Alanis Morissette reveals why menopause became her ‘truth serum’

Alanis Morissette has shared a candid insight into how she’s navigating menopause, revealing she has no intention of giving up hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as she embraces this new chapter of life.

The “You Oughta Know” singer, 52, opened up about ageing in a new interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine, admitting that menopause has become something of a “truth serum” and has helped her step into what she describes as her “authentic truth”.

Alanis  also revealed she uses HRT to help manage her menopause symptoms and laughed off the suggestion that she’ll eventually stop taking it. “The other day someone said, ‘Why would you start HRT, because when you go off it in your seventies it’s like you’re experiencing it for the first time?'” she recalled. “My question was, ‘Who’s going off it?!'”

Embracing a new chapter

Reflecting on getting older, Alanis said she’s learned to welcome the changes that come with age rather than resist them.

“The procreative imperative keeps me ooey-gooey, then when that goes away I’m in my authentic truth,” she explained.

She admitted there was a period of adjustment as she moved from one stage of life into another. “There was grief of going from the playful maiden into the mom – it’s an archetypal head spinner,” she said. “I’m embracing the older woman with some ‘I know too much’ humour.”

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Leaving Los Angeles behind

The Grammy Award winner also revealed she eventually chose to leave Los Angeles after feeling uncomfortable with the pressure many women face to maintain a youthful appearance.

Despite championing ageing naturally, Alanis stressed that she believes every woman should feel free to make her own choices. “I’m all about women doing what the f*** they need to feel right,” she said. “I have zero judgment.”

She added with characteristic humour: “Personally, I do the ouchy facials because, you know, I like collagen, a**holes.”

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Motherhood comes first

Away from music, Alanis says her greatest role is being a mother. The singer shares three children – Ever, 14, Onyx, nine, and Winter, six – with husband Mario “Souleye” Treadway.

Speaking recently to E! News, she explained: “Archetypically, ‘Mom’ is number one for me and ‘writer’ is number two, so for that to be marked tonight, it really warms my heart.”

Speaking openly about mental health

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Throughout her career, Alanis has never shied away from discussing the more difficult moments in her life.

The Jagged Little Pill star has previously spoken candidly about experiencing panic attacks, depression and PTSD following her meteoric rise to fame in the 1990s. “It’s taken a lot of work and therapy to just not be suicidal,” she told Event Magazine in 2018.

Looking back on recording Jagged Little Pill, she also revealed there were concerns over releasing “You Oughta Know” as the album’s lead single because of its raw emotion.

Speaking on the Talk Easy With Sam Fragoso podcast, Alanis recalled: “Nobody wanted ‘You Oughta Know’ first. They were terrified of that song.”