I didn't notice that I was going through menopause at first because nobody put a
name to it or ever spoke about it. I knew things felt different, and it wasn't until a
few years later that I realised what was going on. I thought that symptoms such as
mood swings and night sweats were just part of my personality. However, as I
started paying more attention, I noticed that the night sweats and other symptoms
were getting worse and worse – it was ridiculous.

Before attending the workshop, I had just been to the doctor due to anxiety and
depression. I was in a bad place. This was the first time they had ever said it could
be menopause and asked if I had thought about HRT. I still felt that it wasn't
menopause, as I was so far into it. I then came into work and saw that this
workshop was being advertised and saw it as a sign to attend and learn more.

Because the doctor had mentioned menopause, I thought it was worth exploring if
it was relevant to find out more information. I have noticed that at work, people are
a lot more supportive when you talk about menopause as opposed to just saying I
feel anxious. There are very good menopause ambassadors at work who
encouraged me to go and it came at the perfect time.

I left the workshop feeling supported and heard. I realised that I am a lot stronger
than I thought I was as I went through everything without the knowledge. The
workshop left me wanting to do something about it, regardless of what the cause
was e.g. menopause, anxiety, depression. I had been given the strength to face
anything, and I will recover. I feel strong, and I am worth it. Another key takeaway
for me is Wendy's advice: "Don't eat unless it's on a plate." I now eat better and
snack less. I lost my way a bit with food, and that small sentence has changed
everything. The workshop made sense of so much that I had been through. It was
such a relief that I wasn't going crazy at the time.

When I returned to work, everyone within a distance heard all about the workshop,
and I also fed back to my family and friends. I was skipping and dancing around the
place, and everyone said how different I had been since attending the workshop. It
was just perfect.

The messages from the workshop are so powerful and useful for women. It doesn't
matter what stage you are in in menopause; there is still so much to learn. This
workshop has changed my life.

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