Shelly Horton, 48, reveals how she spiralled into depression and wanted to quit her career after ONE life-changing event made her question everything

  • Shelly Horton has revealed how perimenopause nearly lead to her quitting TV
  • The television personality became anxious and depressed and hated working
  • She has always prided herself on her work ethic and knew something was off
  • She is now helping women and workplaces understand perimenopause 

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Television star Shelly Horton has revealed how she nearly abandoned her hard-won career after she spiralled into depression and began feeling ill three years ago.

The bubbly media personality had to appear on set with a huge smile and laugh with her colleagues despite being overcome by a feeling of utter despair.

The 48-year-old, who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, had never suffered from mental health issues before and began questioning her reality.

Television star Shelly Horton has revealed how she nearly abandoned her hard-won career after she spiraled into depression and began feeling ill three years ago

Television star Shelly Horton has revealed how she nearly abandoned her hard-won career after she spiraled into depression and began feeling ill three years ago

The star now knows she was suffering from the symptoms of perimenopause - but had never even heard the term before

The star now knows she was suffering from the symptoms of perimenopause – but had never even heard the term before 

She has teamed up with her best friend, Doctor Ginni Mansberg, to educate people on the subject and break through the stigma

She has teamed up with her best friend, Doctor Ginni Mansberg, to educate people on the subject and break through the stigma

Until she found out her waves of sadness, hot flushes and anxiety were all part of perimenopause.

‘I had no idea what was going on. I hadn’t even heard the term perimenopause,’ she told FEMAIL. 

‘One of the things that triggered me to seek help was the complete lack of joy I had around work,’ she added.

Explaining her bullet proof work ethic has always been part of her identity and kept her cup full. 

‘I run my own company, ShellShocked Media and I work at Channel Nine and both of those things make me incredibly happy,’ she said.

‘But with perimenopause, I was having trouble getting out of bed. Depression was something I’d never experienced before.’ 

‘I would drive into work pretending to be happy and pretending to be on the ball, so no-one would know how I was truly feeling,’ she said. 

 ‘I would then get in my car and cry the whole drive home. I would be belittling myself saying, ”well, that was a waste of time going in there. You sounded like an idiot, and you’ve just embarrassed yourself in front of the nation. You may as well quit before they fire you, you’re worthless.”.’

She isn’t alone and has since discovered one in ten women going through perimenopause walk away from their careers. 

‘I now know one in three women experience, anxiety and depression during perimenopause and menopause. It’s actually the highest risk time in a woman’s life. Higher than teenage girls and higher than postnatal depression,’ she said. 

Shelly says it took six months of HRT and anti-depressants before she finally felt like she was getting back to her bubbly self

Shelly says it took six months of HRT and anti-depressants before she finally felt like she was getting back to her bubbly self

Why do you need a menopause friendly workplace? 

The time has passed for topics like Peri and Menopause in the workplace to be considered taboo or secret women’s business. It’s time to face facts and provide practical solutions:

Retain staff and reduce recruitment costs

Create a culture of inclusivity, diversity and equality

To make it suitable for all genders

Decrease sick days

Remove shame and stigma

Reduce employment law issues

Source: Don’t Sweat It

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During perimenopause – the few years before a woman’s period stops for good – there are a lot of hormonal changes which are responsible for the brutal symptoms.

The stigma attached to the transitional stage makes matters worse. 

Shelly has described peri-menopause as the mid-life glass ceiling women have to smash through to continue to kick goals after their ‘child bearing years’.

Shelly’s husband Darren Robinson convinced her to see a doctor and she was put on anti-depressants and HRT medication.

‘It took at least six months to ask for help, and then probably another three or so months to find medication that was right for me. That whole time I was crying nearly every day, which anyone who knows me is not my natural state,’ she said.

She teamed up with her best friend, Doctor Ginni Mansberg, 54, and 'Don't Sweat It' was born

She teamed up with her best friend, Doctor Ginni Mansberg, 54, and ‘Don’t Sweat It’ was born

What are three big symptoms of peri-menopause that can impact women in the workplace? 

 Shelly reveals three of the most hated peri-menopause symptoms and what workplaces can do to lessen the impact.

1 – Hot flushes: Workplaces can supply air con and cool water

2 – Anxiety and Depression: Consider WFH options and know when to get medical help

3 – Flooding: This is why it’s so important to have access to sanitary items at work

Source: Shelly Horton 

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‘So I now am on medication and feeling back to my bubbly self. It’s not a straight road. I still have dips, but I’m really learning to be much kinder to myself.’

After negotiating the perimenopause minefield herself Shelly realised she wanted to help other women do the same thing – and educate the broader community on how to make life for a woman going through the life change easier. 

She teamed up with her best friend, Doctor Ginni Mansberg, 54, and ‘Don’t Sweat It’ was born.

Now the women run workshops for business leader to help them help their staff through perimenopause.

Their website also has heaps of free tips to help break down the stigma and explain perimenopause in a way that’s easy to digest.

‘I needed was a course like this. So I’m hoping that Don’t Sweat It will help workplaces and women everywhere to become more menopause friendly,’ Shelly said. 

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Source: Daily Mail

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