Television star Shelly Horton says entering menopause ‘destroyed her work ethic’

Shelly Horton has revealed how entering menopause left her depressed, anxious and struggling to work. 

The television star, 49, says she began perimenopause in her mid forties and it had a devastating impact on her life. 

‘Perimenopause hit me severely at age 46 and brought on depression and anxiety that destroyed my work ethic,’ the Talking Married star told Body+Soul Magazine.

Shelly Horton (pictured) has revealed how entering menopause left her depressed, anxious and struggling to work. The television star, 49, says she began perimenopause in her mid forties and it had a devastating impact on her life

‘Luckily, I got information and saw a doctor, so I have most of my symptoms under control’ she added. 

Shelly says that she did not feel supported by other women and didn’t have as much information about perimenopause as she needed. 

‘I feel like the sisterhood before me let me down with their silence’ she said.

‘Perimenopause hit me severely at age 46 and brought on depression and anxiety that destroyed my work ethic,’ the Talking Married star told Body+Soul Magazine 

Perimenopause means ‘around menopause’ and refers to the period before menopause sets in. 

Symptoms include hot flushes, anxiety, depression and very heavy menstrual periods that cause ‘flooding’. 

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.

 Shelly, who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland , had never suffered from mental health issues before and began questioning her reality

Shelly, who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, had never suffered from mental health issues before and began questioning her reality. 

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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. 

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

‘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.’ 

She teamed up with her best friend, Doctor Ginni Mansberg (pictured) and ‘Don’t Sweat It’ was born. Now the women run workshops for business leader to help them help their staff through perimenopause

‘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. 

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

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

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

For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

Read more in this week’s issue of Body+Soul Magazine