I left ward nursing after 21 years because I was feeling incredibly anxious, brain foggy and overwhelmed.

I had no idea it was perimenopause until a few years later when I read about the incredible itch I had and it being a perimenopause symptom.

It’s crazy how little we know of what to expect.

All I knew about it was the hot flushes and irregular periods but I was completely taken out by the mood effects.

Now I do regular exercise, yoga and tai chi, and I feel like I can manage again. But menopause is a one way street. Once you're on the path, there's only going through it.