Carol Vorderman has shared the impact that menopause had on her, including the way it affected her mental health. Carol, who has a home in Clifton, had a 'busy morning' on Wednesday, July 27 as she headed to Cardiff to be a guest aboard This Morning's Menopause Bus.
This Morning launched its first ever Menopause Bus earlier this month, with the aim of travelling around the country to help raise awareness of the symptoms of menopause and offer support to women who are currently experiencing it. This came as ITV became one of the first companies to appoint a Menopause Mentor, an employee who offers support and advice to staff members who are struggling to cope with the symptoms of menopause
Yesterday, the Menopause Bus reached its final stop: Cardiff. Carol, 61, joined the This Morning presenters live from Mermaid Quay to share her own experience with menopause, alongside Dr Philippa and Dr Larisa.
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Taking to Instagram last night, Carol posted a photo of herself at the Menopause Bus, and reflected on her own battle with symptoms of menopause. The caption read: "Busy morning with @thismorning and the Menopause Bus down in @mermaidquay Cardiff.
"Such an important thing the show and all the charities are doing. We were inundated with women coming to the bus to talk about their issues and the more we speak about it the better and stronger we will become together.
"I had hormonal depression for a while during the perimenopause. It was horrific to the point of feeling suicidal.
"I've never even had anxiety in my life before other than for a specific reason (bullying or harassment). BUT this was in the years when women were meant to shut up and stay silent. Well I didn't. I sought a doctor as I'd self diagnosed that the deep depression was linked to hormones."
The University of Cambridge alumna added: "I was right. The Professor I saw gave me some bio identical hormones (all now available on the NHS) and WITHIN 48 HOURS the depression lifted and I have never had those feelings since.
"IT TOOK LESS THAN 2 DAYS. I didn't need anti depressants. They would have been entirely the wrong medicine.
"I tell this story to help other women. You're not going crazy you are not worthless. If you're going through the menopausal years you merely have a hormonal imbalance which can be remedied.
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"Wishing you well. Shout about it. If the first hormones aren't quite right for you....change them...tweak them and continue to tweak them as the years go by.
"I'm nearly 62 and annoyingly energetic and feisty with a spirit of I can do anything, because I CAN. I know it and believe it....and then it happens. Simples. All the b****cks spoken about women trying to shame them, is just societal rules of old and it all belongs in the past.
"Watch out world there is a new awakening of goodness and well spent years. Go girls....we are in this together."
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