For many women, menopause arrives at a moment when life is already full.
We are often coming out of the most intense years of womanhood. Work, relationships, households, and family dynamics demand steady attention. Many of us have spent decades showing up for other people, managing moving parts, and keeping things running.
And then, almost audibly, our bodies clear their throats.
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Menopause is not subtle. Sleep changes. Temperature regulation shifts. Energy and focus fluctuate. Many women find themselves asking: “Why did no one explain this sooner?”
For me, the most disruptive part was sleep.
That’s what matters most. When sleep fragments, everything else feels harder. Emotional patience thins. Focus narrows. The body feels less steady.
I am not a medical professional. I am a forty-nine-year-old woman living with medically induced menopause while taking Tamoxifen after breast cancer. I’m writing from lived experience, informed by research and conversations with physicians and other women navigating this transition.
If there is one thing I hope this piece offers, it is this: you are not alone, you are not imagining it, and you are allowed to find what works for you.
At a high level, this is what has helped me:
- Prioritizing sleep as the foundation
- Creating a cool, breathable sleep environment
- Keeping a consistent schedule
- Eating earlier to reduce overnight disruption
- Meditation and breathwork to calm the nervous system
- Writing things down to quiet the mind
- Movement to stay physically strong
- Open conversations with other women
- And thoughtfully incorporating low-dose cannabis as one optional tool
Let’s talk about that last one.
As menopause disrupts sleep and heightens nervous system sensitivity, many women are quietly exploring cannabis as part of their routine. In much of the United States, cannabis is legal and regulated at the state level, and both emerging research and lived experience suggest that, when used intentionally and in very small amounts, it can support relaxation and sleep.
RELATED: How cannabis changed my menopause experience
For me, cannabis is not the solution. It is one tool.
It became part of a broader evening ritual focused on signaling safety to my body. I meditate to clear disruptive thoughts. I keep a journal by my bed. And I incorporate very low-dose cannabis mindfully, alongside those practices.
This is not about escape or sedation. It is about creating conditions for rest in a body that has become more easily activated.
What matters is informed choice, not silence.
Menopause is not something to power through. It is a transition that asks us to pay attention, to share knowledge, and to support one another more openly.
And for many women, cannabis is becoming part of that conversation.
This article was submitted by an unpaid guest contributor to GreenState. The statements within do not necessarily reflect the opinions of GreenState, Hearst, or its subsidiaries. The author is solely responsible for the content. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting a medical cannabis regimen.