I’m going to share a little bit of my personal story.
I was told thirteen years ago, age 37 that I had gone through the menopause.
It was a HUGE shock because even though I knew something was very wrong with me I hadn’t even said the word menopause let alone considered it to be a cause of my mental, emotional and physical break down.
Thirteen years ago the ‘menopause world’ was a very different place. If you think menopausal woman are underserved now you should’ve seen how it was back then.
Practically no was was talking about it. It was very taboo.
It was a lonely place to be. I’m grateful for the Daisy Network which is a chairty for woman going through premature menopause. I was also lucky to have an understanding GP and was looked after by a NHS menopause clinic in London.
The lack of conversation and support inspired me to create Mrs Menopause. I’m really proud of what I created and the woman I helped and who helped each other.
We created community. A place for woman to share their experience and support each other.
In the same year, thirteen years ago, after hitting my rock bottom, I entered into a recovery program for addiction.
I was a big year ;-)!
Recovery is about change and learning to live on life’s terms without the need to take/use something to change the way I feel. It was a very painful, emotional but a positive life changing experience.
I’d tried unsuccessfully for years to stop drinking and using drugs. One of the reasons I couldn’t stay stopped was because I was doing it ALONE.
Thirteen years on I still go to regular meetings (2-3 per week) to meet with people who have a shared experience.
Why?
Because it’s the community and connection that has kept me going. Especially when life has thrown us crap, because life throws everyone crap.
Why am I sharing this with you?
I believe the missing piece to going through the menopause is feeling that we belong, we are worthy and we are visable.
You can eat the healthiest diet, take the supplements, use HRT but there isn’t a pill for feeling alone or disconnected.
Woman (actually all humans) need community and connection. We need our village, our tribe, our people, our wise elders. We need a place to share and learn from each other.
We live in a world where we are the most connected via technologly ever but also the loneliest ever.
Our mental and physical health is in crisis and something has to be done differently.
I believe that is building community and connecting, really connecting is a massive part of the solution.
It is happening already, groups of people are coming together and getting well together.
I want to be part of this movement. I don’t know how yet but I feel a fire in my belly that hasn’t been there for a while.
Does this resonate with you? Do you feel alone on your menopause journey?
