What this episode is about
In this episode of Pleasure in the Pause, Gabriella sits down with Julie for an honest, practical, and deeply hopeful conversation about surgical menopause, self-advocacy, and finding your way back to yourself. If you have ever been told your symptoms are just part of getting older, this one is for you.
Key takeaways
- Gabriella shares a tip she heard from a psychotherapist: put your own name in front of an affirmation, like Gabriella, you have the resilience to get through this.
- Julie Parana says she was told keeping her ovaries meant her hysterectomy wouldn't change her menopause timing. She says it did, and she wishes she'd been prepared.
- Julie says early menopause significantly raises the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and dementia, and nobody explained that to her.
Moments from this episode
Word for word from the recording. Tap a time to hear it.
Women normalize suffering
“I told myself, this is normal. This is just what periods are like for women. We normalize suffering, unfortunately, as women. And so, for a while, a very long while, I just lived with all of these symptoms.”
Not sick enough to matter
“You just put it to the side because you think, oh, this isn't suffering enough. We do that to ourselves.”
Menopause can be a beginning
“Menopause doesn't have to be the end. It doesn't have to mean that you need to suffer endlessly for years. Please don't do that because there are so many things that you can do to feel better.”
Put yourself first
“Please, don't put everybody else before yourself. We have been conditioned as women to do that. You have to put yourself first. This is the stage of life where your body is going to tell you that you have to put yourself first.”
“A lot of them are not trained in menopause care. They just don't know. So, we have to advocate for ourself. We have to empower ourselves with that knowledge.”
Gabriella Espinosaat 18:14
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Show notes
What happens when a healthcare professional goes through surgical menopause at 42 and is handed nothing but a message in her patient portal that says "you are post-menopausal"? No education. No discussion. No next steps. Just a diagnosis and silence.
That is exactly what happened to Julie Parana. And even as an occupational therapist who spent her days supporting patients through major health challenges, she found herself doing what so many women do , minimizing her symptoms, pushing through the pain, and waiting far too long to ask for help.
Read the full show notesShow less
This episode is part of the Return to Her series, where Gabriella sits down with women who have navigated something hard and found their way back to themselves. Julie's story is one of normalized suffering, hard-won self-advocacy, and a return to her body that was more powerful than she ever expected. She now helps other women do the same as a certified menopause coach and founder of The Menopause OT.
If you have ever been told your symptoms are just part of being a woman, this conversation is for you.
ABOUT JULIA:
*Julie Parana, MS, OTR/L, CWHS, is an Occupational Therapist, Certified Women’s Health Specialist, Menopause Coach, and founder of**The Menopause OT - Menopause Coaching**, a virtual practice empowering women to feel informed, supported, and in control through perimenopause and menopause. She works with women at every stage of this transition, including early, surgical, or treatment-induced changes.*
After experiencing early menopause herself following a hysterectomy, Julie recognized how little guidance exists for women during this transition. She earned certifications in women’s health and menopause coaching to help women understand their bodies and thrive during this transition.
With over 20 years in rehabilitation and women’s health, Julie blends clinical expertise with compassionate coaching. She offers private coaching, speaking engagements, workshops, and menopause-in-the-workplace trainings, helping women and organizations address hot flashes, fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, and more.
Julie is passionate about breaking menopause stigma and empowering women to feel strong, energized, and like themselves again.
Together, we talk about:
✨ What adenomyosis is and why it goes undiagnosed for so long in so many women
✨ How surgical menopause differs from natural menopause and why the symptoms can be more sudden and severe
✨ The five lifestyle pillars that help women feel like themselves again , mindset, nervous system regulation, nutrition, sleep, and movement
✨ Why affirmations feel awkward at first and why they work anyway
✨ How to start small, build slowly, and actually stick to the habits that make the biggest difference
Julie spent years dismissing her own symptoms because she was too busy caring for everyone else. What she learned on the other side of that is something every woman in this community needs to hear: menopause does not have to mean years of needless suffering. There is so much available to you. But you have to prioritize yourself first. No one is coming to do that for you.
If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at pleasureinthepause.com for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.
CONNECT WITH JULIE PARANA:
CONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:
The information shared on Pleasure in the Pause is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or Pleasure in the Pause.
About the guest
Julie ParanaOccupational Therapist, Certified Women’s Health Specialist, Menopause CoachGuest on this episode of Pleasure in the Pause.More about them
