Purplelight Midlife

24/02/2026

Digital skills education in V&A Dundee.

24/02/2026

We’ve written to the UK government about our concerns with AI and mental health.

We think AI platforms and mental health services can work safely together, but we need to take steps to get there. We need to make mental health support quicker and easier to access so people are not needing to fill the gap with AI tools in times of need.

There is an urgent need for stronger safeguards, and shared accountability.

Read our article in The Guardian to see more details about our letter: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/20/mind-mental-health-expert-google-ai-summaries

15/02/2026

Love is medicine.

13/02/2026

Menopause is not a “phase to survive.”
It’s a leadership moment. A long term health moment. A workplace culture moment.

On my board you’ll see three simple but powerful pillars:

✨ Awareness Training – because managers can’t support what they don’t understand.
✨ Support Groups – because no woman should navigate this alone.
✨ Menopause Action Plan – because good intentions without structure don’t change anything.

Menopause impacts confidence, focus, sleep, skin, mood, performance… and yet so many women are expected to “just get on with it.”

We don’t need silence. We do not need plasters or one size fits all solution.
We need conversation.
We need science and evidence based plan.
We need action.

Whether you’re:
• A business leader wanting to support brilliant women 35+
• An HR professional/ CEO building a healthier culture
• Or a woman ready to understand what’s happening in her body

There is a plan.

And it starts with awareness.

💬 If you are ready to move from conversations to confident action, message me “PLAN” or book a complimentary call.

09/02/2026

Are you HR Professional, Woman in Senior Position struggling with symptoms while leading or Male Leader managing female teams and seeking understanding?
Partner with Dana, Certified Menopause Support Coach for workplace training, team support or 121 coaching and get ready for new menopause action plan 2027 if you are employer in the UK with more than 250 people.
dana@purplelightmidlife.com

07/02/2026

Thank you for this insightful zoom call ASB - Association of Scottish Business Women

17/01/2026

https://patient.info/features/healthy-living/10-daily-habits-for-healthy-weight-loss?_sc=OTE1MTA4MSM1NjU2NjQ%3D&utm_campaign=Newsletter+164+-+Saturday+17th+January&utm_id=163&utm_medium=email&utm_source=brevo

Losing weight doesn't have to be difficult. Introducing 10 simple steps to your daily routine can help you lose weight healthily.

16/01/2026

f your oestrogen is saying “good bye” to you, it may unfortunately lead to dry skin and vaginal atrophy😬.
And none of us want that!

It can be unpleasant, itchy, make s*x painful, and can even lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs). Yes, frequent UTIs can also be a sign of menopause…

So, what can be done about it?
Washing:
🚫 No soap
🚫 No bath bombs
🚫 No douching
🚫 No wet wipes

✅ Just warm water. That’s it.

🩲 Underwear:
Choose cotton or natural fabrics.

Local oestrogen:
Prescribed by your GP (e.g. Vagifem, Estriol cream, rings).
It restores moisture and elasticity locally.
✔️ Safe even with a history of breast cancer (check with your clinician)

💧 Vaginal moisturisers:
Over-the-counter options (like Replens or Hyalofemme) used regularly. Think of it as hand cream… for your bits.

🔥 Lubricants:
Use during s*x to reduce friction and increase comfort.
Avoid fragrances and other irritating ingredients.

There is a lot of new, thoughtful products made for women like Hello Gloriah, Edinburgh based.

🌿 Natural options like organic coconut oil, hempseed oil, or olive oil can also work well for some women.

💦 And don’t forget the basics
• Hydrate
• Include phytoestrogens: (soya, flaxseeds, nuts), fibre, proteins and oily fish to your diet

Your body is changing and support exists.

Any questions you might have but too embarrassed to ask?

12/01/2026

The FDA just removed long-standing black box warnings on many hormone therapy drugs and the marketing machine is already calling it a “new era of freedom” for menopausal women.

But here’s the truth: No black box warning does not mean no risk.

The original concerns from the Women’s Health Initiative — cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, dementia — didn’t magically disappear. The risks depend on your age, health history, hormone type, dose, and delivery method.

And despite what the new messaging implies…Not every woman needs HRT. Not every woman can use HRT. Not every woman wants a prescription for the next 20+ years.

Women deserve personalized care, not one-size-fits-all answers.

