I have here in my hands a pamphlet my gynecologist gave me, called “Midlife Transitions: A Guide to Approaching Menopause.” It has lots of good information and advice in it. Like this:
If you are bothered by unsteady emotions or mental lapses, talk to your doctor. Most likely you are not “going crazy,” as many women fear, but instead are dealing with perimenopausal symptoms.
Most likely. I know I feel reassured.
For truly Orwellian madness, you must read all the way through to the last page, where you are rewarded with this:
Finally…
There was a time when no one talked about menopause; it was a mystery to most women.
It was a mystery to most women. A mystery. To most women. When was this mysterious time when women were completely ignorant about their own bodies? 1853?
Sigh.
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Yes, that “most likely” is as reassuring as my doctor’s advice that I “probably wouldn’t” pass out when I had a dizzy spell.