Episode 9 | Standing in the Circle with Menopause Week 1: Perimenopause, the Unguided Initiation

Stand in the Circle, Episode 9

Most of us reached perimenopause with no idea what it was. In this episode I go through what's actually happening, tell my own story:  BRCA, surgical menopause, PMDD, and a conversation in a taxi that changed what happened to my body.

Content warning: the second half discusses violence against women, including sexual violence, and the Gisèle Pelicot case. 

This podcast is first-hand experience: stories, not advice. Not medical advice, not any kind of advice. In ACER sharing circles we share our stories and nobody gives advice, because what's right for one person is wrong for another. Psychedelics come up on this podcast because that's my background. Nothing here is an encouragement to use them. If you disagree with anything you hear this month, write in. I'll raise it in the Q&A at the end of the month.

If you're struggling: Your GP, first. Samaritans (UK) 116 123

https://www.samaritans.org The Daisy Network, for premature ovarian insufficiency https://www.daisynetwork.org IAPMD, for PMDD support https://iapmd.org

Links: The Pomegranate Grove, https://psychedelicsociety.org.uk/

www.acerintegration.com
The PMDD Healing Podcast, Charisma Whitefeather

Fawcett Society, Menopause and the Workplace (2022) https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk
NICE guideline NG23, Menopause: identification and management https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23
SWAN, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation https://www.swanstudy.org
UNODC & UN Women, Femicides in 2024 — https://www.unwomen.org
Menopause-specific CBT: the MENOS trials, self help book:  Living Well Through The Menopause: An evidence-based cognitive behavioural guide https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/How-to-Have-a-Magnificent-Midlife-Crisis/Kate-Muir/9781398525504 (Another great self help book)

PLUS link to NEW stand in the circle webinar  https://acerintegration.com/stand-in-the-circle-webinar-lp

Submit a question for Ros to answer next month: https://forms.gle/jVcGniTN3uS1bjz18