If you’re looking for a natural, proven, estrogen-supportive option, Pueraria mirifica has been used for centuries to ease menopausal symptoms without the risks of synthetic hormones. https://amatalife.com/

05/01/2026

What are you leaving behind in 2025?
Here is what I'm personally saying GOODBYE to when it comes to menopause - and I hope you'll join me! 💪
👋 OUT: "It's just hormones, you'll be fine."
Um, NO. This has kept too many of us suffering in silence for way too long. Menopause affects EVERY system in our bodies - our hearts, our bones, our brains, our sleep, our skin... the list goes on! We deserve comprehensive, compassionate care.
👋 OUT: Medical gaslighting and minimizing our pain
How many times have we heard "it's all in your head" or "your labs look normal"? How many of us have been sent home with anxiety meds when what we REALLY needed was proper hormonal support? Our pain is REAL. Our symptoms are REAL. And we're done being told otherwise!
👋 OUT: Misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis
Depression, anxiety, thyroid issues, "just stress" - how many wrong diagnoses did you collect before someone finally listened? We deserve doctors who understand hormones and don't just throw random diagnoses at us hoping something sticks.
👋 OUT: "You're too young for perimenopause"
At 45. At 40. At 35. REALLY?! Perimenopause can start in your 30s, and women deserve to know this! Stop dismissing younger women who are clearly experiencing symptoms. Age isn't a diagnosis - symptoms are!
👋 OUT: PMS and PMDD being dismissed as "normal"
"Just take some ibuprofen." "It's just your period." NO. Debilitating PMS and PMDD are NOT something we should just accept as our lot in life! These are real conditions that deserve real treatment and real support.
👋 OUT: The myth of the "one test" diagnosis
Can we PLEASE stop pretending that a single blood test or saliva test can definitively diagnose menopause? Hormones fluctuate constantly! Diagnosis should be based on symptoms, history, AND testing - not just one snapshot lab result that catches you on a "good" day.
👋 OUT: 8-year waits for diagnoses
EIGHT YEARS. That's the average wait for conditions like endometriosis and PCOS. EIGHT. YEARS. of pain, confusion, and doctors telling us it's "normal." How is this still acceptable in 2025?! Women deserve faster answers and better care!
👋 OUT: Endless waiting for proper support
Why are we still waiting months (or YEARS!) to get appointments, see specialists, or get treatment that actually works? Why do we have to become part-time researchers, full-time advocates, and medical detectives just to get BASIC care? Accessible, informed healthcare should be our baseline, not some unreachable goal.
👋 OUT: The one-size-fits-all approach
Your menopause journey is NOT the same as your sister's, your friend's, or mine. Cookie-cutter solutions and generic advice, supplements without evidence just don't cut it anymore. Personalized care isn't some fancy luxury - it's what we NEED and deserve!
👋 OUT: Zero workplace support
Menopause affects our work - our concentration, our energy, our ability to regulate temperature in freezing office buildings. And guess what? Workplace stress makes our symptoms WORSE! Yet most companies still act like menopause doesn't exist. We need flexible working options, temperature control, understanding managers, and policies that actually HELP - not just a box-checking exercise.
👋 OUT: Pretending menopause doesn't exist at work
When brilliant, talented women are quietly leaving careers because they're terrified to speak up, we ALL lose. It's 2026 - we need real policies with teeth, proper training for managers, and workplaces that don't penalize us for a natural life transition.
👋 OUT: The shame and secrecy
Let's be clear: Menopause is NOT a weakness. It's NOT a failure. It's NOT something we need to whisper about in bathroom stalls. This is a natural life transition that half the population goes through! We fought for openness around pregnancy and mental health - menopause deserves the same energy. 🔥
👋 OUT: Suffering through symptoms because "that's just what happens"
Hot flashes keeping you up all night? Brain fog making you forget words mid-sentence? Joint pain that appeared out of nowhere? Mood swings that feel out of control? Periods that are suddenly all over the place? These aren't things you just have to "deal with" - there ARE options, and you deserve to know about ALL of them!
👋 OUT: The isolation
Too many of us think we're going through this alone. We're not! This community exists because we're DONE suffering in silence. Your symptoms are valid. Your struggles are real. And you are absolutely not alone in this. 💕
So what ARE we bringing into 2026?
✨ Open, honest conversations
✨ Demanding better from our healthcare providers
✨ Supporting each other without judgment
✨ Educating ourselves AND the people around us
✨ Refusing to be dismissed or diminished
✨ Advocating for workplace accommodations
✨ Trusting our bodies and our instincts
✨ Taking up space and using our voices
Drop a 💜 if you're ready to leave this outdated nonsense behind!
And if you're nodding along to any of this, PLEASE share this post. The more we talk about this stuff openly, the faster things will change for all of us.
What would YOU add to this list? Comment below! 👇

02/01/2026

Menopause symptoms are not imagined or psychological weakness, they are biologically mediated and deserve appropriate attention.

Your symptoms are legit, here's what to know.

31/12/2025

Shine bright through the darkest days

Losing my mum this year taught me what truly matters: helping women feel seen and supported through menopause.

Wishing you happy and healthy 2026!