In this deeply honest and important episode, I’m joined by Caroline Milne, founder of Unmenopaused. Caroline is a Menopause Champion and coach with over 20 years’ experience in nursing, now dedicated to supporting women — and the men in their lives — through perimenopause and menopause via 1:1 coaching, small groups, and workplace education.
This conversation explores what happens when grief, stress, hormonal change and identity loss collide — and why so many women reach breaking point without realising menopause is part of the picture.
What We Talk About in This Episode- How Caroline went from loving her nursing career to feeling unable to function in it
- Losing a strong sense of identity and being forced to reinvent herself
- Caring for parents during serious illness while navigating grief
- Early perimenopause symptoms that went unrecognised
- Working as a nurse during Covid and the impact of sustained stress
- Heart palpitations, joint pain and a long period of misdiagnosis
- Being treated for fibromyalgia before questioning the diagnosis
- Starting HRT and finding some stability — before life shifted again
- Supporting her Mum through an aortic aneurysm diagnosis and then grieving her loss
- Rising stress, long hours, missed meals and carrying too much alone
- Changing jobs with hope — and then feeling like a completely different person
- Erratic bleeding, mood changes and worsening perimenopause symptoms
- The moment Caroline realised she could no longer continue on without support
Caroline’s StoryCaroline shares her journey through years of layered pressure: losing her Dad to dementia, supporting her Mum after a stroke and later a life-threatening diagnosis, navigating complex family dynamics, and working on the frontline during the pandemic — all while unknowingly moving through perimenopause.
By the time she began a new role in sexual and reproductive health, she no longer recognised herself.
“I didn’t feel like the person I’d been in the interview… I felt guilty, like I’d given them someone they weren’t expecting.”Just two weeks into the role, it became clear her Mum was approaching end of life. The combined weight of grief, stress and worsening perimenopause symptoms led Caroline to make the life-changing decision to end her nursing career.
Key Themes & Insights- Menopause, anxiety, grief and relationship stress don’t exist in neat boxes
- Anxiety can appear during menopause even if it’s never been an issue before
- Many women don’t recognise what’s happening — and so don’t get support
- Strength and resilience can become harmful without help
- Caroline was told she was “resilient to the point of self-destruction”
“I thought I could just keep going. I’m a nurse. I’m strong. It never occurred to me that it would break me.”We also talk about how Caroline wasn’t able to care for herself — but equally, those around her didn’t recognise how much she was struggling. This highlights why education is so vital, not just for women, but for families, workplaces and communities.
Why This Work Matters- There is currently very limited menopause support available locally
- In Wiltshire, there are only six free menopause support groups — three of which Caroline has set up or helped to establish
- Men need education and space to learn how to support their partners
- Caroline runs mixed groups where men can ask questions openly and safely
- Modalities like breathwork and sound healing — often dismissed as “woo woo” — can be powerful tools in times of extreme stress
During the episode, we guide listeners through a simple breathwork example to help calm the nervous system in moments of overwhelm.
What’s Coming UpWe also share details of our joint retreat day at Launceston Farm on 17th May 2026, where we’ll be bringing together education, breathwork, sound healing and support in a safe, nurturing space.
About UnmenopausedUnmenopaused supports women (and the men in their lives) through perimenopause and menopause via:
- 1:1 coaching
- Small group programmes
- Mixed-gender education spaces
- Workplace workshops for staff wellbeing
Connect with Caroline
Unmenopaused Website
Join us at Launceston Farm for our day retreat - Still Me, Just Shifting
Connect with LilliSing To Heal WebsiteJoin the Wiltshire Wellbeing Facebook Group