If you’re in menopause (or perimenopause) and you feel like your body has become unfamiliar — you’re not imagining it. One day you’re fine, the next day you’re exhausted. Sleep feels fragile. Your mood can swing fast. Your digestion changes. Your skin feels different. And sometimes the hardest part is that you’re still expected to “carry on” like nothing is happening. Meraki exists for seasons like this. What Meraki means (Meraki means doing something with your whole heart —

By Aisling Prendergast When women come to see me during perimenopausal and menopausal transitions, they rarely open with “I think I’m in menopause.” Instead, I hear things like; “I don’t feel like myself.” “My patience is gone.” “I used to cope, now I can’t.” “I love my family, but I also want to run away.” “I feel invisible… and suddenly very exposed at the same time.” Yes, hormones are shifting. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and they all play a role in mood regulat

Many women are surprised that the biggest changes during perimenopause and menopause are often mental, not physical. Trouble concentrating, memory slips, slower thinking, and mental fog are common. These changes are real, medically recognized, and closely tied to shifts in estrogen levels. Estrogen is important for brain function. It helps brain cells communicate, affects mood, influences sleep, and supports memory and focus. During perimenopause, estrogen levels go up and do