Hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness tend to get top billing when it comes to menopause.<\/p>\n
But the hormonal rollercoaster can wreak havoc well beyond the physical \u2014 messing with a woman\u2019s mental and emotional health, too.<\/p>\n
Model, actress and entrepreneur Molly Sims, 53, knows this firsthand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s literally, like, your joints hurt; you can\u2019t fall asleep; you forget your words,\u201d she told The Post about her own perimenopause symptoms. \u201cBut mentally, how does that affect you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly Sims opens up about the physical, mental and emotional toll of perimenopause. instagram\/mollybsims<\/p>\n
Sims recalls lying awake at night in tears, struggling to fall back asleep, then waking up exhausted. Eventually, the physical and emotional strain become too much. <\/p>\n
A friend suggested she try Rula<\/a>, a virtual mental healthcare platform that connects users with licensed therapists and psychiatrists within 24 hours, with an average copay of $15.<\/p>\n \u201cI was kind of having a moment and kind of just hanging on by a thread,\u201d she said. \u201cI ended up using the platform at the last minute.\u201d<\/p>\n The experience made such an impression on Sims \u2014 particularly the ability to book appointments with experts on her own busy schedule \u2014 that she eventually partnered with the platform.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s 40-plus, 50-plus, women are struggling,\u201d she said. \u201cThey think they can do it all. They think that they can be everything to everyone until you hit a wall, and you know, life happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Sims acknowledged that she has the privilege of living between NYC and LA, where she has \u201cincredible people at the tip of my fingers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor the people who live in rural areas, who live in areas that they can\u2019t take a day off work and go and meet someone amazing, this gives them the opportunity to do that,\u201d said Sims.<\/p>\n Mental health support has been central to Sims\u2019 approach to perimenopause. But she\u2019s also developed a roster of everyday habits and wellness rituals that she credits with helping her feel better.<\/p>\n Sims says sleepless nights left her feeling overwhelmed. instagram\/mollybsims<\/p>\n \u201cI live and die by magnesium,\u201d she said, touting magnesium baths and a magnesium CBD balm for her feet. She also adds Epsom salts to her baths to soothe achy joints.<\/p>\n In perimenopause, magnesium can help improve sleep, relax muscles, maintain bone strength, regulate mood swings, and even support metabolic health.<\/p>\n Another staple? A buzzy wellness drink.<\/p>\n \u201cI do my Dria water<\/a>,\u201d she continued. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty much a drink I do every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n The concoction was created by Dria Murphy, an NYC-based wellness content creator and entrepreneur, and combines colostrum, electrolytes and creatine.<\/p>\n From magnesium baths to a buzzy wellness drink, Sims relies on a mix of daily wellness rituals to manage her symptoms. Getty Images for Chandler Chicco Agency, LLC<\/p>\n Murphy told Laugh Lines<\/a> that she came up with the drink after \u201cfeeling overwhelmed by how many supplements I had on my counter and wanted to simplify everything.\u201d <\/p>\n But how much of that benefit is backed by science?<\/p>\n Electrolyte supplements and sports drinks are generally unnecessary<\/a> for healthy people eating a balanced diet, since plain water provides sufficient hydration for everyday activities and desk work.<\/p>\n Colostrum supplements, meanwhile, have surged in popularity but haven\u2019t been conclusively shown<\/a> to directly boost energy or improve recovery.<\/p>\n Creatine has stronger scientific backing. Mountains of research suggest it\u2019s particularly<\/a> beneficial during perimenopause and postmenopause, helping support muscle recovery, strength and brain function.<\/p>\n Sims also swears by melatonin and vitamin B-12 shots. Her other wellness staples include turmeric, massages, cold plunges and sauna sessions.<\/p>\n However, one practice stands out above the rest.<\/p>\n \u201cI think one of the biggest things that helped me is probably Pilates,\u201d Sims said. <\/p>\n Sims has practiced consistently three times a week since July, working with Beth Rodbell, a former professional ballet dancer who offers private Pilates classes in NYC, Connecticut and the Hamptons.<\/p>\n \u201cThe breathing and stretching and lengthening has really grounded me in a way. That has really helped me. It\u2019s helped me learn to breathe better, take a moment, but it\u2019s really helped my body be in alignment.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s also experimenting with different mattresses to address disrupted sleep, another common perimenopause complaint. \u201cI\u2019m trying a couple different ones, but I love Eight Sleep<\/a>,\u201d she said. \u201cIt really clocks my sleep<\/a>, and it also has like a cold dial, so it can match your body temperature.\u201d<\/p>\n