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LIVE HEALTHY NOW - Episode 39
A June menopause special episode:
Why you need to be in the driving seat of menopause
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In the third of four special episodes in June sharing stories and insights into perimenopause and menopause we chat with Sarah Price about how she was unaware of what was happening to her as she experienced mental health challenges, despite having worked as an NHS nurse for twenty five years.
“HRT is not going to reverse it. There’s a perception that it’s the magic pill. Yes it can make you feel much more like your yourself but other changes are still happening. There are things that you do need to do to switch up in your habits and lifestyle to be able to support your body and mind in the way it needs because of those changes.”
— Nicola Mercer
“All of a sudden the prospect of going into a meeting and have to talk was this huge thing that would keep me awake the night before. I’d look for every possible excuse not to go because I’d think I wasn’t going to be any good at it. And I’d been doing my job for 25 years!”
—Sarah Price
What do you know about menopause? Is it something you think you’ll face when you absolutely have to, or maybe that it’s something you’re staying well and truly away from because you know it’s going to be a nightmare?
In June our podcast will focus on menopause, exploring the myths, fears, beliefs, experiences, and impact to real women. I know how crucial it is to help women of all ages understand what menopause is and how it will affect them, regardless of whether they experience symptoms like hot flushes or not.
Being informed so that you can have agency over the way you feel and any support you need is essential. Because menopause is going to happen to you if you’re a woman, and it’s going to - with or without any physical or mental symptoms - bring change that impacts the way you live. Having the right understanding and knowledge will give you the power to navigate this big season and change in your life in the best way possible so you can live the great life you want to live.
Our episode today is sharing such an insightful and real experience of perimenopause with Sarah Price. Sarah is a mental health nurse, and has been a nurse in the NHS for twenty years. This didn’t mean she was equipped with all the knowledge about menopause, or that she got the right support when she herself sought help from the medical profession who she went to for help managing her unexpected mental symptoms she started to experience at age forty-two.
During our chat we talk about:
The symptoms Sarah experienced that were very different to the physical ones she’d been expecting to indicate she was starting perimenopause.
What some of the mental health symptoms and problems can be that related to our changing hormones.
Her struggle getting help from her GP and why so many GPs are still focusing on depression as a root cause of many hormone related symptoms.
Why being informed with good knowledge on menopause is key to supporting yourself both with the medical help you want, and for your own control.
How HRT can be a huge help and reduce risks to other illness and diseases, but is not the magic cure for menopause.
Tracking your symptoms and the different tools to do this.
About Sarah:
Now 51, I took an interest in the symptoms of perimenopause 4 years ago when I started to notice changes in my physical and mental health. I had not considered hormonal changes and was experiencing this without any understanding of what was happening. I was not experiencing the classic symptoms people associate with perimenopause so I didn’t initially make the link. I was fortunate that I was able to learn from the growing online movement for women and their families in relation to this ‘change of ‘season’ which ensured I was able to eventually gain the right treatment for me as well as being able to identify symptoms and to support women I come into contact with experiencing similar symptoms and now hope I can use my own experience to make others more empowered to seek support. All opinions are personal and not professional.
Connect with Sarah:
The Balance App mentioned during our podcast: Get it here
Introducing our brand new online programme
"From Pause to Play" —
a captivating and inspiring programme that empowers you to conquer perimenopause and menopause with unwavering confidence and unwavering strength.
Discover the secrets to managing symptoms, unlocking your true potential, and navigating this chapter with grace and vitality.
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