The Power of Community Through Menopause and Beyond

By: Coach Kristin Burnham

Isolation & Loneliness 

Trying to navigate through perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause can sometimes feel like driving a car where the temperature control is broken, one minute it’s cold and the next it’s hot, the GPS randomly shouts contradictory directions, and the fuel gauge swings from full to empty constantly. Meanwhile, the manufacturer says this is part of the luxury experience. What the hell! This car is totally out of control. Actually, should I compare this to how we can sometimes feel out of control during our Menopause journey. 

While medical interventions have their place, there’s a powerful remedy that doesn’t require a prescription: Community. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child…well, it will take a coven of women with portable fans and emergency dark chocolate to survive menopause! 

In this blog we are going to focus on how having community in your life during this time can reduce Isolation and Loneliness. 

Having a supportive community during menopause can be transformative in combating the isolation and loneliness that often accompany this significant life transition. When women share their experiences with hot ashes, mood swings, sleep disruptions, and other symptoms, the simple act of recognition—”I’ve been there too”—can dissolve the walls of isolation that many feel when facing these changes alone. This validation creates a powerful sense of belonging and normalcy during a time when many women question whether what they’re experiencing is “just them.” 

Beyond emotional support, friends or groups who are menopause-savvy can over some practical wisdom that can’t be found in any medical textbook. Our amazing friends, sisters, and fellow travelers on this journey share their hard-won strategies for managing symptoms, navigating healthcare systems, and reclaiming some joy during this transition. These connections provide not just companionship but also a mutual resilience, transforming what might be a lonely chapter in life into an opportunity for new friendships, shared laughter, and the profound comfort of knowing you’re walking a well-formed path alongside others who understand exactly what you’re going through. Despite menopause affecting roughly half the world’s population, it often remains buried in silence, leaving many women feeling alone. Community breaks this silence. As one woman put it: “I thought I was losing my mind until I joined my menopause group. Turns out I wasn’t crazy—I was just really, really warm.”