Perimenopause can show up in ways many women never expect.

It is not always just hot flashes or irregular periods. Sometimes it looks like anxiety, poor sleep, irritability, brain fog, fatigue, changes in libido, headaches, palpitations, changes in your cycle, or simply feeling like you are not quite yourself anymore.

In this first episode of a three-part perimenopause series, Angela Weiss, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, breaks down what perimenopause actually is, why symptoms can begin years before menopause, and why a single hormone level does not always tell the whole story.

We also talk about the importance of looking at the whole person instead of assuming every symptom is hormonal—or dismissing hormones completely.

You’ll hear about:

• The difference between perimenopause and menopause
• Common physical and emotional symptoms
• Why periods can still be regular during perimenopause
• Sleep changes, anxiety, irritability, and brain fog
• Why hormones and mental health are connected
• Why other medical causes still need to be considered
• How to start tracking patterns and preparing for a conversation with your healthcare provider
• Why this season can also become a time of clarity, growth, and becoming

This episode is educational and informational only and is not intended to provide individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always discuss your personal symptoms, medications, medical history, and treatment options with your own qualified healthcare professional.

Episode 69 — Part 2: When Hormones Affect Your Mental Health
We’ll talk about anxiety, depression, panic, irritability, ADHD, OCD, PMDD, sleep, emotional regulation, and why some women feel like their brain suddenly works differently in midlife.

Then in Episode 70 — Part 3: Okay… What Can We Actually Do About It?, we’ll talk about treatment options, hormone therapy, nonhormonal approaches, sleep, lifestyle changes, sexual and vaginal health, and how to have a better conversation with your provider.

Follow Life by Design so you don’t miss the rest of the series, and please share this episode with another woman who may be wondering, “Why don’t I feel like myself?”

Facebook: Life by Design Press

Instagram: @AngelaWeissAuthor

Visit the author website: https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Find Angela’s books on Amazon, including Life by Design: Building a Beautiful Life Through Intention and The Gentle Reset.

Keywords

perimenopause, menopause, women’s health, midlife women, hormones, hormonal changes, perimenopause symptoms, hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, insomnia, mood changes, mental health, estrogen, progesterone, menstrual cycle changes, libido, vaginal dryness, fatigue, palpitations, women over 40, women over 50, FNP, PMHNP, Life by Design, Angela Weiss

What if you don’t have to know exactly how your dream is going to happen before you allow yourself to believe in it?

In this episode of Life by Design with Angela Weiss, I’m talking about dreaming for your future, holding onto hope, and allowing yourself to imagine what your life could still become—even when you have no idea how all the pieces are going to come together.

For years, pieces of a dream have continued coming back to me: land, a peaceful home, gardens, water, writing, teaching, wellness, creativity, community, and a place where people could come to learn, grow, create, connect, and restore.

For a long time, I didn’t realize those ideas belonged together. Then last year, after moving into what I call my healing home, something shifted. Writing connected to teaching. Teaching connected to wellness. Wellness connected to creativity. Creativity connected to community. Slowly, a much bigger vision began to emerge.

Today, that dream looks like a peaceful property with a barndominium-style home, pond, gardens, nature, creative spaces, a podcast studio, educational opportunities, and eventually a holistic living and creativity center built around five ideas:

Serve. Restore. Create. Grow. Connect.

Do I know exactly how I’m going to build it?

No.

And that is part of the lesson.

Sometimes we have a dream and immediately demand that it explain itself. We want to know how we will afford it, when it will happen, who will help us, and whether it is guaranteed to work.

When we can’t answer those questions, we decide the dream must be impossible.

But not knowing how does not mean there is no way. It simply means you don’t know the way yet.

Maybe you don’t need the entire blueprint before taking the next step. Maybe you can start by understanding your why.

I’m also realizing I don’t have to wait until I have the property to start living the mission.

I can serve now. Restore now. Create now. Grow now. Connect now.

Maybe we build the dream long before we build the building.

This conversation also connects with two of my books, Life by Design: Building a Beautiful Life Through Intention and The Gentle Reset. Both are rooted in the belief that creating a beautiful and meaningful life doesn’t require changing everything overnight.

Sometimes it begins with one intentional choice. One idea. One seed. One step.

Then you keep going.

Ask yourself:

If I stopped worrying about how for ten minutes, what would I actually want my life to look like?

Where would you live? What would your home feel like? What kind of work would you do? What would you create? Who would you help? What would peace, freedom, and purpose look like?

