When perimenopause hit, I didn’t stop. I didn’t ask for help. I didn’t even think this might be perimenopause.

How it Started

I was a single parent, running a busy salon, and holding it together for everyone else. I’d heard clients talk about their own experiences – hot flushes, mood swings, weird skin changes – but I didn’t connect the dots. Surely what I was feeling was just tiredness, stress, and overwork, right?

• The tinnitus? Must be all the conversations in the salon.
• Burning mouth? Probably too much coffee.
• Aching joints? Must’ve slept funny.
• Short fuse? Well… everyone was just being annoying.
• Intolerance to alcohol? Clearly a sign to “drink better wine.”

I told myself I was fine. And then I wasn’t.

How It Went

When I finally stopped, it wasn’t some serene, mindful pause. It was like falling off a cliff. Severe anxiety. Depression. Brain fog so thick I could barely string a cohesive thought together. I stopped seeing friends, dropped hobbies, avoided family, and spent most days in my dressing gown barely able to get off the sofa when I wasn’t at work. I didn’t know who I was anymore.

If my GP had listened sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have lost nearly two years. But honestly? I didn’t listen to myself either. I ignored every red flag until my mind and body made the decision for me.

Why The Pause Room Exists

Thats why I created The Pause Room.
Not as a fluffy “treat yourself” thing, but as a place to stop before you get to that point. Somewhere every minute of your treatment is aimed at:

• Calming your nervous system so you’re not stuck in that wired-but-tired cycle.
• Releasing the muscle tension from your jaw, shoulders, and neck that’s feeding headaches and stress.
• Supporting hormonal balance with reflexology and targeted pressure points so your body can start to feel like yours again.

You don’t have to wait until you crash. Pressing pause isn’t a weakness, it’s a strategy. It keeps you in the game without burning out completely.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not on your own, and it can get better. You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. Start with the resources here, and when you’re ready, come in for a treatment that gives your mind and body a proper pause.