From being a hyperlexic and gifted child, Renee ran the gauntlet of secondary school. She left her imaginary friends at home and turned to the church where God became her new friend - for a while.

Renee's journey through her teenage years were tough. Her mum had mental health issues and her dad had just been given a terminal illness diagnosis at 35. With troubles at home and school Renee started her periods. Her story around this was traumatic in itself.

Childbirth nearly killed Renee and took her months to recover. She still went on to study for an HND, degree and Masters. Both skilled at maths and teaching, Renee just kept bouncing back.

Renee shares her deep love for her children and husband who is her soulmate and brilliant supporter. Other support services failed her time and again.

From teaching assistant to working shifts at McDonalds, accountancy and tutoring, Renee constantly works hard. She lives with Hypermobility Ehler's Danlos, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS and chronic pain and believes they are all connected. Add in being autistic and ADHD - more connections.

Renee went into a perfect storm as she approached perimenopause. It's a miracle she's still standing. She is amazing!

Now Renee supports children with an outreach company that she runs. Giving support to all intersections.

Renee proves that, no matter how hard life can be, we can all keep trying.

Ep.27. S4. Ep3

Caroline Ross is an NLP Practitioner and Coach. She runs her outdoors fitness company 'Mamaste", supporting new mothers after childbirth.

Caroline spoke so honestly during our conversation about how challenging her mental health became during peri menopause as a woman with both autism and ADHD. Caroline is AuDHD.

What is so inspiring are the many ways Caroline finds to improve her emotional wellbeing and physical fitness during her menopause journey.

Ep 27. S4. Ep3

This Podcast is truly inspiring for anyone navigating neurodivergence and perimenopause.

We spoke about diet, movement, hobbies and a lot about mental health. so many women still don't fully understand about the connection and challenges between autism, ADHD and our changing hormones.

A full podcast not to missed!

Links for Caroline

Sam Gierson describes herself as a later life writer, producer and film director and has produced a number of incredible creative projects, including audio plays, and recently, an award winning short play about the menopause and a novella, a mystery play, set on the Isle of Man.

Sam was first diagnosed autistic at 43, then ADHD. She thought being gay was why her life was the way it was, but there was so much more.

Grieving her younger self, Sam felt she needed the labels in order to reject them and finally accepted that she is just ‘Sam’. She lives with her hugely supportive wife and their shared children and two gorgeous dogs in Yorkshire.

Now in peri menopause we chat about how significant Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) has been, from a tiny criticism about tea, to hearing a comment like “Your play lacks depth.” The mood swings, never making big decisions in the last quarter of her cycle, to ensuring she takes her supplements and maps her periods using her invaluable app. This is a packed podcast.

Keeping busy and always having a big project is Sam’s ‘go to’ for her mental health.

You can watch Sam’s new short film, The Pause, here: https://www.socrocodile.com/thepause

and check out her other projects by following this link: https://orange-orchid.co.uk/the-pause-workshops