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

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

The television star, 49, says she entered perimenopause in her mid-40s and it had a devastating impact on her life.

‘Perimenopause hit me hard at age 46, causing depression and anxiety that destroyed my work ethic,’ said the Talking Married star Body+Soul Magazine.

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

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

“I feel like the sisters before me disappoint me with their silence,” she said.

“Perimenopause hit me hard at age 46, causing 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 begins.

Symptoms include hot flashes, anxiety, depression and very heavy periods causing ‘flooding’.

During perimenopause — the few years before a woman’s periods stop for good — there are many hormonal changes that are responsible for the brutal symptoms.

Shelly, who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, had never experienced mental health problems before and began to question her reality

Shelly, who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, had never experienced mental health problems before and began to question her reality.

Until she discovered that her waves of sadness, hot flashes, 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 antidepressants and HRT medication

“One of the things that prompted me to seek help was the total lack of enjoyment I had around work,” she added.

Explaining her bulletproof work ethic has always been part of her identity and kept her head full.

“I run my own company, ShellShocked Media and I work at Channel Nine and both of these things make me incredibly happy,” she said.

“But with perimenopause, I had trouble getting out of bed. Depression was something I had never experienced before.’

She teamed up with her best friend, Dr. Ginni Mansberg (pictured) and ‘Don’t Sweat It’ was born. Now the women are running workshops for business leaders to help them help their workforce through perimenopause

“I drove to work pretending I was happy and pretending I was at the ball so no one would know how I really felt,” she said.

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

She worked with her best friend, Dr. Ginni Mansberg, and ‘Don’t sweat’ was born.

Now the women run workshops for business leaders to help them help their workforce 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