Veteran actress Glynis Barber has spoken candidly about the intense anxiety she experienced during menopause, revealing how it nearly derailed her career before she found effective ways to regain control. Now in her seventies, Barber is sharing the personal strategies that helped her navigate one of the most challenging periods of her life.
Best known for her roles in Dempsey and Makepeace and Hollyoaks, Barber described how sudden and overwhelming anxiety struck her in her fifties. The experience, she explained, was both unexpected and debilitating, highlighting a reality many women face during and after menopause.
She emphasized that anxiety and depression can be common during this stage of life, often arriving abruptly and with significant impact. The severity of her symptoms forced her to reassess her lifestyle and develop coping mechanisms to manage her mental health.
Building Coping Strategies
Barber credits a series of practical and emotional strategies with helping her recovery. Becoming more organized played a key role in reducing daily stress, while a unique form of self-compassion helped her manage anxious thoughts. She developed a technique of “self-mothering,” imagining a nurturing version of herself offering comfort during moments of distress.
Lifestyle changes also proved essential. Barber chose to eliminate alcohol temporarily, noting its negative effects on anxiety levels. She also reduced her caffeine intake, eventually switching entirely to decaffeinated coffee to maintain emotional stability.
These adjustments, combined with a greater awareness of her mental health, allowed her to gradually regain confidence and return to her professional life.
A Return to the Stage
Having regained control, Barber has since returned to acting, including a stage role in Death on the Nile. Her continued work reflects both her resilience and commitment to her craft, even after facing significant personal challenges.
Reflections on Long-Term Relationships
Barber also offered insight into her decades-long marriage to actor Michael Brandon, whom she met during her time on Dempsey and Makepeace. The couple, now together for over 30 years, maintain a relationship grounded in honesty, humor, and mutual growth.
She acknowledged that disagreements have always been part of their dynamic but views them as healthy. According to Barber, enduring partnerships depend on both individuals evolving together and embracing change over time.
Her reflections underscore a broader perspective: long-term relationships require effort, adaptability, and a willingness to grow, rather than adherence to rigid expectations.
Barber’s experience sheds light on the often-overlooked mental health challenges associated with menopause, while offering practical insights into resilience, self-care, and personal growth later in life.
The post Glynis Barber Opens Up on Overcoming Menopause Anxiety and Reclaiming Her Life appeared first on Owink.
Source: Owink
