from my family and friends; I thought I was heading for burnout. I was sleeping poorly, found it hard to focus, and felt mentally sluggish. I no longer had the energy to exercise, and that's when my major identity crisis hit.
"Who am I?"
Exercise is part of my job and also my release. I started asking myself questions like: who am I without my training? And how can I be a personal trainer if I don't even have the energy to do strength training myself? It was only when I read Monika Björn's book 'Strong Through Menopause' that I began to understand the connection. It was during this period that I was asked to join a test panel with Klimakterieportalen (The Menopause Portal). I was given supplements of Turmeric, Magnesium, Biocell Collagen and the turnaround came after just three months. My body responded surprisingly well – I could start pushing myself again when I trained. My sleep fell into place, and I recovered better. My fitness isn't quite back to where it was, and I can still lose focus sometimes, but it's so much better, and I'm functioning normally again. I've noticed a huge difference since I started with the food supplements.
I wish more men would get involved
When my symptoms first started, I talked to my husband, Martin, who initially felt helpless due to a lack of knowledge about menopause. But now, we talk about it a lot, and I can really open up to him. The communication and knowledge have made us stronger. I wish more men would get involved, and I wish there was some kind of 'guide for relatives' available through the healthcare system with facts about menopause. Because it affects everyone.
Betty's tips for feeling better during menopause:
Stop drinking coffee
Cut down on carbohydrates
Eliminate sweets
Dare to talk about menopause
Try food supplements
Read up on it
Find what works for you
Practise acceptance
Listen to your body
Betty Wassenius, 47, works as a dentist and personal trainer. She is a vibrant woman, full of life and in her prime. She lives a healthy lifestyle and exercises regularly, with health being a focus in everything she does. Betty is one of 35 participants in the test panel that Great Earth conducted with Klimakterieportalen (The Menopause Portal) to measure the effects of nutritional supplements on menopausal symptoms.
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