Navigating Menopause with Humor and Strength
03/20/25 • 36 min
In this episode, Colleen McIntosh, author of Menopause: The Horror, Humility, and Humor of It All joins us to discuss her candid and humorous approach to navigating menopause. She shares insights on how humor, support, and self-care can help women thrive during this challenging life transition.
Colleen’s story is one of humor, resilience, and self-discovery. Having spent years in acting and advertising, Colleen turned to writing to document her personal journey through menopause, a phase she felt was largely ignored or misunderstood in society. Colleen describes the moment that inspired her to write her book, recalling a frustrating encounter at an airport where she realized how invisible she felt as an older woman. It was then that she began writing down her experiences, making humor a central theme in her narrative.
Humor has been Colleen’s lifeline, even in the most difficult moments. She recalls a particularly hilarious monologue about her menopausal journey that had her family in stitches, despite a few moments of shock. Humor allowed her to process her emotions and, ultimately, embrace the changes she was experiencing with a lighter heart.
One of Colleen’s core missions is to normalize conversations about menopause and aging. She encourages women to share their experiences with their families and communities. She believes that this openness is essential for breaking down the stigma surrounding menopause and empowering the next generation of women.
She discussed the importance of:
- Having a support system during menopause, whether through friends, family, or local communities.
- Using humor in helping you to get through menopause
- Educating and communicating with the men in our lives to understand menopause
- Prioritizing self-care and being "selfish" in a way that ultimately benefits everyone around you
Colleen’s story is a testament to the power of humor, self-care, and support in navigating the menopausal journey. She reminds women that they are not alone and encourages them to embrace the changes with compassion, humor, and open communication. Menopause, like any life transition, can be a time of growth, learning, and connection.
Connect with Colleen:
- Website and blog: https://www.colleenmcintosh.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095174347324
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleen.mcintosh.31/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenmcintosh
Resources referenced in the podcast:
In this episode, Colleen McIntosh, author of Menopause: The Horror, Humility, and Humor of It All joins us to discuss her candid and humorous approach to navigating menopause. She shares insights on how humor, support, and self-care can help women thrive during this challenging life transition.
Colleen’s story is one of humor, resilience, and self-discovery. Having spent years in acting and advertising, Colleen turned to writing to document her personal journey through menopause, a phase she felt was largely ignored or misunderstood in society. Colleen describes the moment that inspired her to write her book, recalling a frustrating encounter at an airport where she realized how invisible she felt as an older woman. It was then that she began writing down her experiences, making humor a central theme in her narrative.
Humor has been Colleen’s lifeline, even in the most difficult moments. She recalls a particularly hilarious monologue about her menopausal journey that had her family in stitches, despite a few moments of shock. Humor allowed her to process her emotions and, ultimately, embrace the changes she was experiencing with a lighter heart.
One of Colleen’s core missions is to normalize conversations about menopause and aging. She encourages women to share their experiences with their families and communities. She believes that this openness is essential for breaking down the stigma surrounding menopause and empowering the next generation of women.
She discussed the importance of:
- Having a support system during menopause, whether through friends, family, or local communities.
- Using humor in helping you to get through menopause
- Educating and communicating with the men in our lives to understand menopause
- Prioritizing self-care and being "selfish" in a way that ultimately benefits everyone around you
Colleen’s story is a testament to the power of humor, self-care, and support in navigating the menopausal journey. She reminds women that they are not alone and encourages them to embrace the changes with compassion, humor, and open communication. Menopause, like any life transition, can be a time of growth, learning, and connection.
Connect with Colleen:
- Website and blog: https://www.colleenmcintosh.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095174347324
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleen.mcintosh.31/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenmcintosh
Resources referenced in the podcast:
Previous Episode
Understanding Pelvic Health with Ingrid Harm-Ernandes, PT, WCS
In this episode, Ingrid Harm-Ernandes, PT, WCS, a seasoned physical therapist, author, and speaker with over 40 years of experience, including almost three decades specializing in women’s health, joins us for a discussion into the often overlooked but crucial topic of pelvic health, its critical role in everyday functions like bowel and bladder control, sexual health, & maintaining stability, and treatment options and resources available including NMF’s free Menopause MicroCourse on genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM).
