Experiencing something different for you?

Is it a taboo subject?

Is there silence to break?

Kirsten Campbell speaks openly and honestly about her personal peri-menopause experience, and her desire to create a space for sharing experience and thoughts.

Struggling with mental health?

As a personal development consultant trainer, I have always been one to advocate for mental and emotional well-being. However, as I entered my peri-menopause stage, I found myself struggling with my own mental health in ways that I never thought possible. The symptoms that came with this phase of life were nothing short of jaw-dropping, and I found myself wondering who I had become.

One of the most distressing symptoms I experienced was brain fog and impaired memory. As someone who has always prided herself on my ability the think and listen well on my feet, it was terrifying to feel like my brain was no longer functioning at its optimal level. This was further compounded by anxiety and imposter syndrome, which made me question my abilities as a consultant trainer.

Grey Moods and Mood Swings

Grey moods and mood swings were another aspect of peri-menopause that took me by surprise. I found myself oscillating between out-of-character bursts of anger and moments of intense sadness. These mood swings were particularly difficult to manage in a professional setting, where I had to maintain a level of professionalism and emotional control. As for my family, I fear they experienced the worst. Talking about it and labelling it, whilst not enough was a significant factor in understanding.

Disturbed sleep patterns were also a new addition to my life. For the first time, I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. This, coupled with cold sweats (rather than hot sweats), made for a particularly uncomfortable and disruptive sleep experience.

Feeling Like I Was Losing My Mind

It has been a difficult period of my life and at times, I found myself feeling like I was losing my mind. It was only after I declared to my team what I was experiencing that I found the courage to seek understanding, support and forgiveness. I will be forever grateful to the colleague who stood in for me at a moments notice, when he noticed I was unusually frozen with fear at the back of the room moments before I was due to present. Talking about it and labelling it in public was a way for me to help normalise what has been an old taboo for too long.

Breaking the silence

What’s important is that we are talking about it. By breaking the silence and sharing our experiences, we are normalising what has been a taboo subject for too long. We are paving the way for future generations of women to be able to approach this phase of life with greater understanding, compassion and hormonal solutions.

Wake-Up Call

In conclusion, my peri-menopause revelations have been a wake-up call. It has reminded me that mental and emotional health are not things that we can take for granted. It’s something that we need to actively work on and prioritise, especially during times of transition and change. It’s also important that we create spaces where we can talk about these issues openly and without shame. It’s only by doing so that we can begin to challenge the cultural stigma that has surrounded this topic for far too long.

Would you be interested in a space to share experiences and thoughts?

I am keen to hold a red¹⁰ space to share experiences and thoughts on what’s working for you. What’s your thoughts, would you be interested?