The Hidden Neurological Side of Menopause with Dr Ali Ajaz

What if the reason so many women are being told they are anxious, burnt out, or depressed is simply because medicine still fails to fully understand the impact of hormones on the female brain and body?  In this eye-opening episode , I sit down with consultant psychiatrist Dr Ali Ajaz to bridge the massive gap between psychiatry, neuroendocrinology, and women’s mental health. Together, we explore what is actually happening to the female brain during perimenopause and menopause, and why symptoms like anxiety, brain fog, ADHD traits, insomnia, and emotional dysregulation are so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed as psychiatrict disorders. If you have ever felt dismissed by a healthcare professional or confused by "normal" blood tests while feeling anything but normal, this validating and eye-opening conversation will give you the clarity, hope, and scientific validation you deserve. Dr Ajaz Reveals How sex hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone function as neuroactive steroids in the brain. Why the modern medical system is largely built around historic models of male biology, and women's health is often siloed rather than viewed holistically. How psychological trauma alters the body's stress response axis over the long term, which can trigger severe psychological boundaries to collapse, leading to profound emotional dysregulation. Why the widespread panic surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapy stemming from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study is largely due to misinterpreted data.  BEST MOMENTS "Hormones are psychiatry" "Women's health has been considered to be a subset of a medical specialty, where really it should be a foundational pillar of medicine." "Modern medicine loves giving labels. The labels in and of themselves are very limited in their meaning. They're there really to help direct which medications are licensed for a certain label. They don't really have any utility around actually why someone is depressed." "The story of HRT and cancer is medicine's most consequential examples of misinterpreted data. The conversation has been completely disproportionate to the actual evidence." EPISODE LINKS Website: https://draliajaz.co.uk  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@draliajaz?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draliajaz/  HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops.  A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk