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Navigate Menopause with ESPA: In Conversation with Emma Neville

Alexa Castillo
Writer and expert4 months ago
View Alexa Castillo's profile

Navigate Menopause with ESPA: In Conversation with Emma Neville

Navigate Menopause with ESPA: In Conversation with Emma Neville

ESPA are delighted to partner with Emma Neville, Founder of This Is Me, and accredited Menopause Coach.

Emma Neville is passionate, sincere, kind, and determined, fostering strength in women around the world. Hear from her in her own words as she sits down with ESPA’s Senior Copywriter, Alexa, to share her story. From her own experience with early menopause, to personal tips, to the anniversary of ‘This Is Me’, we are excited for you to get to know her and connect with her story.

 

Alexa Castillo, ESPA:

Thank you so much for meeting with us today, Emma. Can you tell us a bit about ‘This is Me’ and its origin?

Emma Neville: Thank you for having me. So ‘This Is Me’ started due to me experiencing early Menopause in 2019 when I was in lockdown. I had noticed my concentration levels had vanished and emotions were high. My periods had stopped for a few months ... but as I was going through a stressful time, I thought that these could have been due to stress. After seeking medical advice, I was told that I had POI which [is] Premature Ovarian Insufficiency -- which meant I had no eggs left in my ovaries.

When I was told that I’d had this early menopause, I was in a lot of denial due to my age, as I was just coming up to 40 and wanted to be thriving. In this, you know sort of denial it was this that just made me think what the heck is menopause and why do I not know about it as a woman? One, as a woman, [but also] also having two daughters? It was so important. I had to learn about this journey so they [would] not have the pitfalls that I had. This made me want to research and educate myself around it. Then, I decided I was going to take it a bit further and become a Menopause coach. I need younger women to understand that it’s not just 51 plus what the UK average is, and it can happen, and this motivated me to start a platform called ‘This Is Me’.

AC: So, you felt there wasn’t really any awareness or education, not just about Menopause, but about women's health in general?

EN: Yes, the more I've spoken about it over the year --- I just feel like it’s this unspoken word. It’s still getting there, but it was just, you know, even my mum hadn’t shared it with me. Why? I don’t know. Maybe because hers was okay and she must not of experienced any symptoms. Everybody is different and it’s not a one-size-fits all.

AC: What do you think has been your biggest challenge in educating others about menopause?

EN: Age has been my biggest challenge, it was a shock for the people around me and close to me, saying that you can’t be in Menopause, you know you’re only 40. That has been my biggest [challenge]. And, ignorance and that people kind of don’t want to talk about it. I understand because I was probably that person once, but now it makes me want to inform people more. You know, why would you not want to understand it before it happens?

AC: So, on the other side of the coin, what has been your greatest triumph in your own personal menopause journey and developing ‘This Is Me’?

EN: The triumph for myself is I’ve got to know myself a lot more. I’m very much in tune with myself now. I do try and tune in as much as I can to myself and listen a lot more. For ‘This Is Me’, my biggest triumph is the connection and collaboration with other women. I’ve loved doing these street interviews and have felt real connection with people who think they don’t want to talk to you but then open everything up to you. And again, with businesses going in to help and support the staff --- which is a massive positive that businesses are getting involved, and you know they should because probably half of their workforce are women and it’s important. Speaking at Happy Place Festival was also a massive triumph, I feel like that was my biggest crowd with approximately a thousand people there. There have been some massive goals that I've hit, and I feel really proud of.

AC: So, with your own experience with Menopause and how you manage that, have you made any lifestyle changes to adjust to Menopause?

EN: So, really, I kind of feel that my biggest change is movement --- moving my body every single day. And that’s through reformer Pilates. It’s my happy place as I call it. I love walking, I don’t often get as many walks in as I'd like to, but daily movement and I'd say weight training. For me, it’s really important to keep my bones healthy and keep strong. Also listening to your body, looking at what I'm putting into my body, my diet, eating more protein and being prepared.

AC: How have you managed your symptoms? Do you have tips for people on managing their symptoms?

EN: I think a bedtime routine is so important. For me it’s kind of trying to find that wind down, it might be having that night-time cup of decaf tea or something hot. But I think in a bedtime routine, my non-negotiable is magnesium citrate, one hour before bed, I found that helped me so much with my sleep. Keeping my bedroom nice and cool as well and sleeping in cotton pyjamas.

AC: What are your favourite helpful Menopause resources?

EN: I’m a real podcast girl I’ve found since lockdown. It was my go-to, I would just put one on and listen to some amazing people. I’m in the car quite a lot of the day so I put a podcast on. I’m a huge fan of Mel Robins, The Diary of a CEO, Happy Place by Fern Cotton. And, my own menopause coach Adele Johnson who has her own podcast as well.

I go on British Menopause Society website, they have lots of interesting links to different topics on there, it’s brilliant. And there’s also a website which is called NICE, they are the registered and governing body around Menopause, so I do go on their sites a lot for resources.

I’ve got a diary of books, especially within Menopause I’ve loved so many, but I think my most recent read has been Dr. Lisa Mosconi - The Menopause Brain, that’s fascinated me to understand the links to Menopause in our brain. Another one is Diane Danzebrink who’s been campaigning now for 20 years and has written the Making Menopause Matter Book.

AC: What drew you to collaborate with ESPA?

EN: So, this is interesting, because I've always been aware of the brand. I’ve stayed at the Corinthia Hotel and used the spa, and the products are always on my Christmas list, so it was really flattering that, through my channel the brand found me. When I started on the journey, I had to align with those I worked with, I had to feel heard. I think the education that you’re doing with the therapists is brilliant. You’ve got this holistic approach, very caring and nurturing.

AC: Do you have a favourite ESPA product or anything that you really enjoy using?

EN: The Optimal Body Tri-Serum – I have always used that on my body. I just think it’s really nourishing for everyone, and I always feel radiant after it and obviously the scent is beautiful – it's really calming.

My new go-to is the Positivity Candle, I light that every night. Look, that scent. It makes my room feel so nice when I walk in, I feel like I’m in my own spa. The soothing bath and body oil, I always put that in my bath, I love that one too. I think it’s just the sensorial journey it takes you on.

 

ESPA are proud to partner with Emma Neville, and showcase her experience, story, and journey with menopause. A part of every woman’s life, she breaks down the stigma of menopause and defines it as a beautiful metamorphosis bringing women worldwide together. Discover her community ‘This Is Me’ here.

Alexa Castillo
Writer and expert
View Alexa Castillo's profile
ESPA Senior Copywriter. Alexa Castillo MA English Literature, University of St Andrews MsC Creative Writing, University of Edinburgh
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