Menopause & Self Care with Expert Guest Emily Black

Rita Mercer Author

Navigate menopause with empowerment and grace. Explore symptoms, self-care strategies, and support from certified menopause coach Emily Black.

What is menopause?  What is the difference between between perimenopause and menopause

Perimenopause signals the transition time between a biological female's childbearing years and the stage of menopause.

Menopause, often shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding, is a natural life transition in a woman’s life. Yet, many women face it feeling alone with lots of shame, while feeling unprepared to manage the changes it brings. On this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, I had the opportunity of speaking with Emily Black, a certified menopause coach. Together, we explored the complex symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, debunked myths, and shared wellness strategies to navigate this phase with grace and self-compassion.

Emily’s Journey to Menopause Advocacy

Emily’s personal health journey led her to become a menopause coach. After developing autoimmune symptoms that overlapped with menopause—including sleep disturbances, anxiety, and painful physical symptoms—Emily realized there was a gap in understanding and support for women during this phase. Through determination and the support of her partner, she found clarity, treatment, and a new purpose.

Today, Emily runs a thriving Facebook group with over 11,000 members and has created natural remedies to help women tackle common symptoms like insomnia and anxiety.

Recognizing Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is the natural stage in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles permanently stop, typically occurring around age 45 to 55. It is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period and is caused by a significant decrease in hormone production, primarily estrogen and progesterone.

Perimenopause (or "around menopause") is the transitional phase leading up to menopause. It can begin several years earlier and is marked by fluctuating hormone levels that cause various physical and emotional symptoms.

The symptoms of menopause are as diverse as they are challenging. According to Emily, some of the most common symptoms she hears form her Facebook group members include:

• Sleep disturbances: The infamous "3 AM wake-up call."
• Anxiety: Often experienced by women who’ve never struggled with it before.
• Weight gain: A frustrating side effect linked to hormonal and muscle loss.
• Hot flashes and night sweats: Unpredictable and sometimes embarrassing.
• Hair loss, low energy, and joint pain, just to name a few. 

Emily emphasizes the importance of understanding these changes as biological, and not internalizing them as personal failures. Shame and unrealistic societal standards can silence many women, which only worsens this normal life transition.

Destigmatizing Menopause: Breaking the Taboo

“Why is menopause a taboo topic?” Emily posed this question during our discussion. Two reasons stood out: societal discomfort with the normal process of aging and the lingering idea that women should stay youthful looking forever.

Emily passionately argued against harmful narratives like “balancing your hormones,” which can mislead women into believing their symptoms are due to personal shortcomings rather than biological changes.

“It’s not your fault,” Emily encouraged. “Menopause is a natural process that happens regardless of what you do.”

The METHOD Framework for Self-Care

To help women manage this transition feeling empowered, Emily shared her METHOD acronym—a daily checklist for wellness:

1. M – Money: Regularly check finances to ease money-related anxiety.
2. E – Exercise: Build strength to prevent muscle loss through weight training and light cardio.
3. T – Teaching: Share knowledge or mentor others to foster community and personal development.
4. H – Haters: Use meditation or visualization to turn criticism into motivation.
5. O – Outreach: Connect with social support from friends, loved ones, or business contacts daily.
6. D – Diet: Plan and prepare meals that cater to your body’s changing nutritional needs.

Emily’s approach is both simple and very practical, encouraging women to find what resonates best with their lifestyle and stage of menopause.

Support and Treatment Options

Emily discussed the evolving perspectives on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can alleviate symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and bone loss. She advised women to consult with informed, empathetic doctors and make decisions based on your personal individual needs.

What is equally important, is cultivating a strong support system—partners, family, and friends who understand the challenges of menopause. “It’s not a solo journey,” Emily reminded us.

Resources and Next Steps

Emily’s commitment to helping women extends beyond coaching. Her natural sleep and anxiety remedies are available on Amazon and her Shopify store, and she graciously shared a discount code for the Daring Well podcast listeners 

Discount Code, Get 20% off your Amazon order of gummies:
20DARING2025

STILL Serene - Meno Anxiety Support Sleep Gummies & Sleep Aid
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ...

If you’re navigating menopause, Emily’s advice is simple: Treat it like any other medical condition—with care, compassion, and the right support.

Join the Women's Wellness Movement
To connect with Emily, please see the links below:

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/still.forher/

Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/still.forher/

Website: https://www.stillforher.com/

Together, let’s continue to break the stigma and ensure no woman faces menopause alone.

Are you looking for more inspiration for wellness tips & coping skills?

Check out The Daring Well Podcast:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts

Categories: : Menopause Symptoms, Self Care, Women's Health