Glynis Barber: From Anxiety to Stage at 70

In her fifties, actress Glynis Barber, a familiar face from Eighties crime drama Dempsey and Makepeace, was confronted with overwhelming anxiety. This debilitating condition significantly impacted her career and was partly attributed to the menopause. Barber described the experience as sudden and severe, emphasizing that many women face depression and anxiety during menopause and post-menopause.

Fortunately, Barber took control of her mental health and has since made a triumphant return to the stage, appearing in Agatha Christie's Death on The Nile shortly after turning 70 last October. She now employs organizational skills and self-compassion, referring to a younger self as 'Little Glynnie' to manage stress.

Barber also shares insights into her personal life, including her marriage of three decades to Michael Brandon, whom she met on the set of Dempsey and Makepeace. She advocates for evolving together in relationships, stressing the importance of mutual change and a good sense of humor.

She detailed significant lifestyle adjustments made to manage her anxiety, including abstaining from alcohol and reducing caffeine intake, particularly coffee. Even after her anxiety subsided, she now exclusively drinks decaffeinated beverages to maintain her well-being.