My Peri Story
I learned about perimenopause just as it was ending. I had been suffering for years without knowing it. Doctors couldn’t explain my headaches, and I blamed night sweats on my bed, even replacing it three times. My periods were irregular but I thought it was just aging. I became forgetful enough to ask my therapist about it, but she dismissed it telling me to keep an eye on it. The only reason my mood stayed steady was because I was already on anxiety and depression medication. By the time the hot flashes arrived in menopause, I finally understood what was happening..
The Change
The first time I heard about HRT was during a girls trip in Big Bear. When someone asked what I thought of it, I had no idea how to respond. My mom proudly “didn’t take anything,” but watching her go through menopause was difficult. Looking back, I feel for the generations of women who suffered in silence, dismissed or labeled as emotional or unstable. That trip planted a seed, and it is why I feel so aligned with the current movement in women’s health.
Why This Work
Working with peri and menopausal women in residential treatment showed me how much support and education is still missing. Women are often dismissed by medical professionals and left to advocate for themselves during one of the most confusing phases of life. I love working with women individually, but group work holds a special kind of magic. To sit in a room where you are understood and seen is truly healing. My goal is to offer that kind of space and help women feel informed, supported, and less alone..