October is Menopause Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognise the many ways perimenopause and menopause can affect women, both physically and emotionally.

For some, this stage of life can bring unfamiliar changes to the body and mind. Anxiety, panic, changes in mood, disrupted sleep or a shift in confidence can leave you feeling unsettled, questioning yourself or struggling to recognise the person you feel you once were.

And life doesn't simply pause while you navigate these changes. Work, children, ageing parents, relationships and everyday responsibilities continue. You may still be the person everyone relies on, even when you're struggling yourself. It can feel lonely, particularly when those around you don't fully understand what you're experiencing.

Menopause can also bring questions about identity, confidence and what lies ahead. There may be a sense of loss for what feels different, alongside uncertainty about the next chapter. In time, there may also be room for acceptance, a different understanding of yourself, or even excitement about what comes next. There is no expectation to feel any particular way, and no two experiences are the same.

Feeling connected to others who understand can be reassuring. Whether through conversations with friends, shared experiences or simply having somewhere to talk openly, being heard without judgement can offer space to explore the emotions that accompany change.

As we mark Menopause Awareness Month, it's worth remembering that this experience is about more than physical symptoms. Whatever you're feeling - uncertainty, frustration, sadness, relief or hope - there is room for it. You don't have to have everything figured out, and you don't have to navigate every change all at once.

Because even when you don't quite feel like yourself, your experience deserves to be heard, understood and met with compassion.