Brain fog is one of the most frustrating and misunderstood symptoms of menopause. For many women, it is not the hot flashes or night sweats that feel most disruptive. It is the unsettling sense that your brain is no longer working the way it used to.

One of the most important lessons my 22-year career in healthcare has taught me is this: the human body is incredibly complex, and there are countless ways that health challenges can arise. I have worked in adult inpatient rehabilitation for more than two decades as an occupational therapist, and now as a menopause coach as well. Almost every day, I am reminded of just how intricate and resilient the body truly is. Just when I think I have seen it all, a patient presents with a condition I have never encountered before, sometimes something so rare I may only see it once in my entire career.

If you live in Philadelphia, this is a milestone worth celebrating. The city has officially added menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause to workplace anti-discrimination protections. This means menopause is now recognized similarly to pregnancy, and employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations when symptoms affect someone’s ability to work.

This week marks a historic moment in women’s health.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to discuss a topic that’s often overlooked: how menopause affects blood sugar and insulin resistance.

You’ve worked hard to get where you are. You’ve built your career, cared for your family, and managed a million responsibilities. And yet, suddenly, your body doesn’t feel like yours anymore.

Let’s talk about surgical menopause.

Let’s talk about the double standard in women’s health — specifically, menopause and hormone therapy. Because the hypocrisy is glaring, and quite frankly, it’s time we call it out.

I never shut up about menopause! Because I lived through it confused, dismissed, and unsupported—just like so many other women.

Hi, I’m Julie—occupational therapist, women’s health specialist, and menopause coach.I had a hysterectomy due to adenomyosis—a condition that wrecked my quality of life with pain, fatigue, and relentless bleeding. I thought once it was over, I’d finally feel better.

When we talk about menopause, most people immediately think of hot flashes or night sweats. But for many women, the first signs of perimenopause aren’t physical at all—they're emotional. Mood swings, unexpected irritability, anxiety, or even depressive episodes can show up years before a woman’s period stops altogether.