From Surviving to Speaking Up

I never imagined I would have a story like this to tell, let alone that I would one day be standing up and sharing it with others.

But what happened to me changed my life, and now I want to use that experience to help make things better for other women and their families.

Speaking From Lived Experience

I speak openly about perimenopause, mental health, psychiatric care, recovery and the impact it can have on families, relationships and work.

I speak at conferences, workplaces, community events, professional development sessions, panels and on podcasts, sharing what happened to me and what I wish had been understood sooner.

For workplaces, my story opens up conversations about what it actually looks like when someone is struggling, how perimenopause and mental health can affect a person's working life, and how the right support and understanding can make a huge difference.

For health and medical professionals, I share what it was like to be on the other side of the healthcare system — searching for answers, knowing something wasn't right and desperately wanting to be heard.

I can't change what happened to me, but I can use it to help others listen differently, ask more questions and perhaps recognise something sooner.

And if sharing my story helps even one woman or family have a different experience, then it is worth telling.