A women’s health issue will be be stripped bare on the boards of a woolshed in Peel Forest this weekend.
Sunday’s free event will see speakers reflecting on their health journeys.
One of the speakers, Gillian Parkinson, is a familiar face in Geraldine.
She will speak about her life journey navigating endometriosis and adenomyosis.
Mrs Parkinson said ‘‘it is not talked about enough’’.
From a young age females were taught not to make a fuss. She had been fobbed off by doctors and told it was something all women experienced.
What made a woman’s health journey more difficult was when it was complicated by trauma, as it left patients disempowered to advocate for themselves.
Mrs Parkinson said it was the ripple effect of childhood trauma.
While she was not new to public speaking, she said this would be the most intimate topic she had spoken about.
Preparing for the event was taking a ‘‘tremendous amount of courage’’.
But the thing that kept her going was not knowing who she might be helping.
As an aromatherapist, she said inhaling clary sage was helping her deal with the jitters.
Although the event might have moments which were hard to hear, she said it was vital to speak her truth and not ‘‘dilute’’ anything.
It would be an empowering event.
‘‘Insightful and enlightening, backed with compassion, kindness, patience and care,’’ Mrs Parkinson said.
And the main takeaway for audience members? ‘‘Trust your instincts. ‘‘Always, always trust your instincts.’’
Seats for the free event can be booked on Eventfinda.
The event will be held at the woolshed at Menorca Cottage (265 Peel Forest Rd, Geraldine) on Sunday, from 1.30pm-4.30pm.
