“Is It Menopause or Is It My Mind? The Mental Health Struggles No One Warned Us About”

Sharing our worries, boosts feelings of connection and reduces the risk of anxiety and depression

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re shining a light on something that often goes unspoken — the powerful link between menopause and mental health.

For many women, menopause isn't just hot flushes and night sweats. It's brain fog that makes you forget words mid-sentence, anxiety that creeps in out of nowhere, or a significant reduction in confidence and self esteem. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

According to Mind, the mental health charity, 1 in 4 people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year, and women in midlife are particularly vulnerable. During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can wreak havoc not just on your body — but on your mood, sleep, focus, confidence, and relationships.

The hidden mental health toll of menopause

Recent research highlights just how common these emotional and mental health challenges are:

• 69% of women say they experience anxiety during menopause

• 84% report trouble sleeping, which directly affects mood and emotional regulation

• 73% report feeling low or experiencing depression

(Source: Fawcett Society Menopause in the Workplace report, 2022, Mental Health Foundation)

Yet despite how many women are impacted, many still feel isolated or confused by what’s happening. As Mind reminds us, mental health is just as important as physical health, and the two are deeply connected.

You’re not broken. You’re changing

Part of the problem is silence, especially in the workplace. We’re expected to keep performing — leading teams, supporting family, holding it all together — while navigating a rollercoaster of symptoms. But talking about it is the first step. That’s what Mental Health Awareness Week is all about: breaking the silence, reducing shame, and making it okay to ask for support.

At this stage of life, you may also be juggling teenage children, ageing parents, career pressures, and shifting identities. It’s no wonder so many women feel like they’re unravelling. But here’s the truth: you are not alone, and help is available — naturally and holistically.

Holistic approaches can support your whole self

If you're looking for natural ways to support your mental as well as your physical wellbeing during menopause, there are powerful tools that can help you feel more like yourself again. In my practice, I work with women using a combination of:

• Kinesiology to identify hormonal imbalances in the body that may be affecting your mood, energy and resilience

• EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) to calm the stress response and gently release emotional overwhelm

• Personalised lifestyle and supplement advice to support your hormones and nervous system

These approaches work with your body to restore balance and give you back a sense of control.

What you can do this Mental Health Awareness Week

• Talk to someone: Whether it’s a friend, colleague, therapist or menopause practitioner, sharing how you feel is powerful

• Check in with yourself: Are you prioritising your own needs, or running on empty? Even small self-care shifts can make a big difference

• Explore support: Mind has excellent resources for anyone struggling with their mental health. Visit mind.org.uk to learn more

• Know it’s not “just in your head”: Hormones have a huge impact on the brain. Your feelings are valid, and you deserve support

You’re not meant to go through this alone.

If you’re finding it hard to cope and you’re curious about natural support, I’d love to help. I offer a safe, personalised space where you can explore what’s really going on — and start to feel like you again.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s honour the strength it takes to keep going — and the power of reaching out.