Transitions and Resilience
Re-centring in the midst of uncertainty, recovery, and systemic challenge
Transitions rarely arrive gently.
They do not wait until we are ready, organised, or emotionally prepared. They interrupt. They reshape. They force us to reconsider who we are beyond our roles, our productivity and the expectations we have internalised over time.
Over the past two years, I have navigated a transition that was both deeply personal and structurally shaped. Recovering from major surgery following a full hysterectomy for endometriosis revealed more than the physical realities of healing. It exposed the limitations of healthcare systems, the fragility of perceived control and the extent to which identity and capacity are often underpinned by our ego and self-image.
Read my 2024 Health Update article.
Alongside this, the wider environment, marked by shifting public systems, increasing pressure on resources and the contested nature of rights and protections, created a broader backdrop of instability. The personal and the structural were not separate; they reinforced each other in ways that were difficult to ignore.
My journey is not a story of resilience as endurance.
It is a reflection on re-centring, approaching resilience as a daily self-care practice.
The Build‑Up: When Motivation Becomes Overextension
In the lead‑up to my surgery, uncertainty became a constant presence.
Waiting for diagnosis, treatment and outcomes placed life in a kind of suspension. There was a persistent awareness that everything could change, without clarity on when or how. Urgent calls from the hospital, last-minute scan appointments, multiple specialist consult appointments and delayed surgery dates all created a sense of chaos and lack of control.
In response, something shifted.
I worked harder. I took on more. I pushed further than I normally would. Speaking engagements, events, conferences, festivals, a full-time client contract and smaller additional client projects.
It felt productive. It felt necessary. It felt like control.
But in reality, it was something else:
a response to uncertainty, shaped by a need to stay ahead of what felt unpredictable.
This pattern is not uncommon. When systems are slow or unclear, individuals adapt by over‑extending themselves, often without recognising it in the moment.
In the UK, this is a familiar experience for many navigating reproductive health conditions. Endometriosis, for example, takes on average more than nine years to diagnose, with people often managing ongoing symptoms while attempting to maintain work, relationships and day‑to‑day life. I had 2 fibroid removal surgeries before my hysterectomy. I knew I had endometriosis; I told the doctor that I had a family history of the condition and that I needed a treatment plan to avoid more surgeries.
I was told, “It’s not cancer.”
“OK. But I knew that. How do we confirm what it is and treat it?” I enquired.
“We don’t. We discharge you and if your symptoms persist, you go back to your GP.”
That was it. No follow-up, no monitoring, no preventative health care. My symptoms came back within weeks. I informed my GP, and she asked if I wanted more surgery; I did not. During this time, the expectation remains: continue as normal.
So, I did. Generally, that’s what we do.
Until we can’t.
6 years later, my symptoms were extreme. I had been ignoring them, unwilling to be dismissed by medical professionals again. But the growths in my abdomen were visible when I was lying down and were impacting my bodily functions and mobility. I visited my GP, had to fight to get taken seriously and was sent for full-spectrum blood tests. A week later, a senior GP from the practice called and asked if I could come in to see him that day.
The following months were full of tests, scans, cameras in all directions and significant deterioration of my physical health. Loss of weight, appetite and strength. My fatigue was my biggest battle as low-level activity could leave me with an empty tank for days. I was still working and attending events with my consulting contract finishing on a Friday in October and my surgery scheduled for the following Tuesday.
Stopped in My Tracks: When the Body Sets the Boundary
Surgery does not negotiate.
Recovery is not something that can be accelerated through effort or intention and trust me, I really tried. My recovery removed the option to continue at the same pace.
After surgery, I experienced a level of physical limitation that made this unavoidable. Tasks that once felt insignificant became difficult or impossible. Something as simple as lifting a kettle to make a cup of tea was beyond my capacity. Standing for a few minutes unsupported was painful and exhausting.
There was no workaround. No adaptation that allowed me to push through.
That kind of interruption can feel confronting, especially when my identity is tied to my independence, capability and productivity.
Research shows that recovery from hysterectomy involves not only physical healing, but significant emotional and psychological adjustment, including fatigue, cognitive strain and changes to identity and body perception. There is also evidence linking hysterectomy to increased risk of depression and anxiety in the long term, particularly where adequate support is not in place. The lack of knowledgeable medical professionals who can advise on menopause care, inconsistent access to suitable hormone replacement or alternative treatments and the delays in accessing aftercare compound the health and mental well-being challenges.
In addition, my endometriosis had spread throughout my abdomen, requiring the surgeons to remove my entire reproductive system, 5 inches of my bowel, lymph nodes, my appendix and other tissues and membranes which had been impacted. 6 years since my last surgery, it took 6 special surgeons over 6 hours to complete my ‘abdominal clearance’ to attempt to remove the endometriosis growths, followed by 6 days in hospital. That’s when the recovery process starts.
