Riding the Waves
When you're Hormonal AF and just need to understand what your body is telling you
If your feed is like ours, it’s hard to miss the conversation around hormones. Eat more of this, less of that, careful with drinking, avoid toxins (ps, good luck because they’re everywhere!), cycle sync your workouts, get hormone tested (but convince your GP you need it), slow down, listen to your body, document everything, be your own advocate.
It feels like a lot. A tidal wave of information on what we need to do or change starting… yesterday.
For us too. That’s why at our most recent MMEET (ICYMI), we asked four experts to help us navigate all things hormones. From recognizing the signs and finding ways to tune-in to our bodies, to advocating for ourselves, and simple steps we can all take to feel at our best. It was a space for real, honest conversation on what women should know to feel equipped with the tools to step into their midlife power. We cherry-picked (bc you know we loooove cherries) some highlights from our conversation below (and there’s plenty more to come).
So no tidal waves today. Just the good old hormonal ones - slightly unpredictable and at times a little wild. But easier when we ride them together 🤙🏻
Hormonal AF
Hormones are one of the coolest things about the human body in our humble opinion. They are chemical messengers that influence nearly every system in the body—from energy and mood to metabolism and reproduction. And if one hormone is imbalanced, it can set off a whole chain reaction of dysregulation.. They are the “invisible language of our inner world” that shape not just our biology, but our mood, motivation, creativity, even our voice.
Many don’t realize their symptoms are hormonal. Globally 1.3 billion women today are going through peri- or post-menopause (that’s a BIIIIIGGGGG number), yet most feel alone or misdiagnosed get treated for individual symptoms like anxiety, blood pressure or insulin resistance, without hormone health being truly considered as a root cause. A 2024 study found that 1 in 3 women face misdiagnoses regarding menopause, requiring up to five visits before a correct diagnosis was made. Our system is failing us.
Zone of Chaos
This graph shows the two key hormones in a woman’s cycle—estrogen and progesterone. This process begins at puberty and continues in a predictable pattern through the reproductive years. As women enter peri-menopause, this pattern becomes erratic—a phase Dr. Mary Claire Haver calls the "Zone of Chaos." During this time, declining ovarian function causes hormonal misfires, leading to symptoms like brain fog, hot flashes, sleep issues, allergies, new skin sensitivities, tinnitus. Even seemingly random things like frozen shoulder. In fact, there are now a 100 over recognized symptoms that women are dealing with during this phase. Like woah. And it’s all hormone-related. But too often, as women finally speak up to get help, they are being treated for individual symptoms, while the root-cause of hormonal balance is ignored.
Not just Biology
These signs aren’t just biological issues, they are emotional. They’re often invitations to ask deeper questions: Where am I out of sync with myself? What needs to change? What pain or trauma am I avoiding to face? For those of you who missed our recent Hormone Health event, here are some outtakes from our conversation with Dr. Ghiselle who has pivoted from her traditional background as a GP to become a Conscious Perimenopause Specialist.
Hormone Deep Dive with Dr. Ghiselle
Why are hormones so cool?
Hormones are the invisible language of our inner world. They shape not just our biology, but our mood, motivation, creativity, even our voice. When we work with them, not against them, they become our greatest guides in living fully and consciously.
What was your own journey into peri-menopause and how did it affect you?
My journey began quietly with PMS, migraines, and heavy cycles. In my late 30s to early 40s, fatigue, mood swings, and brain fog crept in—symptoms I blamed on stress. As a busy doctor, wife, and mom of four working 50 hours a week, burnout and depression soon followed.
But my symptoms didn’t fit standard diagnoses. That unease led me to functional medicine, emotional healing, and spiritual exploration. I realized this wasn’t just biology—it was transformation. That insight became the foundation for Conscious Perimenopause.
Why did you go beyond traditional GP training to support women holistically?
Because the traditional system taught me how to treat symptoms. But not how to listen to them. I watched countless women fall through the cracks of 10-minute consultations and protocol-driven care. As a GP, I knew I had medical tools. But as a woman going through it myself, I knew that wasn’t enough. Hormones don’t just shift in the body, they shift how we relate to ourselves, others and life. That realization pushed me to expand, integrating hormone testing with lifestyle medicine, energy work, and soul-based care.
You talk about the notion of “the story our hormones are trying to tell us” what do you mean by that?
“Hormones aren’t random, they’re messengers. When we feel burned out, anxious, or emotionally flooded, those are not just biological issues. They’re often invitations to ask deeper questions” - Dr. Ghiselle
Questions like, Where am I out of sync with myself? What needs to change? What pain or trauma am I avoiding to face?
Hormones often speak the truth before we do. I often explain to women that estrogen is like a pacifier balm over our frustrations and pain and when it drops (ie. in PMS or perimenopause), the pain is finally felt. Conscious Hormonal Care is about slowing down enough to listen to that story and respond with wisdom, not just quick fixes. ‘I just don’t feel like myself anymore’ is a sentence that is often the doorway to much deeper healing.
Can you talk more about the mental health impact of hormones on women in their 40s–50s?
