Episode 19: Is It Just Stress, or Is It Perimenopause? What Every Mom in Her 30s & 40s Needs to Know

(00:00:00) Episode 19: Is It Just Stress, or Is It Perimenopause? What Every Mom in Her 30s & 40s Needs to Know (00:00:05) Introducing Kate Williamstone: Perimenopause Expert (00:00:14) The Personal Journey into Perimenopause Support (00:05:32) Defining Perimenopause and Menopause (00:08:45) Unexpected Symptoms of Perimenopause (00:19:55) Navigating the Healthcare System for Perimenopause (00:21:00) Intuitive Eating and Body Image During Perimenopause (00:30:43) Tracking and Advocating for Perimenopause Care (00:39:25) Navigating Perimenopause Products and Treatments (00:40:11) Red Flags in Hormone Replacement Therapy (00:41:22) Navigating Medical Support for Perimenopause Insomnia out of nowhere? Unexplained fatigue? Sudden mood shifts? If you’re a woman in your late 30s or 40s assuming these symptoms are "just stress" or "part of being a busy mom," this episode is your wake-up call.In this episode of Breakroom Mom, host Julie sits down with Kate Williams Stone, a non-diet perimenopause coach dedicated to helping women navigate midlife hormonal shifts with clarity, confidence, and self-compassion.After surviving her own midlife health rollercoaster—including breast cancer, fibroids, and anemia—Kate turned her journey into a mission: equipping women with trauma-informed, feminist, and non-diet tools to feel energized and at ease in their changing bodies.In this episode, we unpack:Perimenopause vs. Menopause: What’s the actual difference, and why are so many modern moms completely blindsided by early symptoms?Surprising Symptoms: The signs you might not realize are tied to hormonal shifts (and why changes can happen even if your period is regular or absent due to BC, IUDs, or PCOS).The "Hormone Blood Test" Trap: Why getting told "your levels look normal" can be misleading, and what questions you should actually ask your healthcare provider.The Diet Culture Trap: How to ditch midlife restriction and use intuitive eating and hormone-honoring habits to fuel your body.Symptom Tracking & Advocacy: Practical tools to track your patterns so you can walk into doctor appointments feeling prepared and ready to be heard.Real Talk at Home: How to open up about perimenopause with your partner and kids without shame.Plus, stay tuned for our signature "Turn for a Tantrum" segment and Kate’s go-to working mom cheat codeConnect & Resources:Download Kate's free Perimenopause 101 Guide: katewilliamsstone.com/gynFollow Kate on Instagram: @katewstoneFollow Breakroom Mom: @breakroommomsocial