Initially, it felt like punishment. Like something had been taken away. A sense of loss, grief and frustration. It was a familiar experience. I had been through a similar feeling of being stripped of my sense of self and loss of control previously, when I had to give up my career to become my daughter’s full-time carer.
Over time, I began to understand the experience differently. The forced transition is uncomfortable and painful but also necessary. Change isn’t easy; growth doesn’t come from stagnation.
What became clear is this:
My recovery is not simply medical; it is relational, emotional and structural. Most of all, it’s a continuous process.
When Systems Don’t Meet the Moment
One of the most striking aspects of this experience was not the surgery itself, but the absence of coordinated aftercare.
The assumption seemed to be that once the procedure was complete, recovery was an individual responsibility.
This reflects a broader systemic issue.
In the UK, women’s health continues to be impacted by delayed diagnosis, lack of specialist services, and the normalisation of pain and discomfort. Many report not being listened to, while waiting lists for gynaecological care continue to grow faster than other specialities.
These experiences are not isolated.
They reflect long‑standing structural inequalities:
Conditions predominantly affecting women are under‑researched
Symptoms are often minimised or dismissed
Access to care varies significantly across socioeconomic and demographic groups
Women’s health outcomes are also shaped by broader inequalities, with those in deprived areas, from racialised backgrounds, or living with additional barriers facing poorer access and outcomes.
This means recovery is rarely just about healing.
It is about navigating systems that are not always designed to support you. Requiring a level of research, persistence and commitment, which demands the attention and energy which you should be investing in your recovery and self-care.
Overwhelm, Exhaustion, and the Cognitive Impact
When physical recovery intersects with systemic pressure, the impact is cumulative.
Over time, this can manifest in ways that are often misunderstood:
brain fog and difficulty concentrating
reduced motivation and loss of clarity
emotional dysregulation
persistent exhaustion
disrupted sleep routines
disengagement from decision‑making or planning
These are not signs of failure.
They are the body and mind responding to sustained pressure.
What is often missed is the connection between these experiences and the broader context in which they occur. Health inequalities in the UK show that those in more deprived or pressured environments experience significantly worse health outcomes and longer periods of ill health.
Resilience, in this context, cannot be separated from the environment.
Neurodiversity and the Amplification of Transition
Transitions and uncertainty are rarely neutral experiences.
For those with neurodiverse tendencies, they can be amplified.
There is often:
heightened awareness of unpredictability
a strong drive to prepare, control, or over‑function
deeper internal processing of change
increased vulnerability to burnout
Externally, this can look like coping.
Internally, it can feel relentless.
When combined with health recovery, structural barriers and ongoing responsibilities, the need to pause becomes necessary.
Emerging research highlights a significant relationship between hormonal fluctuations, particularly oestrogen and neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD and autism, with menopause representing a key transition point. Oestrogen plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, which are central to attention, mood regulation and executive functioning. As oestrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, these neural systems can become less stable, often resulting in increased cognitive difficulties, emotional dysregulation and exacerbation of pre‑existing neurodivergent traits.
Studies also indicate that women with ADHD may experience intensified mood changes and symptom severity during hormonal transitions across the lifespan, including menopause, while autistic individuals have reported heightened sensory sensitivity, fatigue and reduced coping capacity during this period. Despite these findings, the intersection of hormones, neurodiversity and menopause remains significantly under‑researched, leaving many without adequate clinical recognition or tailored support.
I have been following this research and am very aware that my ability to mask has been reduced to almost zero since my surgical menopause. My tolerance and decision-making capacity were significantly reduced and are returning now, 18 months post-surgery, as I begin to embed my long-term health and well-being strategy with almost no support from the medical professionals.
Re-Centring: From Perfection to Harmony
Being forced to stop creates space.
Not always welcomed space but space nonetheless.
It invites reflection:
What am I prioritising?
What is sustainable?
What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?
For a long time, progress was linked to output. To doing more, achieving more, being more.
Recovery disrupted that.
What emerged instead was a different understanding:
Progress does not require constant intensity
Perfection does not produce stability
Sustainability requires alignment
This shift, from perfection to harmony, is subtle but significant.
It redefines resilience.
Not as endurance, but as adaptation with awareness.
The Intersection of Health, Identity and Power
Health does not exist in isolation.
It is shaped by identity, access, and power.
In the UK:
Women experience poorer health outcomes in multiple areas
Racialised and marginalised communities face additional barriers
Access to healthcare varies significantly depending on income and location
These inequalities extend beyond healthcare itself.
They impact:
employment
income stability
long‑term wellbeing
Data shows that conditions such as endometriosis can affect earnings and employment over time, reducing income and opportunities for progression. During my recovery, I was unable to work much during the first 12 months, which meant I earned around a fifth of my previous year's income.
This reinforces a wider point:
Resilience is not purely individual.
It is influenced by systems that either support or constrain it.
