WHIM Network Book Club – Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis

For our June meeting our book is Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis, by Ada Calhoun, available from the Toronto Public Library and Indigo .

Why We Can’t Sleep

The Gen Xers, those born between 1965 and 1979, are currently between 40 – 54 years old; there are 82 million of them in the U.S.

Some of the older Gen Xers have gone through menopause since the average age of menopause in North American is 51, but the majority are still in perimenopause. This generation is stressed, has high aspirations, and wants answers to their questions. These women are not like me and other Baby Boomers who put up with bothersome menopause without demanding education and support. Gen Xers want to know what is happening to their bodies and minds.

Excerpts from Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis, by Ada Calhoun

“For a while, I thought it was just Type A strivers, but then I started hearing the same sort of thing even from my low-key friends. When I reached out to strangers for this story, I heard the same toxic brew of fear, anxiety and anger.

Not to mention sweatiness and insomnia.

As I cooked dinner the other night, I thought about the women I had been talking to. They’re just entering, slogging through or just leaving their 40s. They belong to Generation X, born roughly during the baby bust, from 1965 to 1984”….

“But back to the sweatiness and insomnia. Ours is the first generation to have gynecologists sit us down as early as our late 30s and tell us that signs like weepiness, hot flashes or irregular periods could indicate that we have begun “perimenopause,” a term no one used 20 years ago but that now is everywhere. (A transgender friend of mine jokes that he’s going to take Perry Menopause as his DJ name.)

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Read more on Oprah.com.

Have you had your gynecologist tell you about perimenopause? I bet not. In Canada women are only referred to a gynecologist when something is wrong with their reproductive system.

Most family doctors aren’t educated and equipped (not to mention having the time) to start a conversation about menopause with women who aren’t complaining about it. Even women who do complain get only about 10 minutes of the doctor’s attention, not enough time even to describe how they’re feeling!

Hence, you need to get your information, early, before you start feeling fearful and anxious about the changes you’re going through in perimenopause, from a menopause practitioner (coach, mentor, or specialist). Remember, there’s help. I can help you!

Due to COVID-19, this month’s Book Club is ONLINE .  Learn more and register here.

The event will be provided through Zoom. To attend you’ll need a computer or smart device and an internet connection. Post registration, a few hours before the event, I will email you a link to join the webinar online. Five (5) minutes before the event just click on the link and you’ll join us.