Breaking the silence on perimenopause
Perimenopause has turned my life upside down in ways I never imagined. One moment I feel like myself, and the next I’m burning up from hot flashes, drenched in night sweats, or lying awake for hours staring into the dark, exhausted but unable to sleep.
My mind doesn’t feel like my own anymore - simple words slip away mid-sentence, I lose track of conversations, and I’m left wondering if I’m losing who I am. The mood swings hit without warning, and I can go from laughing to crying to furious in the space of a few minutes. It’s exhausting, and it chips away at everything: my work, my relationships, and my confidence in myself.
What makes it even harder is how isolating it feels. On the outside, I try to hold everything together, but inside I feel like I’m falling apart. My body feels foreign, my emotions are all over the place, and some days I don’t even recognise the person staring back at me in the mirror. I grieve the version of me that felt stable and in control, and I’m terrified of not knowing who I’m becoming. It’s a lonely and disorienting experience, and at times it feels utterly catastrophic.
But it’s important to remember that no one should go through this alone. Women’s voices and experiences need to be heard, respected, and taken seriously - whether at work, at home, or in wider society. If you are struggling, please reach out: talk to your GP, speak with trusted friends, or seek support through organisations such as Women’s Health Concern and Menopause Support. In our union too, your reps are here to listen and to fight for workplaces that understand and support women during menopause.
Perimenopause and menopause are not the end of who we are - they are part of our journey, and with the right understanding and support, we can come through stronger, more connected, and more determined that women’s health should never be side-lined. You are not alone, and together we can make sure every woman’s voice is heard.