Janet Ellis shares her experience of the menopause

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The menopause will affect us all differently - but we've all heard of the dreaded sleep problems. In the second of a 3-part video special, Janet Ellis shares her story

If you're starting to worry about the menopause, hearing stories from other women could help put your mind at ease and put your concerns in perspective.

And who better to share their story than former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis? We've teamed up with our sister magazine, Woman, to make a 3-part special with Janet, addressing your menopause worries.

In the first video, she shared her top three tips for dealing with the menopause. In this video she tells us about her experience of it - and how waking up in the night became a problem for her.

Janet says: 'The disturbed sleep was major actually because I'd never had a problem. But this, I had no problem getting to sleep but then I was waking up at about 3 o'clock in the morning. That was a new experience. And I felt tense about it too.

'I think once you know that might happen it interferes with lots of things. You start to think: 'Should I stay out? Should I have a drink? What should I be doing? Will it affect this waking up?' Then I realised that amplified worry was a symptom of the menopause too.'

Janet also had a problem with anxiety that was caused by the menopause: 'I had a growing anxiousness about things that had not bothered me before. Either things that simply weren't worth worrying about, or things that pre-menopause I wouldn't have worried about in that way. I found myself going back over things that I'd said, or done, or planned and thinking, 'Is that right?'. Logically, I just think 'Relax, this is not as important as you're making it'.'

We'd love to hear your stories on the menopause. Is it as bad as the press makes out? Email us and tell us what you think.

Coming up: Janet talks about HRT and other menopause treatments

More menopause help and advice

- 'Herbs cured my sleep problems'
- The menopause diet
- Your menopause questions answered

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