The female body has its own struggles. The attitude, behaviour and stereotypes of the society increase these challenges even more. Due to this, they have to face many challenges at every stage from periods to menopause.
The life of women who have proved their mettle in front of the world with their skills and wisdom in their home and outside life is also not a cake walk. Women who have made significant contributions in missions from the Moon to Mars have to face a different kind of discrimination and challenges on personal health issues. There are many taboos in our society about periods to menopause. Educationist, mental health advocate and traveler Neerja Birla is talking about these taboos.
Talking openly and socially about issues like periods and menopause is now a need that should not be ignored. Also, advising to be comfortable with these issues related to women, mental health advocate and wife of Indian industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, Neerja Birla says, “When the whole family sits together at the dinner table, this issue should also be discussed easily along with all other topics.”
In an exclusive interview with HealthShots on these issues related to women, 53-year-old Neerja Birla says, “In our house, there is no veil on discussions on periods and menstruation. This kind of environment should be there not just in one house in India but in the whole country.”
Had to face social norms on menstruation
On this issue, Neerja further says that, “When she was growing up, the environment was not like this. Like most girls in most Indian households, she too had to face many social norms and myths related to menstruation.”
Neerja says that “most of the houses had some protocols like not going to the temple or kitchen during periods. When I was asked to do the same, gradually I started arguing and reasoning on all these issues because I was not agreeing to it.” After this discrimination against her, Neerja decided that “she will not repeat this unfair treatment in future, and will also break this long standing ‘social taboo’.
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Menopause is not a disease
The World Health Organization describes menopause as the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Menopause usually occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, but younger women can go through it too.
Night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular sleep, urine problems, mood swings, dry eyes, headaches and many more symptoms are seen in this. But even after seeing so many symptoms, women do not report the problem and keep suffering from it peacefully.
Menopause is a bigger taboo than periods
Neerja says that she has two daughters and a son. When her daughters were growing up, she inspired them to fight this ‘taboo’ of society and told them that periods are a common and normal process, about which no one needs to feel ashamed.
Along with this, 53-year-old Neerja Birla believes that in Indian society, menopause is a bigger taboo than periods. She says, I do not see any woman saying that I do not have periods anymore and they also do not talk much about the health problems related to intimate health, which is a big problem.
Menopause affects mental health
Linking menopause to mental health, Neerja says that when hormonal changes occur due to menopause, they directly affect mental health. If steps are not taken to overcome the problems caused by it in time, it can have serious consequences. Due to this, problems like loneliness and depression begin.
Neerja says that menopause also occurs at a time when your children are growing up, and they start needing you less emotionally and physically. For women, this creates a void in life. It is a huge physical and mental change, and it takes time to get used to the new routine and expectations.
Women need to take self care
Neerja Birla says that taking care of physical and mental health has been an important part of her life and she says that it is very important for all women to take good care of their health to improve it. Sharing her fitness mantra, Neerja says that she follows these tips to stay fit even at the age of 50.
1 Exercise
Neerja says that it is very important for women to stay fit to stay healthy. Exercising improves mental and physical health and also provides relief from many problems.
2 Spend time with family
During menopause your mental health is very unstable and you are emotionally very weak. In this case, Neerja says that no one can be more supportive than your family at such times, so spend time with your family.
3 Social circle is also important
Neerja says that after family, only your friends can solve all your problems. So, if you find yourself alone at such a time, expand your social circle and talk to your friends and relatives.
Also read: Your skin tells you that your menopause has begun, know how to deal with it