OFF AND LEAVE ME ALONE

Suffering from hormonal rage and overwhelm, Anna Tetlow reclaims her life at a retreat

For half a decade now, I've wanted to wake up less angry at the world. Feminist writer Sharon Blackie describes menopause as "an earthquake, shaking us to our deepest foundations". Which probably explains why I'm the Roy Kent of mothers: a bit sweary and angry all the time. The bad sleep, overwhelm, anxiety, and rage of menopause have plagued me.

As the epitome of a super-stressed, single, working mum on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT is not quite the silver bullet I'd hoped for), I'm in dire need of a reset. I'm hoping that the menopause retreat at Combe Grove, the UK's first metabolic health centre, will give me that (and potentially cure my rushing woman's syndrome, Cadbury addiction, hatred of meditation, and impatience with my chaotic children).

The first thing I noticed is the peace. Combe Grove is on the edge of Bath, in 70 acres of woods full of rabbits, owls, and badgers, with mesmerising views of the Limpley Stoke Valley. The jam-packed week kicks off with a welcome talk on metabolic health, the foundation upon which all good health is based. This means getting the body working optimally in terms of stable blood sugar and balanced hormones, leading to greater energy levels. Good metabolic health can improve, reverse, and prevent some lifestyle conditions and diseases. Helen Aylward Smith, who set up the Elmhurst Charitable Trust that owns Combe Grove, is heartfelt about the retreat's ambitious purpose: to share all learnings with the NHS. She speaks passionately about the retreat as a gift you will want to share.