Why Parenting Feels Harder During Perimenopause - and What to Do (with Elisabeth Netherton)

Parenting has always been demanding, but what happens when you suddenly feel more anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, or forgetful than you used to? For many moms, these changes can feel like a personal failure when they may actually be perimenopause symptoms. And because we don't talk nearly enough about hormone changes in women, it can be difficult to recognize what's really going on.In this episode, I talk with reproductive psychiatrist Elisabeth Netherton about perimenopause, parenting, and women's mental health. We explore why anxiety, sleep problems, mood changes, and brain fog in women can affect everything from keeping track of your child's schedule to responding calmly when your kid pushes your buttons.In this episode, you'll learn:Why perimenopause symptoms can show up years before you might expect themHow hormone changes in women can influence mood, anxiety, sleep, attention, and the way you respond to your kidsWhy brain fog in women can make managing school schedules, activities, work, and family responsibilities suddenly feel much harderHow struggles with women's mental health during perimenopause can be mistaken for simply "not handling things well"If you've been wondering why parenting suddenly feels harder, this conversation may help you see your experience differently. Understanding perimenopause symptoms, recognizing brain fog in women, and talking more openly about women's mental health and hormone changes in women can help replace guilt and shame with information, self-compassion, and a clearer path toward getting the support you need.LET'S CONNECT:Thriving Child CenterPCIT ExpertsCalm and Connected ProgramInstagramLove having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here!CONNECT WITH ELISABETH NETHERTON:WebsiteLinkedIn