From the Editor…Karen Giblin The Value of Listening

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: March 11, 2022

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer”

-Camus

 

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

Women nowadays want to know what to expect before we get into menopause and how to manage its course through our postmenopausal years. We like to have answers, and we are not shy about asking for the information we need.

Over the last three decades, I’ve been fortunate to listen to women with open ears. These women have spoken up at our Red Hot Mamas programs. They have also written to our organization to get answers for their menopausal concerns. Some women have shared with me that they have felt overlooked when it comes to their menopausal care. One of the main reasons for this is that their doctors have not adequately listened to them.

As women, we particularly value communication with our doctors. So, our doctors should make it a point to demonstrate to us that they really are interested in what we have to say. We need our doctors to be skilled interviewers when asking their questions. They also need to be kind listeners and not be dismissive when we begin discussing our concerns.

I know at times, that many of us are embarrassed and gripped with anxiety when we talk to our doctors about our menopausal symptoms. Our doctors, in turn, should try to understand our emotions. They should not only be involved in the words we share with them, but also look at our non-verbal communication such as our facial expressions and body language.

We also need eye contact because we feel it is just as important as conversation. If we feel our doctor is actively listening to us, we will be comfortable in providing necessary information about our menopausal health needs. And we certainly don’t like it when our doctor is staring into a computer while we are trying to talk to them. This will not build our trust nor engagement.

In closing, we women need to feel heard and valued. One way to do this is to have a doctor who understands the importance of being a compassionate listener.

Good Health to you all,

Karen Giblin