The colour cure: Can embracing the rainbow ease menopause mood swings?

Gabbie Greenberg (Photo: Gabbie Greenberg/Instagram)[Missing Credit]

“Colours carry vibrations, they carry frequencies – they have this incredible power to affect our moods,” says Gabbie. “But people are nervous of colour, and particularly women who aren’t feeling comfortable with their bodies will gravitate to wearing black. But the downside of that is it’s not going to do anything for mood – which menopause can really negatively impact.”

Gabbie, who previously worked as head of wholesale childrenswear sales for Ralph Lauren, is keen to ensure that women over a certain age feel emboldened to wear colours that brighten both their physical features and their moods – and says you don’t need to wear black to cut a slender silhouette.

She advises women to wear red for confidence and energy, while orange – its softer, “more feminine” counterpart –  is the best colour to wear “from a mental health point of view” because it’s most guaranteed to “give you a boost”.

Yellow, which Gabbie dubs the colour of “joy and hope”, is the best colour to wear for creativity and focus. Green, which is “all about balance”, is the most universally flattering colour. “It's like having plants in your home too – [green] is full of vibrancy and life.”

Gabbie Greenberg (Photo: Gabbie Greenberg/Instagram)[Missing Credit]

Blue, the colour she associates most with her Jewish identity, is the best to wear for calmness and ease of communication.

“It's the colour of truth and integrity; you generally trust people who wear blue.” 

Another colour Gabbie associates with Judaism is purple, which, she says, is “very much about spirituality and connecting to source”. It is also associated with creativity and innovation, so if you’re looking for inspiration, Gabbie recommends donning some purple.

For those too shy to venture straight into wearing bold colours, Gabbie says adding them into your space can have similar mental effects.

“You could drink from an orange mug, or you could have some yellow flowers on your desk. But I think the more confidence you can build in wearing colour, the better you're going to feel."

A mother of three, Gabbie says she is grateful to be speaking at an event whose proceeds will go to Chana, thereby supporting women on their fertility journeys, which she sees as another time in a woman’s life – like menopause – when extra support is needed.

“I myself struggled to have children, and I didn’t really know about this charity. I just think these two phases in life – trying to have children, and going through menopause –are so hard, so this event and this book by Dr Cannon are just amazing. I love the way people are talking more and more about menopause now, so women don’t have to feel alone.”

BOOK: Menopause – your Questions Answered 

or go to:https://www.chana.org.uk/events/menopause-your-questions-answered

January 28

11am-1pm

NW London venue

£20, including light lunch and a signed copy of Dr Ellie Cannon’s new book

All proceeds go to Chana