Serious question for the older ladies amongst us.

**PrincessBandit** · 19th November 2008, 19:12

I would like some advice regarding how any of you ladies have coped with that "certain time of your life" in relation to it affecting your riding (or not, as the case may be).

For me it's not so much "that time of the month" now, rather "that stage of your life" and I'm not liking the experience all that much. Besides the (at times) funnier aspects of wondering what on earth you went into a certain room to get, or not being able to remember things that should be able to come to mind, not all the experiences have been ones to just laugh off.

Point in case. This morning I took my teenage daughter to go shopping at Botany (in the car thankfully), ended up having to get off the motorway in East Tamaki forgetting there's not offramp at Te Irirangi Dr, and needless to say ended up completely lost in the rabbit warren of roads in the industrial area of ET. Initially I just "aimed" in the general direction of Botany but after failing to even read my map successfully got even more lost. It sounds hilarious when relating it now, but I ended up having what I can only describe as a panic attack (something I have never had before in my life) and it was so bad that when I looked at my map again it was like looking at a Chinese puzzle. Landmarks which are actually familiar to me looked totally unrecognisable and I was so distraught my daughter ordered me to pull over and she drove home.

I can smile about it now, so feel free to take the mickey (I promise I'm no longer in the mood where I'll reach for my shotgun!!). But I would definitely appreciate hearing any advice from women who have gone through this (at times frightening) experience. I am normally a highly competent and self controlled person but this shook me badly and I need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel, and how to cope in the meantime.

Already the obvious I know - such as should something like this happen while on the bike just pull over into the first available stopping place and sit it out and bugger looking at the watch to keep to any timetable.
Thank you for any help and advice you can give (as long as it's not go down the back of the section and shoot myself!)

**Mom** · 19th November 2008, 19:22

I will have a small crack at answering this.

I am blonde (well it is darker blonde now with a few grey bits showing) but none the less blonde. As a result of being blonde I have always been a bit of a directionally challenged female.

Not unusual for me to go to a place that I am sort of familiar with, maybe been there a few times before and get hopelessly lost, knowing I HAD to take a right turn, only to discover it should have been left. Seeing where you want to go and not being able to get there frustrates the hell out of me sometimes. I got lost in Albany not so long ago. Not so much lost as unable to find a friggen road that would take me back to the motorway...LOL

The worst thing for me has been the start to say something and forget midway what the hell I started talking about

Used to think it because I gabble on and get sidetracked , and then talk a bunch of shite making me unable to find my way back to where I started, but over time I realise it is not that, I have actually lost my marbles

Dont stress it, it passes eventually

I hope

**piston broke** · 19th November 2008, 19:22

hi,not much help but guy's have panic attacks as well.
i had one a couple of months ago,no reason i know of,maybe i have male menopause,lol.
i was drivin the cage,had to stop for half an hour to get my shit together.
don't worry about it.shit happens.
onwards and upwards.

**piston broke** · 19th November 2008, 19:24

hey we are all just gettin older

**98tls** · 19th November 2008, 19:26

Fwiw Princess its equally as bad for us,i keep buying new helmets but cant keep pace with the ever increasing amount of room at the top of them.

**Mom** · 19th November 2008, 19:26

Originally Posted by 96 600ss

hi,not much help but guy's have panic attacks as well.
i had one a couple of months ago,no reason i know of,maybe i have male menopause,lol.
i was drivin the cage,had to stop for half an hour to get my shit together.
don't worry about it.shit happens.
onwards and upwards.

Dont panic! Shit I laugh like hell about my blonde, senior moments, mind you so do most of my mates. That would be at me, not with me if you get my drift...LOL Joking of course.

**Mom** · 19th November 2008, 19:27

Originally Posted by 98tls

Fwiw Princess its equally as bad for us,i keep buying new helmets but cant keep pace with the ever increasing amount of room at the top of them.

