Zoë Foster Blake - Perimenopause, ADHD & Everything That Helped with Dr Fatima Khan

This is not your mother’s perimenopause.

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Joined by guest host Zoë Foster Blake, and Dr Fatima Khan, we’re diving head first into perimenopause: the what, the why, and the how-the-f**k to deal with it.

Typically beginning in your late 30’s, and in your brain of all places, perimenopause symptoms include heightened anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, brain fog … all things that make you feel further and further away from your best self.

Beginning 5 -7 years BEFORE your last menstrual period, perimenopause can coincide with postpartum, the most important presentation of your career to date, and the uncovering of neurodivergence, which may have been painstakingly masked until this shift in hormones.

With the expertise of Dr Fatima, and the lived experience of Zoë, we hope this episode makes you feel seen, less alone, and ready to have THAT conversation with your GP.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 The Truth of Perimenopause [TRAILER]
• 00:01:09 The Meet Cute of Zoe Foster Blake and Dr Fatima Khan
• 00:06:55 Is this Perimenopause? Early Signs + Symptoms
• 00:07:41 Zoe’s Perimenopause Journey: No Sleep, Anxiety, Rage, Repeat.
• 00:09:56 Volcanic Rage, Explained
• 00:14:59 What Doctor’s Miss: Misdiagnosis + Antidepressants
• 00:15:57 Why Your Husband Is Breathing Too Loud
• 00:20:18 Perimenopause Mental Health Screening
• 00:21:25 Debunking the “You’re Too Young” Myth
• 00:23:43 Is it Anxiety? Depression? Perimenopause?
• 00:25:26 The Pill, The Mirena + The Modern Woman in Peri
• 00:30:44 Loosing Yourself in Peri: Brain Fog + Dementia Fears
• 00:32:10 The Importance of Testosterone
• 00:36:00 HRT Myths: Re-educating a generation
• 00:39:04 A Script for a Script: What to say to your GP
• 00:41:12 Perimenopause Is a Multi-Organ Syndrome
• 00:46:09 High Achieving Women + Peri = Shame
• 00:46:47 When Perimenopause Unmasks Your ADHD
• 00:54:26 Trauma Reactivation in Perimenopause
• 00:57:17 Pills + Skills: Why HRT Alone Isn’t Enough
• 00:58:41 The Longevity of It All
• 01:00:30 Nutrition

📚Things to read

• Group Chat, by Zoë Foster Blake - https://bit.ly/4efqR70
• Hormone Health is Mental Health, by Dr Fatima Khan - https://bit.ly/4j6G2Ts

💻Things to check out

• Australasian Menopause Society - menopause.org.au
• Meno-D questionnaire - https://bit.ly/3Toj3sN
• Zela Wellbeing - https://bit.ly/4ARGFXu

🎧Imperfects episodes for MORE on hormones

• Zoë Foster Blake - Zero Lucks Given - https://bit.ly/4y8xwHx
• Dr Louise Newson - Maybe it’s Menopause - https://bit.ly/4i7xM3F
• Dr Louise Newson - It’s Hormones. Period. - https://bit.ly/47ya9w2

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The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.