Write it down before you start editing the dream.

Then ask:

Why do I want this?

Underneath our dreams, we often find what we are really searching for—peace, freedom, security, creativity, family, faith, connection, service, or purpose.

You may not know the how yet.

But if you know the why, you have somewhere to begin.

Your life isn’t finished. Dream accordingly.

My books are available on Amazon, including:

Life by Design: Building a Beautiful Life Through Intention
The Gentle Reset

Search Angela Weiss on Amazon to explore more.

Website:
https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Instagram:
@AngelaWeissAuthor

Facebook:
Life by Design Press

Follow Life by Design with Angela Weiss wherever you listen to podcasts.

If this episode encouraged you, please follow, like, rate, review, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that they are still allowed to dream.

Keywords

Life by Design with Angela Weiss, Angela Weiss, Hope Has a Blueprint, intentional living, dreaming about your future, hope for the future, life by design, building a beautiful life, finding your purpose, finding your why, dream life, personal growth, new beginnings, midlife reinvention,, creating a meaningful life, intentional choices, holistic living, wellness, creativity, healing journey, life transitions, future vision, hope and healing,

What happens when a new mother loves her baby desperately—but her own mind begins frightening her?

In this deeply personal episode of Life by Design, Angie shares her experience with postpartum anxiety following the birth of her first daughter. She remembers becoming consumed with fears that she could accidentally forget her baby at a store, leave her in a hot car, or somehow fail to prevent something terrible from happening.

She never wanted those things to happen.

She was terrified that they might.

But because Angie had never experienced anything like it before and didn't understand intrusive thoughts, she was afraid to tell anyone what she was thinking because she feared people would think she was “crazy.”

Today, as a dual-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who works with women experiencing these symptoms, she understands those thoughts from an entirely different perspective.

This episode explores:

• Postpartum anxiety
• Postpartum depression
• Baby blues
• Postpartum OCD
• Intrusive and unwanted thoughts
• The difference between a frightening thought and intent
• Why women sometimes conceal symptoms
• Fear of being judged by healthcare providers
• Why complete honesty with your provider matters
• How clinicians assess intrusive thoughts
• Postpartum psychosis
• Hallucinations, delusions, mania, paranoia and confusion
• Sleep changes that deserve attention
• What partners and families should watch for
• How healthcare providers can create safer conversations
• Treatment and recovery
• When postpartum psychiatric symptoms become an emergency

Angie also speaks directly to patients about something she sees clinically every day:

Your provider can only assess and treat the patient in front of them based on the information they have.

Don't minimize the symptoms you're most afraid to disclose. Your healthcare provider needs the real picture—not to judge you, but to understand what is happening and help you receive appropriate care.

A thought is not automatically an intention. And honesty gives your provider the information necessary to help you.

Follow:

Facebook- Life By Design Press

Instagram- @AngelaWeissAuthor

https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Spotify Keywords

postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, postpartum OCD, postpartum psychosis, intrusive thoughts, intrusive harm thoughts, maternal mental health, perinatal mental health, new mother anxiety, new mom mental health, postpartum intrusive thoughts, scary thoughts after baby, anxiety after childbirth, postpartum depression symptoms, postpartum anxiety symptoms, postpartum OCD symptoms, postpartum psychosis symptoms, women's mental health, motherhood mental health, PMHNP, psychiatric nurse practitioner, mental health education, maternal anxiety, new mom intrusive thoughts, Life by Design podcast

When did we decide that being exhausted was something to be proud of?

For so many of us—especially healthcare workers, caregivers, parents, and high achievers—being constantly busy can start to feel normal. We push through fatigue, work through lunch, take care of everyone else, and tell ourselves we’ll rest once everything is finished.

But everything is never finished.

In this episode of Life by Design, Angie talks about why rest isn’t something you have to earn—it is an important part of caring for your physical and emotional health.

We explore the signs of burnout that can be easy to miss, including irritability, emotional numbness, poor concentration, feeling “wired but tired,” difficulty relaxing, and losing enjoyment in things that once mattered.

We also talk about productivity addiction—the pattern of tying your value to how much you accomplish—and why slowing down can actually feel uncomfortable when your body and mind have become accustomed to constant demands.

