Maria Bello admits using cosmetic processes and 'copious amounts of therapy' for menopause transition

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: After a two-year hiatus, Maria Bello returned to Instagram and opened up about embracing her menopause journey.

On Monday, December 4, the 56-year-old actress took to Instagram to share the challenges faced during her transition to menopause and finally accepted the process, according to People.

Maria Bello opens up on ways she tried to combat side effects of menopause

Calling her hiatus from social media a "(meno)PAUSE" and her return after the break a "second life", Bello explained the ways she tried to combat the side effects of the process of menopause. 

She posted a picture of herself with the lines "I am back from from my "meno) pause" written over the image.

"I went through the first half of menopause during Covid and tried everything to keep it at bay," the 'Permanent Midnight' actress wrote.

"I took bio-identical hormones (and still do), dieted harder and faster but still managed to gain 15 pounds, tried Ozempic for a week but gave up after the constant nausea and vomiting, got rid of the waddle on my neck, tried Botox, fillers and lasers, face creams, cellulite machines, face threads, teeth straightening and more."

"I did copious amounts of therapy, including micro-dosing psilocybin, left Hollywood and all social media, and at the end of it all finally moved to Paris. That was October of 2021," she added.

Maria Bello immersed herself in the psychological aspects of aging

The 'NCIS' star then gradually decided to "really delve into the pause in menopause" and "immerse herself" in the psychological aspects of "7 Tasks of Aging," a concept introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, as per the outlet.

Bello shared that she eventually embraced her menopause journey after significant self-reflection.

"Jung said the mid-life point is marked by disillusionment and depression. He said to cross over successfully to the second half of life, one needed to complete these tasks. (More on that later),” Bello said.

"Now after finally coming out of my cocoon of self-reflection, I want to share my journey over the last two years to accept my newly emerging self," she continued.

"I hope these posts will help anyone crossing over to the ‘second half of life’ and inspire them not to avoid menopause but to embrace it," she further said.

"So here we go! #mariasmenopause #menopause #secondhalfoflife #thepause," Bello ended her post encouraging others not to avoid menopause but to embrace the process.