Menopause causing brain fog?
Menopause causing brain fog?
Increasingly I am hearing from friends about reaching menopause, and, according to them, the menopause is one big problem!
Women who once saw themselves as brave Amazonian type warriors for their families now feel like slaves to their hormones, unable to cognitively perform as well as previously, and that multitasking, once carried out with ease, now presents a massive struggle.
My close friend, a fellow designer by profession, has a stock phrase she uses when things go missing or get lost, 'It was stolen!' This phrase is so handy and a perfect excuse! Recently, I realised more things were being 'stolen: was she targeted or was she just very unlucky?
The list of items included her sunglasses (she is Italian), her keys, and, last month, her passport, for the third time in eighteen months. Her husband later discreetly mentioned, when she was out of earshot, that he thought it was the menopause kicking in. He complained his wife's 'brain fog,' was a new problem and it was not going away.
“This is serious training, not a game.”
I suggested she might like to try Cogmed an online Working Memory Program. I was trying to be helpful, knowing she is super busy, so I explained, that it takes only five weeks, and she could the daily exercises on her computer; in her lunch break, or a tablet when away from the office…all she needed was wifi. Having the resources is a good start, but you need to use them regularly, to benefit. This is serious training, not a game.
Cogmed is evidence-based. I help children with Working Memory issues, and if it can help children and adults with ADHD, it can have the potential to help women with brain fog...that was my thinking.
My friend is an architect, and Cogmed is a perfect match, as the reward scheme for doing is entirely based on building an imaginary city. Each time you train you need to remember more you get rewarded with points. Each time you acquire a certain number of points, you can buy a piece of road, a building or any other infrastructure for building a city. The building incentive for an Architect was perfect!
It is all in the scheduling.
Fortunately, I have thirteen years of experience in using , and I was very strict from the start. We planned every detail of when it was going to be done, with daily check-ins with me to confirm the completed work. We also agreed on penalties when the work was not done, this is like real building projects where the builder must work to a schedule, or they get fined! I have adults who regularly do Cogmed, and I know how to make this work even with demanding clients who think it is magic; the penalty system worked a treat!
So what is Working Memory and how does Cogmed training help?
Working memory is best described as the ability to 'think and do'. The ability carry out mental arithmetic at speed, to read and absorb information effortlessly, to keep close attention to how long you have left time-wise, to organise things and get to places on time all require efficient working memory skills. We can build working memory skills, the technology to do this exists.
Word of warning.
Like a gym pass, having a membership does not make you healthier or stronger. You need to train with a good coach (Raviv Practice London has used this since 2008). If you want to take the training, bear in mind that you need to apply yourself for effective training and only then you will see the results.
Further reading:
Dyslexia? Dyspraxia? ADHD? ASD? Speech & Language? Developmental Delay? Anxiety?
Is every school day a struggle? As a parent, you may feel exhausted and on this journey alone. Each year you see the gap getting wider. You need to do something - change the approach, help your child learn for themselves, find a way to turn this around - to help while you can - do this NOW. the first step is free.
About the Author
Usha Patel is a Neurocognitive Therapist and Director at Raviv Practice London. Parents searching to help their suspected/neurodiverse child can get evidence-based solutions with results in as little as 8 weeks. Those in search of jargon-free help can get started straight away.
