“I used to be able to cope with all of this. Why can't I anymore?” It's a question many women find themselves asking in midlife. Work that once felt manageable becomes overwhelming. Confidence changes. Memory and concentration can become frightening. Relationships can come under strain, and suddenly you can find yourself questioning the career and life you've spent years building. My guest is Paula Bradbrook, who has more than 25 years of corporate leadership experience and now works across midlife health, career longevity, workplace capability and women's health advocacy. Paula is Director of Midlife Advantage and Your Menopause Doula, co-founder of Her Health Hero, and works with BleedBetter to improve awareness and clinical pathways around heavy menstrual bleeding. Paula's own experience led her from fearing she had early-onset dementia and questioning almost every area of her life to understanding just how much can be happening to women during midlife. Together, we look at what can happen when menopause collides with careers, relationships, responsibilities and financial security, and why struggling to manage everything you once did doesn't necessarily mean you've become less capable. PAULA REVEALSWhy she wasn't prepared for what happened after her hysterectomy, and how dramatically things changed in the weeks that followed.How nine months of not understanding what was happening nearly cost her the career, marriage and family life she'd spent decades building.The crucial difference between losing your capability and losing your capacity, and why that distinction can completely change the way you interpret suddenly struggling with things you've managed successfully for years.The uncomfortable realisation that came from looking back at female colleagues she'd previously judged when their performance started to change, and how differently she sees those women now.What decades of heavy menstrual bleeding looked like behind closed doors, the lengths she sometimes had to go to just to leave the house, and how something so disruptive became her version of “normal.” BEST MOMENTS“I thought I had early onset dementia, arthritis, everything just accelerated so quickly.” “He stood in front of me, I think, on about four occasions, just crying, asking where his Paula had gone.” “I remember actually storming in and I stood up and maybe pounded her desk even, and just said, ‘This is an absolute travesty against women and what are you doing about it?’” “We either don't talk about it at all, or we all want to make a joke of it. This is actually really serious for some women.” EPISODE RESOURCESWebsite: https://yourmenopausedoula.com.au/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulabradbrook Want practical, evidence-informed support with menopause? Visit Panacea Pause to explore Michelle’s resources, services and ways to work with her. ABOUT MICHELLEMichelle Rowlinson is the founder of Panacea Pause, a Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Menopause and Wellbeing Practitioner, best-selling author, and host of the Menopause - The Real Deal podcast. After spending seven years searching for answers to debilitating symptoms that were eventually recognised as perimenopause, Michelle made it her mission to help other women understand what is happening to their bodies and navigate menopause with confidence. Today, she delivers evidence-based education for women, workplaces and healthcare professionals through her CPD-accredited training, workshops and public speaking. Combining over two decades of clinical experience with her own lived experience, Michelle is passionate about translating complex science into practical, honest conversations that help women make informed decisions about their health. Through her podcast, Michelle explores the latest evidence, challenges outdated misconceptions, and asks the questions that many women, and increasingly healthcare professionals, are asking about menopause today. CONNECT WITH MICHELLEFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.rowlinson.official/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website: www.panaceapause.co.uk