The Wider Context: Living Standards and Uncertainty
This transition did not happen in isolation.
It unfolded against a backdrop of:
Rising cost of living
Increased financial pressure
Stretched public services
Ongoing instability in policy and protections
Living standards and health are closely connected. Lower income and increased financial strain are associated with poorer health outcomes and reduced access to care.
For many, personal overwhelm is compounded by systemic strain.
This is not a coincidence. It is context.
I am grateful that my personal context includes a loving, supportive husband and family. Access to additional health care and well-being professionals outside the NHS and a level of financial security which allowed me to take some time out.
What Resilience Looks Like Now
Resilience is often framed as persistence.
But persistence without reflection can become depletion.
Over time, my understanding of resilience has shifted.
It now looks like:
recognising limits without attaching failure to them
slowing down without disengaging
prioritising clarity over urgency
allowing recovery to be part of progress
It is not linear. It is not constant. But it is sustainable.
Transitions rarely feel clear while you are inside them.
They disrupt identity. They challenge expectations. They create uncertainty.
But they also reveal what was previously hidden.
They create an opportunity, not to return to what was, but to build something more sustainable.
For practitioners and professionals experiencing overwhelm:
You are not behind.
You are responding.
And sometimes, the most necessary step forward is not movement, but re‑alignment.
Moving Forward with Support
Seeking support, whether through coaching, learning communities or structured development, is not about needing “fixing”. It is about recognising that growth, clarity and resilience are strengthened through connection, not isolation.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, uncertain or disconnected from your capacity, it is worth considering what support might look like for you. Sometimes, the most significant shift comes not from doing more, but from having the space to think differently.
You are not alone in navigating these experiences.
And you do not have to navigate them without support.
Explore our mini workshop on emotional regulation, the ‘8Rs of EQ Regulation is a tool to help you understand and apply a practical model for effective emotional management.
Book a call now to discuss your support needs and aims.
Visit DRose Academy to connect with our community and resources.
This article draws on a combination of lived experience, UK policy evidence and emerging research on women’s health, inequalities and neurodiversity. While the evidence base in some areas, particularly menopause and neurodivergence, remains limited, the sources referenced reflect current available research and highlight significant gaps requiring further attention.
Women’s Health, Endometriosis and Reproductive Health (UK)
Endometriosis UK (2026)
The State of Endometriosis Care in the UK
[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]UK Parliament – Women and Equalities Committee (2024)
Women’s Reproductive Health Conditions Report
[eprajournals.com]Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2026)
ONS Data on the Impact of Endometriosis on Employment and Earnings
[neurolaunch.com]House of Commons Library (2025)
Women’s Health Briefing
[osr.statis...ity.gov.uk]LSE Public Policy Review (2025)
Barriers to Women Accessing Healthcare in the UK
[neurolaunch.com]
Health Inequalities and Living Standards (UK)
UK Health Security Agency (2025)
Health Inequalities in Health Protection Report
[simplypsychology.org]Office for Statistics Regulation / ONS (2025)
Health Inequalities in the UK: Analysis and Trends
[counsellin...ory.org.uk]Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
Living Standards, Poverty and Inequality in the UK
[wiki.techinc.nl]
Hysterectomy, Recovery and Mental Health
Nirmala et al. (2025)
Physical and Psychological Needs of Women Undergoing Hysterectomy (PMC)
[additudemag.com]Mayo Clinic (2019)
Study on Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety Following Hysterectomy
[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Hormones, Neurodiversity and Menopause
ADDitude / Wasserstein (2025)
Menopause, Hormones and ADHD: Overview of Estrogen’s Role in Cognition
[ifs.org.uk]Simply Psychology (2025)
How Hormones Shape the Female ADHD Experience
[thelancet.com]European Psychiatry (2023)
Hormonal Sensitivity of Mood Symptoms in Women with ADHD Across the Lifespan
[analytics.phe.gov.uk]Counselling Directory (2023)
The Intersection of Menopause and Neurodivergent Conditions
[lordslibra...liament.uk]Karavidas & de Visser (2021) (PMC)
Autistic Experiences of Menopause
[rcog.org.uk]
2026 Update - This article was originally published in 2024 so some of the links and promotional content from that time have been removed. Apologies for any old links or out-of-date content. I felt it was important to keep the articles which track my lived and professional experiences available within the community space. With the high numbers of us working through high-stress situations, particularly in relation to mental and physical health, our own or through care responsibilities, I wanted to keep the space open for discussion and support. I believe we need to prioritise women's health, reproductive health, mental health, family well-being and societal well-being, none of which are discussed enough. We can only change that by talking about it and fighting for better health policies, education and funding.
If you are interested in learning more about my health updates, you can find more articles on DRose Insights.
If you would like to know more about the professional development options available from DRose Academy, please visit DRose Ethics in Action to explore our content and development options.
