#012: Meet Jo - I didn't recognise the person looking at me
by Valerie |
“I went to the GP and said, I don’t recognise myself”
We talk about perimenopause being a time of change, and in the majority of cases this refers to physical changes, bodily changes, hormonal changes, but often the biggest cost for women, is the emotional side.
For many, it can rock our entire foundations- our self-knowing and self-worth, which can ripple effect on our relationships and every aspect of our lives.
When Jo became perimenopausal her whole identity shifted. She went from someone who could cope with anything head-on, to being anxious and unsure.
She no longer could recognise the person standing before her looking in the mirror.
“It was destabilising. The doctor put me on antidepressants, but I told them, “I’m not depressed. I’m just not myself.
Then, my husband of 36 years told me he was going to leave. It felt like the bottom fell out of my world. I’ve never experienced such heartbreak in my life. He said it was because I’d changed, and he didn’t think I was going to change back."
Jo is not alone.
1 in 2 women feel they’ve lost their sense of self during perimenopause.
“For the first time in my life, I truly understood what it means to put on your own life jacket first. I’m slowly getting there. I’m the same person I was before, but different. I’ve embraced the ‘who gives a f**k’ attitude.
Once you’ve been through menopause, you feel invincible. You know you can handle anything life throws your way."
This is why we are sharing Jo’s story, because when we share, we break the silence and shame. We create a ripple of empathy and support, holding a mirror for others who feel exactly the same.
We're here to help you put on your life jacket, so when you look in the mirror you may not see the same person who was once there, but you see someone strong and brilliant, with a life full of possibility and opportunity.
We See You.
Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
Tell us your story so we can share it—and together, we can build a community where women feel seen, heard, and empowered and then we can find ways to figure out who we are evolving into in this next chapter of our lives.
Perimenopause isn’t a dirty word, and it's time we talk about it, loudly!
Who are you beyond the roles you’ve carried—mother, partner, professional? Perimenopause isn’t just about physical changes, it’s a powerful chapter of self-discovery. Debs Daitani shares her deeply personal journey of reclaiming her identity, from feeling lost and invisible to embracing her most authentic, confident self.
This phase of life challenges who we see in the mirror, but it’s also a chance to reconnect with the vibrant, bold woman within. Debs offers practical steps to shed outdated expectations and redefine your identity on your terms.
Perimenopause can make us feel invisible, angry, frustrated, confused and often unsure of the person staring back at us in the mirror.
The physical and emotional changes that come with perimenopause often bring up deeply personal challenges and erode our sense of self, leaving us questioning who we really are.
But with compassion and understanding, we can reclaim the vibrant, bold women we’ve always been and live midlife authentically.
To find out more about how to reclaim your identity in perimenopause, join us for an Instagram live with the wonderful Anna Lancaster, clinical hypnotherapist and an expert in the art of rewiring your mind.
Here are some of the things we’ll be covering: