Taking Charge of Your Changes - 30 Years Later

In the mid-1990s, I wrote Taking Charge of Your Changes: The Woman’s Guide and Workbook for Menopause Transition. It was created to accompany a supplement program for a planned infomercial. As part of the project, I interviewed more than 50 women. Nearly all shared difficult, often dismissive experiences with their medical doctors. Ultimately, the infomercial never moved forward. At the time, menopause was not considered an appropriate topic for mass media. It was viewed as too private, too uncomfortable, or simply unmarketable.

Thankfully, much has changed in the past 30+ years. Menopause is now widely discussed across television, podcasts, social media, and print. The silence has been broken. While I would like to believe this shift is driven purely by a commitment to women’s health, the reality is likely more complex. Women over 40 represent one of the largest and most powerful consumer markets, and many companies are eager to capture that spending power—once again.

Recently, I came across a printed draft of the original workbook. It was written so long ago that I no longer have a digital copy. As I read through it, I was struck by how relevant it still feels. The science has advanced, and the conversation has expanded, but many of the core challenges—and solutions—remain the same.

The central message endures: women must take charge of their health, ask questions, seek informed care, and advocate for themselves. Menopause is not a footnote in a woman’s life. It is a transition—and like all transitions, it deserves knowledge, preparation, and power.

In the workbook, I addressed

·      The Magic and Mystery of Menopause – what’s it’s all about

·      Be the Captain of Your Health Care Team – charting your personal health history

·      Being to Stay Cool While You Are Boiling Over – it’s a matter of balance

·      How to Fill Your Body During Menopause – we are what we eat and drink

·      You Don’t Need to Be Thin to Be Fit – but you need to be fit to be healthy

·      Feeling Good About Yourself – focusing on the positive

·      What HOT About Menopause – it could be your sex life

·      What’s next – a new beginning

I’ve long been an advocate of KISS—Keep It Simple and Successful. That philosophy has followed me through every stage of my career. I was first exposed by my father, who was a CPA, and I embraced it as a psychology major with an emphasis in behavior modification. It was reinforced during my few years as a computer programmer, where clarity and simplicity were essential. It deepened as a Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy focused on cognitive-behavioral approaches, and later as a sex educator helping individuals and couples improve their intimacy and relationships.

Now, years later, as I address the realities of aging, the principle remains the same: break complex issues down into simple, doable action steps. When people are already overwhelmed by life, health information should empower—not overload—them. Simple, clear strategies make change possible and sustainable and prepare for the next transition – life does not stay the same!

But some basics have remained the same that we can take charge of: diet, exercise, sleep, our mental attitude, and demanding proper and accessible health care.

That is also why I love hosting my radio show, Your Best Life, and serving as a spokesperson for the 50+ community. It gives me a platform to translate complex topics into practical guidance and to advocate for a generation that deserves clear information, respect, and real solutions.

Learn more about me at https://tinyurl.com/5n6cdmbv and https://tinyurl.com/yd9pvp4z 

If you are interested in advertising on Your Best Life or engaging me as a speaker and/or a Spokesperson, contact me at joan@joanirvineconsulting.com

To Health, Happiness, and Hot Sex,

Dr. Joan

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