I do not remember menopause being discussed much when I was younger. On the rare occasion that it was talked about, it was often in hushed tones or portrayed in some form of comedy sketch.
Is it any wonder then that when it affects us it can take months, if not years, to realise this is why we are suffering from joint pain, insomnia, brain fog, anxiety and depression, to name just a few of the 34 different recognised symptoms?
My experience started with insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and panic attacks. I had never really suffered from any of these issues before and put it down to months of Covid lockdown.
Despite continuing with mindfulness and meditation practices, after months of experiencing these symptoms I felt as if I was going mad and was left wondering if this was now going to be my ‘new normal’.
Finding your own way through menopause is a bit like walking through a maze – bewilderingly complex, thinking you have found the right path, just to discover that you feel worse than ever
I felt overwhelmed. Working full-time while feeling this way, together with having an anxious knot in my stomach almost constantly, was even more exhausting.
There were days when it was a struggle to retain any information and I felt totally useless. Having a panic attack while in a work meeting and ‘losing’ 20 seconds of the conversation, although no one else knew it was happening, was extremely frightening. So, despite having worked in the pensions industry for more than 30 years, I really questioned whether I could carry on.
Quite by accident I then stumbled on a Menopause Group on Facebook, led by a menopause specialist in my area. The symptoms being discussed in that forum, both physical and emotional, were all too familiar.
It became clear to me that menopause was not just about having hot flushes, although those are bad enough. What was happening to me was the result of a hormonal imbalance in my body that could, and should, be addressed. I was not becoming unhinged and understanding that was a massive relief.
Raising awareness
Recognising my symptoms helped me to contextualise and discuss them with friends, family and work colleagues.
With raised awareness of menopause in both work and social environments, being able to talk openly about it and being accepted, understood and supported has made a massive difference.
At work, it gives me the reassurance that my colleagues ‘have my back’, that I can continue to be a valued member of the team, provide a professional service, and share my skills.
I am still working my way through the roadblocks of misinformed and disengaged medical professionals.
However, I believe that the more information we have about our own symptoms, and are able to present these coupled with our view of what we need, the more likely we are to get help.
Research and information are key. I have been very lucky that I have managed to get help, but it has been a frustratingly difficult battle.
For some, medical intervention will not be possible. Looking into alternatives, together with identifying triggers around diet, exercise and lifestyle, is vital.
Finding your own way through menopause is a bit like walking through a maze — bewilderingly complex, thinking you have found the right path, just to discover that you feel worse than ever.
But the more we learn about it, the more we can understand ourselves and collect the tools to manage our individual menopause journey.
Being able to discuss it openly and feel supported both in and out of work is crucial. As someone said to me recently, “we all deserve to feel whole”. For more information, here are some useful resources I found, provided by Dr Louise Newson at Newson Health.
Louise Campbell is a professional trustee at Dalriada Trustees
