I am not that young compared to some of you, I am 40 and have been in perimenopause of about 6 months. I look a heap younger though. An issue I am having though is other people's reactions. I am sick to death of being told I am too young. I even had a sales assistant in a health food shop refuse to sell me supplements! I am not really very balanced at the moment as it is and this is not helping.

Does this happen to anyone else and how do you deal with it??

Dear Possessed
Being in menopause and dealing with it ohh so well.. ..I just want to strangle those ignorant - uneducated - idiots that you are unfortunatly coming into contact with .......ahh rage...gotta love it!!
Why is everyone going out of their way to annoy me?

I am 52 but am often mistakenly thought to be in my 40's. It is VERY frustrating to be given misguided 'compliments' by strangers and friends. Menopause has that aura of being an 'old ladies' delimna when nothing could be further from the truth. Woman can enter into menopause as early as their 20's....albiet rare it is not as uncommon as the general public would think. People associate menopause with a preconcieved notion that with menopause comes 'old age.' By telling you that you are too young to be in menopause they are stumbling with brain cells that register...'old age-old age'. In thier own way....telling you....you are still vibrant, still beautiful, still youthful .

Then there is my dear mother who ......when I told her I was starting menopause....... replied with disgust ...you are STILL dealing with 'that' every month?

Insofar as that silly woman who refused to sell you supplements.....what a poor shallow life she must lead. Not to mention how dare she refuse you anything! I have had RA since I was 28 and often go to my herbalist for various natural supplements. I do not limp every day n'or am I a convolesent. To see me one would never guess that I suffer every single day with the pain of RA. IF anyone were to refuse me arthritis medication or herbs because I didn't 'look' crippled enough with arthritis.....would be flat on the floor with my evil stare.....oops here somes that rage again....everyone DUCK for cover!!

Until more people educate themselves about Menopause through books, web sites and perhaps even TV shows that deal with such issues.....we will unfortunatley have to deal with those that have NO idea that Menopause really knows no age. It can hit at any time, any age, and look out world....cause here we come!!

Hang in there Possessed.....you are not alone.....and if I were you....I would write a strongly worded letter to the owner of that particular Health Food Shop and let them know that they are hiring incompetent staff.

Dottie

I am 39 (will be 40 in Jan) and have had many people tell me that I look younger than I am. I usually smile and feel that it is a compliment. However, I take offence when politely or otherwise brushed aside as being too young to be experiencing the symptoms I am definintely experiencing. I understand your frustration with other people's lack of knowledge and empathy. I've changed doctors before because I didn't feel that they were LISTENING to me. I'm the one in this body and only I know how I feel.

Until I found this site I thought I was a rare case, but now I know that I am one of many women challenging themselves and others to search for information, guidance, and support during this trying time in our lives.

Thanks for posting,
Christy

The sales assistant was lucky I was having a teary day rather than a agro day!

I'm 45 and no one will believe I'm in menopause. (Except my husband, of course, and that's only because he sees the evidence....or, er...lack of....). My friends all tell me I'm too young. Even my mother won't believe me. Where did the general public get this idea that menopause happens in your 60's? I'm wondering if it's partly due to all these hollyweird stars having babies in their forties or fifties? I just read that Demi Moore, who is 44, wants another baby. When I was a kid, it was unheard of for a woman her age to become pregnant. Nowadays, it's nothing. "40 is the new 20"....all because of plastic surgery, and the fact that so many baby boomers can't deal with the fact that they are aging. Madonna is fifty years old and looks and acts like someone in their twenties (although in her case, I think it's because she has taken excellent care of her body.)

Interested to hear what others have to say about this...