There are many moments throughout Balance: A Perimenopause Journey that made me think about interactions that I had with my mother when I was younger. I feel like I was dismissive when she showed signs of discomfort, even though she didn’t explicitly tell me what was wrong with her. I remember her making jokes about how she “was excited” to get through “the change” so her body would stop treating her a certain type of way. I imagine a lot of people will look back at interactions with not just their mothers but their aunts, sister, and wives with a newfound respect once they view Balance: A Perimenopause Journey. If you take just a few moments on any social media, you will discover how much audiences are responding to this doc series.
This four-part series does not have your typical perspective, because it is spearheaded by Sadhvi Anubhuti and Sadhvi Siddhali Shree, two Jain monks who decided to document their journeys with perimenopause by taking two different routes. One will try to continue to live their life naturally while the other begins to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
The first words we hear in the first episode are, ‘I haven’t felt like myself lately.’ It seems like a small statement, but it’s the kind of phrase that leads to more conversations. What is so striking about Balance is how it listens and focuses. A lot of people do not understand the different from perimenopause and the loose, generic term “menopause” that gets thrown around on a daily basis. Episode two focuses on education on HRT, and episode three begins with disturbing facts about the suicide rates of women in the exact age range of women who are experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause.
This is a series about how women listen to one another and learn from each other’s experiences in order to find more dedication to continue and learn. And, it should be noted, that every woman is different. We should not be be cutting and pasting therapies from one person to another (or from one gender to the other) and not approaching care with a lack of compassion. It’s a series that should be seen by everyone–no matter the gender or age–in order for us to understand and comprehend each other better.
Balance: A Perimenopause Journey is available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV and Plex.