Come up here, I will give you a Maha cut, then you pick the lid that fits. It will stay that way if you keep the style I give you

**piston broke** · 19th November 2008, 19:28

shit,i just read the thread title properly.
i hope like fark i ain't turnin into an 'older lady'
now that would be a problem

**Subike** · 19th November 2008, 19:41

Cannot answer you specific question, but please make sure your significant other knows about this.
I made some bad errors when dealing with my previous partner, caused me a whole lots of grief. If she had told me about her panick attacks etc, I would have been better prepared to help, instead of distroying what we had.
So from a mans eyes, let your Loved ones be VERY involved.
We may not understand it, but you can all work with it togeather.

**Mom** · 19th November 2008, 19:42

Originally Posted by 96 600ss

shit,i just read the thread title properly.
i hope like fark i ain't turnin into an 'older lady'
now that would be a problem

You got a problem with older ladies punk?

**Paul in NZ** · 19th November 2008, 19:53

Vicki is directionally challenged at the best of times... When shes having a 'moment' she just pulls over next to some gangsta homie and waits until panic turns to rage, bails them up - usually they are so intimidated by 5' of pure venom they run away screaming but occasionally one of them mans up and gives the required directions hopeing she will disappear before his mates see him...

I caused the kids endless embarassment when they were young and cost a fortune in therapy to rectify...

**98tls** · 19th November 2008, 19:59

Originally Posted by Subike

Cannot answer you specific question, but please make sure your significant other knows about this.
I made some bad errors when dealing with my previous partner, caused me a whole lots of grief. If she had told me about her panick attacks etc, I would have been better prepared to help, instead of distroying what we had.
So from a mans eyes, let your Loved ones be VERY involved.
We may not understand it, but you can all work with it togeather.

Mate theres only one answer "donkey punch",puts things into perspective.

**piston broke** · 19th November 2008, 20:07

Originally Posted by Mom

You got a problem with older ladies punk?

not at all,
i'm currently on the lookout.
p.s i ain't no punk,the hair is way too long for that

**PrincessBandit** · 19th November 2008, 20:38

Originally Posted by 96 600ss

shit,i just read the thread title properly.
i hope like fark i ain't turnin into an 'older lady'
now that would be a problem

LMAO. A familiar cry of many a man I'm sure who has pokied into the Angels forum! I remember a few posts in my shewee thread from guys who had forgotten that the BA's forum (while not exclusively for us women, of course) does generally cater more for our perspective on things!

**1 Free Man** · 19th November 2008, 22:03

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

I would like some advice regarding how any of you ladies have coped with that "certain time of your life" in relation to it affecting your riding (or not, as the case may be).

For me it's not so much "that time of the month" now, rather "that stage of your life" and I'm not liking the experience all that much. Besides the (at times) funnier aspects of wondering what on earth you went into a certain room to get, or not being able to remember things that should be able to come to mind, not all the experiences have been ones to just laugh off.

Point in case. This morning I took my teenage daughter to go shopping at Botany (in the car thankfully), ended up having to get off the motorway in East Tamaki forgetting there's not offramp at Te Irirangi Dr, and needless to say ended up completely lost in the rabbit warren of roads in the industrial area of ET. Initially I just "aimed" in the general direction of Botany but after failing to even read my map successfully got even more lost. It sounds hilarious when relating it now, but I ended up having what I can only describe as a panic attack (something I have never had before in my life) and it was so bad that when I looked at my map again it was like looking at a Chinese puzzle. Landmarks which are actually familiar to me looked totally unrecognisable and I was so distraught my daughter ordered me to pull over and she drove home.

I can smile about it now, so feel free to take the mickey (I promise I'm no longer in the mood where I'll reach for my shotgun!!). But I would definitely appreciate hearing any advice from women who have gone through this (at times frightening) experience. I am normally a highly competent and self controlled person but this shook me badly and I need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel, and how to cope in the meantime.

Already the obvious I know - such as should something like this happen while on the bike just pull over into the first available stopping place and sit it out and bugger looking at the watch to keep to any timetable.
Thank you for any help and advice you can give (as long as it's not go down the back of the section and shoot myself!)

In a nut shell MENOPAUSE my dear lady. GOOGLE it and see if any of the symptoms fit for you.