The ability to observe human patterns as we travel through life is a unique privilege of healthcare professionals.

As a GP, one such pattern is the presentation of a “burnt-out mother”.

That is, the woman that comes to you in her late 40s or 50s with generalised symptoms of fatigue, apathy or resentment.

You’ll go through the motions with her, not wanting to disregard her symptoms, probing about sleep, menstrual periods and constitutional symptoms.