May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this solo episode of Navigating Life After 40, we’re talking about something that does not get discussed enough: the mental health side of perimenopause.

So many women are prepared for hot flashes, night sweats, and cycle changes, but not always for the anxiety, brain fog, sadness, irritability, crying spells, emotional numbness, panic attacks, forgetfulness, or the feeling of not recognizing themselves.

In this episode, I share my own experience with anxiety, a panic attack at work, brain fog that made me question my memory, emotional numbness, and the pressure of functioning while mentally exhausted. I also talk about how women, especially Black women and women of color, are often dismissed when they say something feels off.

This episode is a reminder that you are not broken. Your body may be changing, your hormones may be shifting, and your mental health deserves care, support, and compassion.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The connection between perimenopause and mental health
• Anxiety, panic attacks, sadness, and emotional numbness
• Brain fog, forgetfulness, and fear of dementia
• Functioning at work while mentally exhausted
• Irritability, rage, and emotional regulation
• Why women are often dismissed by healthcare providers
• How perimenopause can impact relationships, work, identity, and confidence
• Why Black women and women of color need culturally responsive menopause care
• The importance of tracking symptoms and advocating for yourself
• Why it’s okay to not feel okay

Resources mentioned:

The Menopause Society: Mental Health and Menopause
https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/mental-health

The Menopause Society: Perimenopause
https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/perimenopause

Office on Women’s Health: Menopause Symptoms and Relief
https://womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-symptoms-and-relief

National Institute of Mental Health: Depression in Women
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-women

SAMHSA National Helpline
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another woman who may be quietly wondering why she does not feel like herself.

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