GARY ~ these ladies are doing a great job explaining " THE CHANGE" to you; ENNAY's description of a roller coaster really describes how you feel mentally and emotionally and physically; that's an extremely good analogy, ENNAY!
I started "THE CHANGE" at 46 y/o and like others thought I was losing my mind; my eyesight got blurried; it seemed that I suddenly lost my memory somewhere and couldn't find it again (and it was so noticeable cuz before I had an amazing memory); I couldn't concentrate on tasks that previously were simple to me; it was scary!
I was sooo HOT, HOT, HOT that I thought I was gonna self-combust (I even told a doctor that and he just sat there nodding his head up and down). That was from the inside; on the outside, I would feel chilled; and it was like a roller coaster, of being HOT;COLD;HOT;COLD;HOT over and over. And of course, the nightly night-sweats and feeling totally de-hydrated (I have to keep a bottle of cold water on my night-stand).
I have to get up to visit the ladies room more often now, and sometimes just to walk around so that I can cool off; and in the winter, I have been known to go outside on the deck in my nightie. I also have nausea and dizzy spells; and it doesn't help if you have high or low sugar or catch a flu at the same time cuz you get totally confused then.
THE GOOD NEWS is that it has gotten better over the last two years; my clarity of thought is coming back; I still get the hot flashes and sweats, but the dizzy spells and nausea are less frequent. You can get weepy and very irritable; for my DH, this was an adjustment cuz I had such an easy-going personality before and so much patience, BUT I lost that for awhile!
I would even get angry sometimes over things I would just let pass; now I have to remind myself that these things aren't the end of the world, and to choose my battles carefully; heck, I don't want to terrorize the poor man ~ LOL! I just want him to listen, not crowd me too much when I'm HOT (arms-length is good). BUT, I have to say that a little BEER (as little as 1/2 cup up to a bottle) has helped me immensely thru this time (plus a lot of ^prayers^ too); apparently, BEER has natural estrogens in it; the Egyptians knew this a long time ago.
The symptoms and their severity vary from person to person; it oftens depends on what you inherit from other women in your family. Just knowing what was happening to me made a huge difference; and when I have one of my little spells (as I call them), DH gently reminds me ~THIS WILL PASS; and, that really, really helps me. It's true ~ they only last from a few minutes up to a 1/2 hour (at the start); they get shorter as time goes on ~ yeah!!!
I found DISTRACTION one of the best ways to deal with this; keeping your mind busy really helps alot. Reading, writing, walking, going for a ride in the car (my fave), coming on the net, working, etc all help; anything that keeps your mind occupied, lessens the anxiety and possible depression (some people may need medication for a short time).
GARY ~ You are a good man ~ you can help her thru this; just be patient and understanding and helpful, when she wants it. There will be some times when she just needs some space alone; respect that. DH and my DAD and my family have all been very supportive to me during this time; and I am so grateful for that, cuz at the beginning, it was one of the most scary times of my life. I hope it isn't that bad for ANGELA!
ROSEBUD