A woman with red hair in a ponytail, wearing a sleeveless black top, smiles in a bright kitchen with plants, flowers, and outdoor light streaming in through large windows.

Tracey: “It was great to meet other people going through menopause and see I wasn’t alone”

Firefighter Tracey Garrett attended our Menopause Programme at Harcombe House and says it was invaluable – not only in teaching her coping strategies, but also creating lasting bonds with like-minded others.

Going through the menopause can feel an isolating experience for many – with unpredictable symptoms disrupting day-to-day life.

Avon firefighter Tracey Garrett says she found managing those symptoms alongside the demands of her job especially challenging. Hoping to find some ways to cope, she enquired about attending our Menopause Programme at Harcombe House.

She was invited to a week earlier this year and says the connections she made have stayed with her ever since.

“It was a fantastic week where I was able to meet others going through the menopause. I found it extremely beneficial,” she says.

“The staff can’t do enough for you, from the receptionists to the kitchen staff and gym staff, they make you feel really comfortable and welcome, catering to your needs, and our meals were fantastic throughout.”

For Tracey, one of the biggest highlights was meeting the other women.

A woman with red hair sits on a couch in a cozy living room, smiling. Behind her is a fireplace with a floral-patterned surround, a wood-burning stove, and various home decor items.

“It was quite a diverse group, so we had ladies from their early 40s up to early 60s, some were operational firefighters like myself whereas others were partners of firefighters,” she says.

“In all the group discussions that we had, we all had very different backgrounds, very different opinions, and we came together and had lots of tools which we could share with each other. It was just really great to see that there were other people that were going through the menopause within the fire service, and I wasn’t the only one suffering with these symptoms.”

Tracey left the programme equipped with practical ways to manage her symptoms and start important conversations at work.

A woman with reddish hair tied back stands in front of a turquoise wooden gate, wearing a sleeveless black top, beige wide-legged pants, black shoes, and a belt. She smiles with her hands in her pockets.

“Obviously, a lot of men don’t give any thought to menopause – why would they – so now I can share these experiences and educate them, so they can understand why one day I might be a little bit grumpy, or I might be tired, or I might be having a hot flush,” she adds.

“I thought it was really important to talk about and share those experiences, and I’ve gained a lot of skills that I’ve been able to bring home and use in my day-to-day life. I’m constantly sharing those with other women, who are either in the fire service or not.

“I’m keen to promote all the things the charity was able to provide to me.”

If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, you can call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or visit the ‘Access Support’ tab in My Fire Fighters Charity.