Lena (45) is an artist, librarian, and mother of two children. For years, she felt full of energy and creativity. However, a few years ago, her vitality began to wane. She became increasingly exhausted and lost interest in activities she once loved. It wasn’t until later that she realised her symptoms were linked to menopause.
It felt as though a grey veil had descended over my life. I was there, watching it all unfold, but I didn’t feel anything anymore.
A few years ago, Lena began to notice changes in her body. “I started feeling tired more and more often. Not just the usual tiredness after a busy day, but a deep fatigue that seemed to come from within. Even after a full night’s sleep, I didn’t feel refreshed.”
She also began to sweat more frequently. These weren’t the classic hot flushes she had always associated with menopause, but sudden episodes of sweating at unexpected times. “It could happen in the supermarket or even while I was just sitting quietly on the sofa.” Additionally, she started experiencing dizziness. “Sometimes it felt as though the world tilted for a moment, and I lost my balance.”
Over time, her mood began to shift as well. Activities she usually enjoyed, such as having coffee with a friend, going for a walk, or painting in her studio, suddenly felt like monumental tasks.
I could spend hours, sometimes days, agonising over the smallest decisions. It drove me mad.
What affected Lena the most was her sudden indecisiveness. “I used to be able to make decisions fairly easily, but suddenly I could spend hours or even days agonising over the smallest things. Should I make that appointment? What should I cook? Should I pick up my paintbrushes or not?” On top of this, she began experiencing unexpected crying spells. “Sometimes while cooking, sometimes in the car, or in the middle of the night. I didn’t recognise myself anymore. I started to wonder more and more if I was depressed.”
Eventually, she decided to visit her GP. The doctor diagnosed her with depression. According to the GP, this wasn’t surprising: Lena had recently gone through a divorce, which had been a stressful period. Even though it had been her own decision, she felt guilty towards her children.
The GP prescribed antidepressants. Lena started the medication, hoping it would help her feel better. “But after three months, I noticed that I felt even more disconnected from myself. My emotions were flat. No joy, no sadness, just emptiness. That’s when I started to wonder: is this really the solution?”
It wasn’t until someone looked at my hormones and my body as a whole that the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together.
Through word of mouth, Lena eventually found her way to an orthomolecular therapist who specialised in hormones. “From the very first conversations, I felt truly heard. They didn’t just focus on my mind or emotions but looked at my entire body.”
Tests revealed that Lena was already in menopause. Her hormones were fluctuating significantly, which explained many of her symptoms. Additionally, her gut health was found to be suboptimal. The therapist explained that the gut and brain are closely connected. If your gut health is out of balance, it can also affect your energy and mood.
Armed with this knowledge, Lena began making changes. She adjusted her diet, started taking supplements, and worked on creating a calmer lifestyle. “It wasn’t an overnight fix, but gradually I began to notice a difference. My energy started to return bit by bit, and I began to feel a small spark of interest in painting again.”
Still, some symptoms persisted. The fatigue was less severe but hadn’t completely disappeared. The therapist suggested exploring hormone therapy as an option in consultation with her GP. “At first, I was hesitant. More medication. But she explained that modern hormone therapy closely resembles our natural hormones and that many women benefit from it.”
By this time, Lena had a new GP after moving to another city. “She was a female doctor around my age. I immediately felt understood.” Together, they decided to try a trial treatment. Slowly, things began to change. “It didn’t happen overnight, but step by step, I noticed improvements. The crying spells became less frequent, my energy increased, and I started enjoying small things again.”
Her creativity also returned. She hadn’t touched her paintbrushes for months. “When I picked them up again, it felt intimidating at first. But soon, I realised that the creativity was still there.”
Today, Lena feels much more like herself again. She still uses hormones and continues to pay attention to her diet, rest, and lifestyle. “It’s still a balancing act at times, but I’ve learned to listen to my body better.”
What she has learned, she wants to share with other women. “Symptoms like depression aren’t always just in your head. In my case, hormones and gut health played a major role. That insight truly changed my life.”
Perhaps you recognise some of the symptoms in this story. Are you wondering if you might be going through menopause? The menopause test can help provide more insight.
