What does menopause actually feel like when you're living through it — rather than reading about it?

In this episode of Mind Your Being, I’m joined by my long-time friend Sam for an open and honest conversation about her experience of the menopause transition.

Sam and I have been friends for around 13 years, and we’ve shared plenty of conversations about health and wellbeing over that time. She also spent many years working as a nurse, so I was particularly interested to hear what she had learned both personally and professionally about menopause, ageing and looking after our health as we get older.

Sam shares what she first noticed during her menopause transition — including night sweats, disrupted sleep, exhaustion, restless legs and migraines — and how long it took her to realise these symptoms could be connected to menopause.

We talk openly about seeking medical help, finding a doctor she felt comfortable talking to, and her decision to use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT/HRT) after initially feeling quite fearful about hormone treatment.

But this conversation goes well beyond symptoms and treatment.

We also talk about changing bodies, menopause and self-esteem, the pressure women can feel to look a certain way, and Sam’s deeply personal experience of disordered eating and how menopause has been a trigger for some of those thoughts and behaviours.

There’s also a bigger conversation about ageing well — why strength and mobility matter, how quickly we can lose muscle when we’re inactive or unwell, and why maintaining physical function may be far more important than focusing on how our bodies look.

And perhaps most importantly, we talk about friendship, asking for help, self-compassion and why women shouldn't have to navigate menopause alone.

This is a lived experience conversation rather than medical advice, and Sam’s experience is her own. We hope by talking openly about things that can sometimes feel difficult, uncomfortable or even taboo, that if you recognize yourself in some of what we talk about, you might feel a little bit less alone and feel more comfortable reaching out for support.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of disordered eating, body image and eating disorder behaviours.

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Thanks so much for listening,

Cass x

Disclaimer:

The information provided on the Mind Your Being Podcast is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.

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