039: Hot or Just Me? How Perimenopause Changed Everything

Perimenopause can change everything—from your mood and sleep to your relationships and confidence. In this episode of Navigating Life After 40, host Roni Jai sits down with Carin Luna-Ostaseski to discuss her personal journey through perimenopause, including unexpected symptoms like panic attacks, anxiety, and brain fog.

Carin also shares how these experiences led her to create Hot or Just Me, a platform designed to support women navigating menopause. Roni and Carin dive into the struggles many women face, the lack of medical support, and why open conversations about menopause are so important.

Topics Covered:

• Signs and symptoms of perimenopause beyond hot flashes
• How perimenopause impacts mental health & relationships
• The importance of self-care and community support
• The Hot of Just Me journey

If you're navigating hormonal changes, mood swings, or just wondering if it’s "hot or just me," this episode is for you!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Navigating Midlife Challenges

02:18 Understanding Perimenopause and Its Symptoms

04:11 Personal Experiences with Anxiety and Panic Attacks

09:38 Navigating Healthcare: Finding Supportive Doctors

13:24 Creating a Community for Women in Midlife

18:25 Normalizing Conversations Around Menopause

24:25 Communicating with Partners About Menopause

28:22 Influence of Personal Journey on Professional Work

31:46 The Importance of Self-Care in Midlife

Honorable mentions during the episode:

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Glasses are from Vooglam

Watch full episode on YouTube