At first, she tried to push through, assuming it was just a phase. But over time, the symptoms chipped away at her energy and her confidence. Only later did she connect the dots: this was perimenopause.

Like many women, Freddie tried a whole toolkit of remedies – yoga, meditation, supplements, even HRT – but nothing truly helped her feel like herself again. That’s when she came across the Unlock Your Menopause Power programme and decided to give Sophrology a try.

“These exercises are so simple. You’re not diving into heavy emotions. They’re grounded, practical, and focused on the now,” she says. “That’s what I needed.”

At first, she wasn’t sure how she’d fit it in. Life was busy, and carving out time felt like just another thing on the list. But she found her rhythm by starting small – short sessions before bed, usually lying down, once the house was quiet.

“Just be disciplined for three or four days,” she says, “then it starts to come naturally.”

What surprised her most was how quickly things began to shift. After just a week, Freddie noticed her sleep improving. Her thoughts felt clearer, and she no longer felt like she was spiralling just trying to get through the day.

“I was calmer. I could get things done without feeling overwhelmed.”

Freddie’s blood pressure began to stabilise. Wearing a monitoring bracelet gave her real-time proof that these moments of stillness were making a tangible difference.

“Before, even when I sat down to relax, it stayed high. Now, when I pause, it drops. That’s a real difference.”

Her energy levels picked up. Day-to-day tasks became more manageable. “I didn’t feel like I was drowning in the to-do list anymore,” she says.

Freddie particularly valued the structure of the weekly programme, with a new practice to follow each week.

“I liked that you couldn’t skip ahead. It helped me stay present and stopped me feeling overwhelmed as if there was too much to do at once.”

The tension-relax techniques and visualisations became her favourites. She also appreciated the way each session was presented with visual demonstrations alongside audio, so she could learn the movement first, then close her eyes and focus on the experience.

She added in some light breathing exercises and natural supplements too, but Sophrology, she says, was the framework that brought it all together.

“It’s not about just one thing,” she says. “It all helps. But Sophrology makes it easier to stay steady.”

After completing the five-week menopause programme, Freddie paused for a while – but says she quickly felt the absence.

“Something was missing,” she says. “So, I started again, exploring other sessions on the app.”

These days, she picks what she needs in the moment – a mix of menopause support and on-demand sessions for focus, calm or a simple reset. “Even 10 minutes makes a difference,” she says. “Especially when life is busy, it’s something just for me.”

Freddie’s not claiming Sophrology is a magic fix. But it’s helped her find a steadier rhythm during a time of change. Her advice to others?

“Start in the evening. Lie down. Make those moments your own. It’s not about perfection – it’s about feeling more like yourself again, one breath at a time.”