What if the reason so many women feel frightened, overwhelmed, or like they are losing themselves during perimenopause is because no one prepared them for just how much it can affect the brain, body, emotions, and identity all at once?

Today I am joined by Karen Gibbard, a menopause coach, change management practitioner, and integrative support advocate who discusses her personal perimenopause experience, which began at the age of 41 and brought severe cognitive changes that left her fearing she had onset dementia. We explore the profound emotional toll of menopause, including the loss of confidence, identity shifts, and the grief that can accompany this transition. Karen also shares how her professional background in change management helped her reframe menopause as a major life transition, and we discuss why women who cannot take HRT often feel excluded from the conversation, highlighting the vital need for holistic and community-based support.

Karen Reveals

• Menopause can begin in a woman’s early 40s (or even 30s) with severe brain fog, memory lapses, and psychological shifts long before any changes occur in her menstrual cycle.
• Viewed through the lens of change management, menopause is one of the most significant biological, psychological, and emotional transitions a woman will experience, impacting relationships, work, and identity.
• The transition brings a profound sense of loss;  of confidence, loss of self, and a deep sense of grief, particularly surrounding the end of fertility, which requires dedicated emotional support.
• For women who cannot or choose not to take HRT, there is a critical need for accessible, alternative support systems, including lifestyle adjustments, workplace policies, and community-based safe spaces.

BEST MOMENTS

“I honestly thought that I had early-onset dementia, and it was terrifying. You get to a point sometimes where you barely remembered your own name.”

“There’s nothing bigger than this in terms of change management. No bigger transition, I don’t think, exists.”

“Don’t settle for ‘no.’ Don’t settle for ‘there is nothing I can do to help you.”

“I think what’s most missing is that ability to listen. To truly listen. It’s that ability to validate another human being”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.instagram.com/karengibbardmenopausecoach/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmgibbard/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582032600965 

www.karengibbard.co.uk 

HOST BIO

Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. 

A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, “Menopause – The Real Deal,” she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal

My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag

Website www.panaceapause.co.uk