"I used to pride myself on being a gung-ho kind of person, embracing change and thrills in life, whether that was travelling alone to South America or doing standup comedy. But, as my 40s progressed, I found myself becoming more cautious. I started to choose the safer option, such as booking a package holiday instead of a DIY adventure, or hesitating before sending a work email, worried it didn't sound right. I felt anxiety, low mood and brain fog all symptoms of perimenopause creeping in."
"I was in what I would call a menopausal funk: weighed down by my feelings and my slightly aching body. I began experiencing this two years ago. I'm 47 now. Taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy) helped, but I felt as if I had reached a point in my life where I had to accept that I was just going to be a bit less me and not so brave."
"So, when I received an email from the charity Calm (Campaign Against Living Miserably) asking for volunteers at Glastonbury, I surprised myself by saying yes. The deal was to work in a bar, for three eight-hour shifts, in return for a free ticket. I would go alone, camp alone, and leave myself at the mercy of making friends with my fellow volunteers. If not, I would be there by myself for six days."
A 47-year-old experienced increasing caution, anxiety, low mood, and brain fog as perimenopause progressed, leading to decreased risk-taking and a menopausal funk marked by physical aches. HRT improved symptoms, but confidence felt diminished and bravery seemed reduced. Volunteering at Glastonbury for a charity involved working three eight-hour bar shifts in exchange for a ticket, camping alone, and relying on fellow volunteers for social connection. The volunteer team ranged from early 20s to 60s, making it easy to make friends and quickly rebuild practical skills as a barmaid. Re-engaging in the role restored confidence and reframed age as self-defined.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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