This episode explores:

• Signs of burnout and chronic overwhelm
• Why exhaustion can begin to feel normal
• Productivity addiction and guilt around resting
• Why healthcare workers and caregivers are especially vulnerable to burnout
• Chronic stress and nervous system activation
• Feeling wired, anxious, irritable, emotionally depleted, or shut down
• Why sleep and rest are not exactly the same thing
• How quiet, nature, prayer, gentle movement, connection, and boundaries can support recovery
• Why rest may initially feel uncomfortable
• Learning to recognize your warning signs before you completely burn out
• Why rest is not laziness
• Creating small, intentional periods of recovery before your body forces you to stop

When was the last time you rested without feeling guilty about it?

You don’t have to finish everything first.

You don’t have to prove that you’re tired enough.

You don’t have to earn permission to stop.

Sometimes taking care of yourself looks like doing more.

And sometimes it looks like recognizing that you have already done enough.

Rest is not weakness. Rest is not failure. Rest is healthcare.

Follow Life by Design with Angela Weiss so you don’t miss upcoming conversations about mental health, physical health, relationships, grief, faith, personal growth, and creating a life that feels healthier—not just busier.

If this episode made you think of someone who is carrying too much, share it with them.

This podcast is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychiatric, psychological, therapeutic, or other individualized professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a provider-patient relationship.

Always consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding personal medical or mental health concerns. If you believe you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, seek immediate emergency assistance in your location.

Spotify / Podcast Keywords

burnout, burnout recovery, rest, rest is healthcare, chronic stress, nervous system exhaustion, nervous system regulation, nervous system depletion, productivity addiction, overworking, workaholism, caregiver burnout, healthcare worker burnout, nurse burnout, healthcare professionals, compassion fatigue, emotional exhaustion, mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion, stress management, self care, boundaries, work life balance, high achievers, people pleasing, chronic overwhelm, emotional health, mental health, anxiety, fatigue, sleep, relaxation, self worth, productivity culture, slowing down, guilt about resting, caregiver stress, emotional regulation, Life by Design, Angela Weiss

Sometimes the blessing doesn’t look like the thing we prayed for.

Sometimes it looks like a closed door, a change in direction, an unexpected person, a moment of peace, or the realization that God was protecting us from something we couldn’t yet see.

In this Sunday episode of Life by Design, Angie talks about faith, gratitude, and learning to recognize God’s goodness even when life still feels uncertain.

This isn’t about pretending everything is fine or forcing gratitude in painful circumstances. It’s about noticing the small mercies, unexpected provision, ordinary moments, and answered prayers that can easily get overlooked when we’re focused on what hasn’t happened yet.

In this episode:

• Why gratitude doesn’t have to wait until everything works out
• Trusting God when you don’t understand the plan
• The difference between being thankful for something and finding gratitude in it
• Recognizing ordinary blessings we often overlook
• How unexpected people can become gifts in certain seasons
• Why some closed doors may actually be protection or redirection
• Looking back and realizing you are living inside prayers you once prayed
• Learning to ask, “God, what are You doing that I haven’t noticed yet?”
• A simple gratitude practice for the week
• Opening and closing prayer

Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding…”

1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In every thing give thanks…”

Psalm 118:24
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…”

What if something good is happening in your life right now that you simply haven’t recognized yet?

Before today ends, find five things you are genuinely grateful for — especially the small or unexpected ones.

Maybe you don’t need the whole plan today.

Maybe you just need enough faith to recognize the next blessing.

Thank You, God, for the blessings we expected, the ones we never saw coming, and the ones we haven’t recognized yet.

Listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that an uncertain season can still be a sacred one.

Life by Design
Faith. Healing. Intention. Gratitude. Becoming.

Scriptures MentionedReflection Question

KEY WORDS:

Christian podcast, faith podcast, gratitude, unexpected blessings, trusting God, God’s timing, unanswered prayers, answered prayers, waiting on God, Christian encouragement, gratitude practice, finding God in hard times, faith during uncertainty, God’s plan, spiritual growth, Christian women, prayer, daily faith, gratitude and faith, blessings, trusting God’s plan, closed doors, redirection, God’s protection, hope in hard seasons, Christian motivation, Sunday devotional, devotional podcast, Bible encouragement, Romans 8:28, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 118:24, Life by Design podcast

Living with chronic pain or chronic illness affects far more than the body.

It can change your mood, your identity, your relationships, your energy, your work, your confidence, and even the way you see your future.

In this episode of Life by Design with Angela Weiss, we explore the often-overlooked connection between chronic pain, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, inflammation, invisible illness, and mental health.