As women enter menopause, the pelvic floor faces additional challenges, including incontinence, prolapse, and pain during sex (aka sex dysfunction). Ingrid noted that these issues are commonly misunderstood or dismissed as inevitable and as a result are not addressed. In actuality, these issues are quite treatable and should be addressed as soon as they are noted.
She stressed the importance of recognizing symptoms early and seeking help from qualified, credentialed professionals (e.g., physical therapists, urogynecologists, and certified menopause practitioners / CMPs). Many of these conditions, though common, are manageable with the right care.
One of the most misunderstood pelvic health issues is prolapse, where organs like the bladder or uterus shift from their normal position. Ingrid explained how prolapse often starts subtly, with symptoms like pressure or discomfort, but can progress over time without intervention. Fortunately, prolapse is treatable with both non-surgical and surgical options.
Ingrid emphasized the importance of follow-through, whether it’s attending physical therapy after surgery or making small changes to daily habits. Being aware of changes and understanding how to navigate health issues is an important part of continued self-care. She shared simple but effective strategies to promote pelvic health:
- Strengthen the Pelvic Floor
- Stay Active
- Hydrate and Eat Well
- Seek Professional Help
- Ask Questions
Ingrid is a member of NMF’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) and was co-faculty for the NMF’s Menopause MicroCourse on genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM). Her book, The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to Solve Your Pelvic Floor Symptoms, provides a deeper exploration of these topics. She has served on committees for both the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Specialization Academy of Content Experts (SACE) committee and the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS), including serving as the Chair and Vice Chair for the Advanced Practice, Physical Therapy and Allied Health (APPTAH) Special Interest Groups (SIG) and the AUGS Advanced Practice Provider (APP) conference committee.
Connect with Ingrid:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-harm-ernandes-5057773b/
- Instagram: @harmernandes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.harmernandes.71/
Resources referenced in the podcast:
- The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve your pelvic floor symptoms -- available on DesertHarvest.com and Amazon.com
- The National Menopause Foundation’s Menopause MicroCourses
Next Episode
Heal, Evolve, Reignite: Navigating Midlife Mental Health
In this episode, Dawn Van Berkel, LPC, CCTP, CST, a mental health counselor and founder of H.E.R. Therapy, joins us for a discussion to explore the emotional challenges and opportunities women face during midlife and menopause.
Dawn shares her inspiring story of going back to school in her mid-40s to earn a master’s degree in counseling, proving that reinvention is possible at any age. She wants women to know it’s never too late to make a career change, to go back to school to obtain a degree that will focus on what will make you thrive and always be learning.
Dawn is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a perimenopause mental health specialist, certified clinical trauma professional therapist (CCTP), certified sex therapist (CST) specializing in sexual assault and advocate for women’s mental health, she helps women navigate the complex changes of midlife to reclaim and celebrate their sense of self through her practice, HER Therapy (Heal, Evolve, Reignite). In addition, EMDR and a parent coach for families with autistic children.
It’s important to recognize that the midlife and perimenopause phase of life is challenging, so each woman needs to first accept it and find ways that work best for them to move forward. Many women don’t realize symptoms like heart palpitations, debilitating anxiety, or mood changes can be connected to perimenopause and that they often go unheard by healthcare providers and feel unvalidated.
She discusses:
- The profound emotional shifts caused by hormonal fluctuations that often accompany perimenopause and menopause including anxiety, depression, and the heavy "mental load" women carry, managing both home and work life.
- The realities of trauma, not just catastrophic events, but the buildup of everyday stressors that wear down emotional resilience over time.
- The “light at the end of the menopause tunnel” -- that research shows postmenopausal women often experience greater life satisfaction, patience and inner peace. It’s not the end, it’s a reinvention.
Dawn emphasized the importance to find the best first defense (e.g., talk therapy, antidepressants / SSRIs, hormone therapy, etc.) and to find a medical provider who understand women’s midlife health and will help you on your menopause journey. She offers practical tools like breathwork exercises (make the exhale longer than the inhale), meditation and radical self-care strategies to help women reclaim their well-being.
Connect with Dawn:
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