Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause

One of the central themes in Dare I Say It is the profound effect menopause has on both the body and mind. Naomi Watts presents menopause as a complex, whole-body experience rather than a singular hormonal shift, emphasizing the interconnected nature of physical symptoms and emotional well-being. Through personal anecdotes, expert insights, and broader cultural critique, Watts highlights the often-overlooked ways menopause can alter a woman’s sense of self, relationships, and daily life. By addressing these challenges openly, she normalizes the struggles associated with menopause and validates the emotional toll that often accompanies the physical changes.

Throughout the book, Watts details the wide range of physical and cognitive symptoms that women experience during menopause, including hot flashes, brain fog, weight gain, fatigue, and joint pain. She candidly describes her own struggles with these changes, noting how they affected her career, self-confidence, and ability to function in daily life. For example, she recalls experiencing intense memory lapses, including forgetting where she parked her car or missing a flight due to “spacing out” (95). While these incidents may seem trivial on the surface, they speak to a larger issue: how menopause-related cognitive changes can make women feel disoriented and unlike themselves.