We talk about why chronic pain and depression so often overlap, how anxiety can amplify physical symptoms without making those symptoms “all in your head,” and why living with an unpredictable body can create its own form of grief.

This episode also explores the emotional impact of conditions such as migraines, autoimmune illness, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal illness, and other invisible health conditions — especially when the people around you cannot see what you are carrying.

• The connection between chronic pain and depression
• How anxiety and the nervous system can intensify pain
• The relationship between inflammation and mental health
• Grieving the person you were before chronic illness
• The emotional burden of recurring migraines
• Autoimmune illness and unpredictable flare-ups
• Chronic fatigue and why it is more than simply being tired
• GI illness, anxiety, and fear of symptoms in public
• The loneliness of invisible illness
• Losing independence, productivity, and pieces of your identity
• Why mental health treatment should support — not dismiss — physical illness
• How chronic illness can affect relationships and social connection
• Learning to advocate for yourself when symptoms are not visible
• Building a meaningful life when your body no longer functions the way it once did

Your illness may be part of your story. It does not have to become the whole story.

Author Website
https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Facebook
Life by Design Press

LinkedIn
Angela Weiss, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

Instagram
@AngelaWeissAuthor

chronic pain and mental health, chronic illness and mental health, chronic pain and depression, chronic illness and depression, anxiety and chronic pain, anxiety and physical symptoms, invisible illness, invisible illness mental health, grief and chronic illness, chronic illness grief, migraines and mental health, migraine anxiety, autoimmune illness and mental health, autoimmune disease depression, chronic fatigue and mental health, chronic fatigue syndrome, GI illness and anxiety, gastrointestinal illness mental health, gut health and mental health, inflammation and depression, inflammation and mental health, nervous system and chronic pain, pain and anxiety, chronic illness support, living with chronic illness, coping with chronic pain, emotional effects of chronic illness, chronic disease and depression, mind body connection, mental health podcast, women's mental health, chronic pain support, illness and identity, grieving your old self, chronic illness relationships

#ChronicPain
#ChronicIllness
#MentalHealth
#InvisibleIllness
#ChronicPainAwareness
#ChronicIllnessAwareness
#MentalHealthAwareness
#MigraineAwareness
#AutoimmuneDisease
#ChronicFatigue
#Anxiety
#Depression
#Grief
#MindBodyConnection
#NervousSystem
#WomensMentalHealth
#LifeByDesign

What do you do when you’ve prayed, surrendered, asked for direction—and God still seems silent?

We often talk about answered prayers, open doors, miracles, and the moments when we can clearly see God moving. But some of the deepest parts of faith happen somewhere else:

In the space between the prayer and the answer.

In Episode 60 of Life by Design with Angela Weiss, Angela talks about what it means to keep trusting God when you don’t know what He is doing, when the future feels uncertain, and when you desperately wish He would simply tell you what comes next.

Because silence does not necessarily mean absence.

And maybe faith isn’t knowing what God is doing.

Maybe faith is knowing who God is while you don’t know what He’s doing.

We talk about:

• What to do when God feels silent
• Why questioning God doesn’t necessarily mean you've lost your faith
• The difference between God’s silence and God’s absence
• Trusting God without understanding the plan
• Why we may only receive enough light for the next step
• Recognizing when God gives us “departure clarity” before “destination clarity”
• Refusing to let fear make important decisions for us
• Staying aligned with your values during uncertain seasons
• What the Red Sea teaches us about moving before the path is visible
• Faith that exists before the testimony has a happy ending
• Learning to stop obsessing over “what’s next” and becoming faithful with “what’s now”

Psalm 13 — How long, Lord?

Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust in the Lord rather than depending entirely on your own understanding.

Exodus 14 — The Israelites move forward before the path through the sea becomes visible.

Daniel 3:17–18 — A faith that says God is able to deliver us—and even if He does not, we will still trust Him.

You may not know what happens next.

You may still be waiting for the job, the provision, the relationship, the healing, the direction, the open door, or the answer you've prayed for.

You don't have to manufacture certainty.

You don't have to force a door because you're afraid another one won't open.

You don't have to abandon your values because the future feels uncertain.

And you don't have to understand everything God is doing to continue walking with Him.

Sometimes clarity isn't:

“Here is where you're going.”

Sometimes it's simply:

“You can't stay here.”

And sometimes the prayer isn't:

God, show me the entire plan.

It's:

God, give me enough courage for today.

God, help us trust You in the space between asking and knowing.

