Like pregnancy, no two menopause journeys are the same. Every woman’s experience is unique.
But unlike pregnancy, menopause has long been surrounded by silence. For many women, that silence makes the experience harder to understand and navigate, especially during the years of transition leading up to menopause itself.
Growing up in silence
Growing up in a West Indian household, these conversations simply did not happen.
Menopause was taboo. Unspoken. Something women endured quietly. I entered midlife with very little understanding of what to expect or how deeply this stage could affect day-to-day life.
The perimenopause to menopause transition
Looking back, the hardest part was not menopause itself. It was the transition leading up to it.
Now at 57, I still cannot pinpoint exactly when my menopause began. What I do remember clearly is when my previously regular cycles started to change around 2021. Periods became erratic and unpredictable, which I later learned is common during perimenopause.
This stage can feel especially unsettling. You are not “in menopause” yet, but things no longer feel familiar or stable either. Hormonal patterns fluctuate, routines stop working in the same way, and it can be difficult to understand what your body is responding to.
I learned that menopause is confirmed after 12 months without a period. There is no test, just time.
In December 2023, I was one week away from reaching that milestone when I experienced a light bleed that lasted only a few hours. Just like that, the clock reset.
I found myself bracing again for symptoms I had already been navigating through perimenopause, including:
• driving anxiety
• brain fog
• night sweats
• disrupted sleep
• hot flushes
• muscle aches
• fatigue and low energy
• mood swings
• bloating
• weight changes
This was certainly my experience, and it is one I now recognise in conversations with many women navigating this stage of life.
For many women, this stop-and-start phase is the most challenging. What I did not understand at the time was how much this stage was affecting my nervous system. The constant unpredictability, the sense that my body was no longer responding in familiar ways, and the pressure to keep functioning as normal all added to a feeling of being on edge without knowing why.
Looking back, that awareness has been key. For many women, the perimenopause to menopause transition places strain not just on hormones, but on the nervous system that helps regulate how we respond to change, stress, and uncertainty.
Many women are adjusting without clear markers, often while continuing to manage work, family, and responsibilities as usual.
Searching for answers
When I did eventually reach menopause, I felt relief at first. But it became clear that post-menopause brought its own adjustments too.
One day, while looking at an overflowing cupboard of supplements, my husband said,
“You have tried so many things and discovered what works for you, so why don’t you just create your own?”
At first, I dismissed the idea. It felt unrealistic and overwhelming.
But the idea stayed with me.
I began documenting what I was taking, paying closer attention to how my body responded, adjusting my nutrition, and learning more about menopause and midlife health.
Over time, I noticed I felt steadier. Clearer. More like myself again.
From kitchen to creation
About a year later, my experience had shifted significantly. Not in a dramatic or overnight way, but gradually and consistently.
With the support of specialist formulation experts and a UK manufacturing partner, I refined what I had been using into a daily powdered blend. That process eventually became Feel Like You.
It remains part of my own daily routine and is the reason I founded Flourish You Superfoods.
Why I share my story
After a near-death experience during pregnancy and living for many years with an undiagnosed health condition, I have learned this:
The perimenopause to menopause transition does not mean the end of feeling like yourself.
It is often the most demanding stage precisely because it is uncertain and poorly explained. Support during this time does not need to be extreme or complicated. Sometimes it begins with small, consistent choices that respect the body as it adapts.
At Flourish You Superfoods, we focus on nourishment, steadiness, and long-term wellbeing. Feel Like You was created as a daily foundation, not a quick fix.
Because life continues, responsibilities remain, and wellbeing deserves care during change.
Ready to start your own journey?
Author:
Beverley Anderson, MCGI, MIoL
Executive Coach
Certified Executive Menopause Coach (In Progress)
Disclaimer:
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a GP or qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, particularly if you have an existing medical condition or are taking medication.