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.