Give us wisdom for the decisions in front of us, courage to walk away from what isn't right, patience when the right door hasn't opened yet, and faith when we cannot see what You're doing.

Help us remember that Your silence does not mean we've been forgotten.

If we cannot see ten steps ahead, show us one.

And if we cannot see even one, give us enough faith to stand still until we can.

Amen.

Life by Design with Angela Weiss

A podcast about faith, mental health, healing, grief, growth, relationships, and learning how to build a meaningful life—even when life doesn't unfold the way you planned.

New episodes every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday.

Follow along:

Instagram: @AngelaWeissAuthor
Facebook: Life by Design Press
Books by Angela Weiss: https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Episode 60 | Sunday, August 9, 2026

In This EpisodeScriptures ReferencedA Thought to Carry With YouSunday Prayer

Have you ever opened social media for "just a minute" only to put your phone down feeling anxious, discouraged, or emotionally exhausted?

In this episode, Angela explores why scrolling can leave us feeling worse than when we started. From dopamine-driven habits and comparison culture to perfectionism, doom scrolling, and overstimulation, you'll learn what's happening inside your brain—and, more importantly, how to protect your mental health in a world that's always demanding your attention.

This episode is a reminder that your peace is worth protecting and that your value has never been measured by likes, followers, or someone else's highlight reel.

• Why social media can leave us feeling emotionally drained
• The truth about dopamine and why it's so hard to stop scrolling
• How comparison quietly steals contentment
• Perfectionism and the pressure to keep up
• The mental health effects of doom scrolling
• Why our brains need quiet moments to rest and recover
• Practical ways to create healthier boundaries with technology
• Protecting your mental space without disconnecting from the world

Your mental health is shaped not only by what happens to you, but also by what you repeatedly allow into your mind. Protect your peace, be intentional about what you consume, and remember that your life is meant to be lived—not compared.

If you found today's conversation helpful, please:

• Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Leave a rating or review—it helps others discover the show.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member who could use the reminder that they are already enough.

Author Website: https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Facebook: Life by Design Press

Instagram: @AngelaWeissAuthor

Angela Weiss, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner, author, and founder of Life by Design Press. Through her clinical work, books, and podcast, she helps people navigate mental health, burnout, relationships, grief, faith, and intentional living with practical tools and compassionate insight.

Join us next time on the Life by Design Podcast for another conversation designed to help you heal deeply, grow intentionally, and build a life by design.

Have you ever felt like your life is on hold while you wait for the next breakthrough?

In this episode, Angela explores the idea that what feels like "waiting" may actually be God's season of preparation. Through faith, psychology, and real-life experiences, she shares why the quiet work you do every day—healing, showing up, setting boundaries, managing your finances, taking care of your health, and choosing hope—may be preparing you for the very life you've been praying for.

If you're in a season that feels slow, ordinary, or unseen, this episode is a reminder that growth often happens beneath the surface before anyone else can see it.

Connect with Angela:
Instagram: @angelaweissauthor

Facebook: Life by Design Press

Author Page: https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

Thank you for listening to Life by Design. If today's episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope today.

Have you ever felt guilty for resting? Do you find yourself carrying responsibilities that don't really belong to you? In this episode of Life by Design, Angela explores the difference between being responsible and feeling responsible for everything.

Drawing from her experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and lessons learned through her own journey, Angela shares why healthy boundaries aren't selfish—they're essential for protecting your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Together, we'll discuss caregiver fatigue, overfunctioning, resentment, guilt, and how learning to say "no" can actually help you become more present for the people you love.

• Why protecting your peace is an act of stewardship, not selfishness
• The difference between responsibility and carrying responsibilities that aren't yours
• Recognizing the signs of caregiver fatigue and burnout
• How resentment can develop when healthy boundaries are missing
• Practical ways to say "no" without guilt
• Why taking care of yourself allows you to care for others more effectively

Key Takeaway

Protecting your peace isn't about loving people less. It's about caring for yourself well enough that you can continue to love and serve others from a healthy place.

Books: Search Angela Weiss on Amazon

Instagram: @angelaweissauthor

Facebook: Life by Design Press

LinkedIn: Angela Weiss

Author Page: https://authors.tertulia.com/angelaweiss-drafther4xo

If this episode encouraged you, please follow Life by Design, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may need the reminder that protecting their peace is not selfish—it's healthy.

Thank you for listening to Life by Design. Until next time, protect your peace, trust God with what you were never meant to carry, and keep building a life by design.

In This EpisodeConnect with Angela