In this episode of Calm With Me, Meredith returns to the topic of the perimenopausal brain, exploring not just the physical symptoms but the deeper shift in identity that many women experience during this transition.

Perimenopause often begins gradually, with mood changes, sleep disruption, anxiety, and physical symptoms appearing years before menstrual cycles noticeably change. Without clear information, these changes can slowly erode confidence and leave many women feeling like strangers in their own bodies. Neuroscience shows that these experiences are rooted in real biological changes as the brain adapts to declining estrogen, reorganizing systems involved in memory, emotion, and self-perception.

Rather than viewing this as decline, Meredith introduces a more empowering perspective drawn from both neuroscience and traditional healing systems, which describe menopause as a “Second Spring,” a time of integration and wisdom.

She offers a simple framework for navigating the transition using the acronym AIR: Acknowledge cultural narratives around aging, Integrate the qualities that define one’s true self, and Reframe the experience as a process of becoming rather than loss.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Come with me on retreat: SeaCalm Yoga + Scuba Diving Retreat (Aug/Sep 2026): an immersive journey to reconnect with nature and slow time on the California coast ⁠⁠⁠https://meriyoga.org/seacalm2026
• ⁠WildCalm Retreats⁠

• Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@meriyogasf ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Time Stamps:

00:00 — A shifting sense of self

01:00 — Recasting perimenopause as a time of becoming

03:30 — A Zen story: The nun and the river

04:00 — Early symptoms of perimenopause

07:00 — Reorganization of the perimenopausal brain

08:40 — The Second Spring: An Eastern view of the menopausal transition

09:50 — The first step: Acknowledge

10:40 — Rejecting society's narrative for aging women

11:40 — The second step: Integrate

12:40 — Reclaiming a sense of adventure

13:15 — Yoga and scuba diving retreat

13:50 — Caring for others through volunteering

15:15 — The third step: Reframe

17:00 — Reframing insomnia

17:45 — Reframing anxiety

20:00 — The neuroscience behind reframing

20:30 — Bridge thoughts

22:00 — Positive social mirrors

22:55 — Reviewing the three steps

Scientific references:

• Mosconi, L. et al. Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition. Sci Rep 11, 10867 (2021).

  Coslov, N., Richardson, M. K. & Woods, N. F. “Not feeling like myself” in perimenopause: Observations from the Women Living Better survey. Menopause 31(5), 486–493 (2024).

  Woods, N. F., Coslov, N. & Mitchell, E. S. Effects of bothersome symptoms during the late reproductive stage and menopausal transition. Menopause 30(5), 559–567 (2023).

  Elavsky, S. & McAuley, E. Physical activity, symptoms, esteem, and life satisfaction during menopause. Maturitas 52(3–4), 374–385 (2005).

  Ceylan, B. & Özerdoğan, N. The relationship between menopausal symptoms, attitudes toward menopause and body image. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 53(4), 327–333 (2017).

  Sokołowska-Pawłowska, K. et al. Perceptions and attitudes toward menopause and perceived satisfaction with life. Menopause Review 23(1), 9–16 (2024).