Navigating Menopause and Professional Challenges After Cancer: A Creative Journey of Resilience
In late 2021, just before Christmas, our world did a somersault. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was treatable and we lucky that is was a hormone receptive type of cancer, which also brought a myriad of challenges. Being hormone receptive meant she had to take medication to chemically induce menopause—no easy feat when you're juggling life as a mother, partner, and professional leader in the NHS. HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) wasn’t – and isn’t - an option, so we had to navigate this complex journey without the usual map. We still are.
Imagine this: my wife, a dedicated professional, now minus one breast and minus 100% of estrogen, faced the daunting task of returning to work. She was navigating spontaneous menopause, complete with hot flushes, mood swings, and brain fog, all while maintaining her leadership role. The myths, misconceptions, and assumptions in her professional environment only added to the challenge.
As a Dramatherapist who was studying psychodynamic and systemic approaches to organisational leadership and consultancy at the time, I was struck by the lack of practical support and systems available to her as a professional leader. The focus was very much on her cancer, her luck at early discovery and adapting to life with one breast. Yet she was navigating a whole new set of experiences beyond the visible. She was experiencing a re-wiring of her emotional, cognitive and physical self. Every time she reached out for support, she was met with the same refrain: “Have you considered taking HRT?”—a solution that simply wasn’t on the table for her and also misunderstood the challenges she faced.
This experience set me on a journey to develop a pragmatic, creative approach to supporting professionals like my wife. I threw myself into learning about menopause, wellness, and how to enhance professional resilience without the crutch of HRT.
The Birth of a Pragmatic Approach
I combined my experience working in leadership teams, my expertise in systemic approaches to leadership with my skills as a Dramatherapist. I sought ways to help my wife—and others like her—manage the physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms of menopause in their day-to-day leadership roles. The goal was to understand the leader within, adapt leadership styles to reflect authentic abilities, and overcome feelings of shame, inadequacy, self-doubt, and uncertainty.
We explored ways to increase her professional resilience, manage symptoms effectively, and develop an adaptable, resilient, and authentic leadership style. This journey was a blend of awareness and personalised strategies, drawing on the power of creative expression as well as pragmatic techniques to manage symptoms.
Why Dramatherapy?
Dramatherapy is a creative and therapeutic approach that uses drama and theatre techniques to facilitate personal growth and mental well-being. It sounds unconventional, but trust me, it works wonders. Here’s why:
Expressive Freedom: Dramatherapy provides a safe space to express emotions and experiences. Through a myriad of creative techniques such as role-play, storytelling, and improvisation, women like my wife can explore and articulate the complex emotions and thoughts that come with being a leader experiencing menopause.
Building Resilience: By exploring different roles and scenarios, we can develop new perspectives and coping strategies. This creative exploration builds resilience and allows us to handle professional challenges with greater ease.
Enhanced Self-Awareness: Can foster a deeper sense of self and help us understand our reactions and behaviors. This increased self-awareness can lead to better emotional regulation and a stronger sense of control over menopausal symptoms.
Community and Support: Engaging in dramatherapy can equip us with the confidence, language and tools to strengthen our social experiences. Social health is incredibly important when it comes to being in a position of leadership while managing the symptoms of menopause. I can help us create a network with others going through similar experiences, fostering a sense of community and support. Knowing we’re not alone can be incredibly empowering and comforting.
Developing a Creative, Systemic Approach
Combining creative strategies with a systemic approach to leadership, I've developed a comprehensive framework to help female leaders navigate menopause with confidence and resilience. This holistic framework goes beyond Dramatherapy to include guiding leaders through the Four Seasons Behavioral Model, which helps them gain a deeper understanding of their individual leadership preferences and strengths. By anchoring this self-awareness in a systemic view, leaders can better understand their roles within the organizational and team context. Additionally, my approach emphasizes social health, strengthening community support networks to build resilience and foster a sense of belonging and connection. This multifaceted strategy ensures that leaders are not only managing symptoms but thriving both personally and professionally.
Embracing Challenges with Creativity and Resilience
Through this journey, I’ve seen how powerful creative approaches can be in supporting professional challenges during menopause. My wife’s experience has not only strengthened our bond but also fueled my passion for helping others navigate similar paths.
At Bravely.B, my mission is to empower female leaders to embrace their unique strengths and lead with authenticity and confidence, even during life’s most challenging transitions.
So, if you’re navigating menopause and professional challenges, remember: you’re not alone. It is possible to navigate this journey with humor, creativity, and unwavering support to fully embrace the resilient and empowered leader within. After all, every great leader knows that the best way to manage change is to embrace it fully—hot flushes and all!
Feel free to reach out to me for more information or to schedule a consultation. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey—we’re in this together, and together, we can thrive.
