You're not crazy. You're not "just stressed." And you are definitely not alone.
If you've found yourself wide awake at 3am, snapping at people over small things, feeling foggy, exhausted, dried out, and completely unlike yourself — this episode is your starting point.
Licensed therapists (and real-life humans navigating this themselves) Megan Bayles Bartley and Elizabeth McCormack are kicking off Season 6 of the Shifting Our Sh*t Podcast with the conversation we've all needed: a real, honest, judgment-free breakdown of perimenopause and menopause — what it is, what's happening in your body, and why it affects so much more than you probably realized.
In Part 1 of this two-part season opener, Megan and Elizabeth walk you through the hormonal shifts at the root of it all — estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — and explain what each one actually does for your mood, your sleep, your libido, your motivation, and your daily sense of self. (Hint: estrogen does a lot more than you think, and testosterone isn't just a "man thing.") They break down why testing is frustratingly unreliable, why symptom management is often the only real option, and how to find providers who will actually take you seriously.
They also cover the wide-ranging symptom list that most women aren't warned about: sleep disruption, night sweats, hot flashes, brain fog, weight changes, decreased libido, UTI-like symptoms that aren't UTIs, pelvic floor changes, increased anxiety, mood swings that feel chemically out of control — because they are. If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
This season is about empowerment. It's about giving women the language, the information, and the permission to advocate for themselves — with their doctors, in their relationships, and in the mirror. Megan and Elizabeth are bringing both their clinical expertise and their own personal experiences to every episode, with zero filter and a whole lot of warmth.
In this episode:
What perimenopause and menopause actually are (and when they can start — hint: earlier than you think)
The role of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in your mood, sleep, and quality of life
Why hormone testing is often inconclusive — and what to do instead
The full symptom picture, including the ones nobody talks about
Why Gen X is the first generation demanding real answers — and what that means for all of us
Part 2 drops next, and we go deeper into brain chemistry, mood, and what all of this means for your relationships and your sense of self.
🎙️ Hosted by Megan Bayles Bartley & Elizabeth McCormack | Mindfulness Center 🌐 mindfulness-center.com | meganbaylesbartley.com 💬 Questions or topics you want covered? Leave them in the comments.
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
