EMERY
My name is Emery - I live and work in Salt Lake City.
I graduated from Westminster College in 2015 in business. (As an ”older” student).
From EWP:
Emery is a boutique catering business owner in Salt Lake City. She has been supporting women owned businesses and leads a very successful one herself.
She also has climbed most of the major routes out West.
When did you first notice signs of perimenopause, and what were the earliest symptoms you experienced?
The first sign that my body was completely changing were with my periods… They became more frequent and were extremely heavy. My gynecologist at that time said that this was normal… I too started experiencing utter exhaustion and quite a bit of body pain. This led me to seek out advice from other medical professionals.
How have hormonal changes impacted your mood, sleep, mental clarity, libido, or relationships?
The hormonal changes contributed to a total disruption of my sleep, moods and my mental health. I was completely unaware that these things were related to perimenopause… I tried to seek out help but couldn’t really find much at the time. The best thing I was able to do for my wellbeing was to take marajuana gummies for sleep. This helped me tremendously!
What has helped you feel strong or grounded during this journey?
This last year, I found a new doctor and have recently started hormone replacement therapy. This has definitely helped me with my moods, my sleep and my overall wellbeing.
How has your identity—how you see yourself—shifted during this phase?
In many ways this shift has improved my ability to “just be” a bit better without focusing so much energy on my outward appearance and how others perceive or see me as being. But at the very same time - the whole aging process has also been pretty rude at times… for lack of a better way to describe:)
“In many ways this shift has improved my ability to “just be” a bit better without focusing so much energy on my outward appearance and how others perceive or see me as being.”
What role does movement or exercise play in managing your symptoms or overall well-being?
Walking, hiking, reading, writing, climbing…
Have you made any changes to your diet or nutrition that have helped you feel better?
I definitely eat in a very balanced a d health conscious way.
What has been the hardest or most surprising part of this transition so far?
Hmm… The whole experience has been such a mind/body shift and at times the vulnerability and isolation I’ve felt has been a bit overwhelming. Just recently I’ve started to feel like I’m getting back to being my strong self.
What would you tell your younger self to help her prepare for this phase of life?
That there is help, knowledge, support out there if you look.
