u/Wise_Second_3909

I, F33, had the Mirena hormonal coil for 18 months until Oct '25. It never fully settled and I ended up on the progesterone only pill for about 9 months as well.

- I gained 2 stone

- I was suicidal quite often

- My moods were all over the shop

- Constantly bloated

I've been off all hormonal birth control since Dec 2025.

My cycles were regulating slowly, but I'm still some level of bleeding for 15 days each 30 day cycle. This most recent cycle has gone a bad again. I don't want the GP offering me more synthetic hormones. I've had tonnes of tests to see what's going on, and they've all come back fine except for non-concerning HPV.

I'm looking at going to get an acupuncture consultation to see if that can help before going back to the GP. Thoughts?

Started managing a new team in January. Only 2 people (W & B) report in to me. A then reported in to B.

B had a very intensely difficult working relationship with A. A left the business in March. The whole thing really badly affected B. They are trying to rebuild confidence, etc, after that, understandably, and have asked for it to be understood that they need time to get better. I've understood, been patient, sat in long conversations while they've been upset. Hard, but manageable.

More recently, I've found B to basically be fighting me on everything and I feel I can't say the right thing no matter what I say. Every conversation is a level of dramatic/negative and it's becoming quite stressful. I've suggested potential solutions to issues raised and been shot down, fine, I may not have the right idea. But then B has no ideas. Sometimes they'll go away from the initial conversation and then come back slightly more open, but it's becoming really tough to manage.

B has busyness is their role, but it ebbs and flows. There are tasks to be done and I'm bringing them up, as solutions to issues raised, and invites to engage with the business and offer significant value. The response is always, at first, deeply negative and closed off.

I need ideas please. I don't know how else to approach it other than to stop asking for thoughts on tasks and simply saying, "do it". But that isn't my style and it feels harsh considering they are in a difficult personal place.