Hormonal shifts during peri-menopause impact key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, affecting mood, focus, sleep, and emotional regulation. But it doesn’t stop at biology. For many women, this phase coincides with major turning points in life: feeling disconnected from their work, questioning long-term relationships, or finally confronting parts of themselves they’ve silenced for years.
We see rising rates of burnout, emotional exhaustion, sick leave, and even depression and suicide in women during this time. That’s why we can’t talk about hormones in isolation. We have to look at the whole story—how hormones interact with identity, purpose, and the unspoken emotional labor many women carry.
Supporting mental health in this stage means going beyond symptom management. It means creating space to explore what’s changing within, what’s no longer sustainable around us, and how we move forward with both clarity and compassion.
What is the favorite thing about what you do?
“I love watching the moment a woman realizes she’s not broken—she’s transforming. It’s like watching someone come home to themselves. That’s the power of conscious care.” - Dr. Ghiselle
Thank you Ghiselle! We will share some more learnings from our other panelists in our next newsletter edition.
Hormone Health - WTF do we start?
In the spirit of EDUCATION (one of the MMEET core pillars alongside INSPIRATION & CONNECTION), here are Six Actionable Strategies you can drop into that peri-toolkit 🧰 that we’re sharing from our panel that everyone can start accessing today.
Listen to the story your body is trying to tell you 👂
Think of your symptoms as signals, not enemies. That mindset shift alone can change everything. Take 10 minutes every day for yourself in silence. Doesn’t matter when, but try to build it into your routine. Put a hand on your heart and the other on your belly and try to just sit with your body and feel what comes up and what your body is trying to tell you. Be patient - understand that this isn’t going to be forever.
Reconnect with your rhythm 〰️
Track your symptoms (and your cycle if you’re still menstruating), pay attention to how you’re feeling and what gives you energy vs. what takes it away. The more connected you are with your signals, the more you can start to decipher what they mean.
Manage the stress 🧘
Yes we know, easier said than done right? Chronic stress pushes hormone balance aside. Breathe. Even set an alarm in the evening to wind down. Legs up against the wall is a super easy way to access this state. Recovery, sleep, boundaries, and nervous system support are non-negotiable.
Nourish 🌿
Prioritize protein and blood sugar balance, drink enough water and eat lots fiber (fill your plate with 1/4 with protein, 1/4 with slow carbs like Yams and 1/2 with veggies). Every meal is an opportunity to nourish hormones - think rainbow on the plate. Try to avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals in personal care, cleaning products, and plastics.
Be Prepared 📝
Stay up to date with research using the many free resources that are out there (blogs, podcasts, books and articles). Try to find the GP that works for you (which is a little bit like finding a needle in a haystack). Try asking the right questions. Track your symptoms and bring a list of what you’re experiencing to your medical practitioner (stay tuned on this topic - we plan to share a one pager tool on this with our community very soon).
Don’t do it alone 👯♀️
Finally, maybe the most important tool. Don’t go solo on this! Stay connected with a support network on your midlife journey with communities like MMEET. Find a peri-pal and connect weekly to check in to see how they/you’re doing. Normalize symptom sharing with broader family and work colleagues (51% of the population will be going through this at some point, ya know). If you’re feeling anxious about demanding the right care at the GP office, bring a friend, a partner, someone who can help advocate for you!
Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter where we will dive deeper into other Hormone related topics like Sleep, Nutrition and Pelvic Floor Health.
What we’re buzzing about this month 🐝
💰Menopause Society launched a new $10M initiative called ‘NextGen Now’ to train 25,000 healthcare professionals in an effort to close the meno care/treatment gap.
🌸Have you heard about Pink Zones yet? Dr Heidi Lescanec breaks down the zones that help women to thrive during midlife in last week’s episode of Hot Flash Inc.
🧬 Speaking of thriving: the longevity category is hard to miss, but Femtech Insider’s Kathrin Folkendt covers the overlap between longevity and peri/menopause. And the opportunity for brands to speak to optimization before solutions and symptom management.
💍 What we’re kinda into: ‘Age Looks Good on You’ - the latest Oura campaign
📚You may know Tamsen Fadal from the amazing M Factor documentary + as the author of ‘How to Menopause’. Now Noom is offering a free education hub in partnership with Fadal - covering topics like mental health support, access to clinicians, HRT support, nutrition guidance and more.
💥Chin Hair, Don’t Care. We have been fanning over Melanie Sanders aka @justbeingmelanie ever since she founded her We Do Not Care Club In just a few months, her hilarious and unapologetic meno-sharing has ignited a global movement (she just hit 1 Million followers) and we are so here for it.
Curious to keep the conversation going? Hit the subscribe button below so stay connected with our latest musings. And want to find other peri-peeps to connect with, virtually and IRL? Find us at @mmeet.nl our at our brand newly launched website www.mmeet.nl where we get fired up about all things midlife and (peri)menopause.
xxx,
Karin & Katie
 | A guest post by
|
Love this as someone who is now pass peri and going into Meno (whah) going to re-read this and take it all in!