Episode Description:

💭 “Am I going crazy, or is this perimenopause?”

💭 “I’m exhausted all the time but I’m not depressed — what is actually going on?”

💭 “Do I have to grieve who I used to be to become who I want to be?”

— this episode is for you.

In this warm, honest and genuinely funny Q&A episode, Tess and Layne open the listener inbox and answer the questions you’re too afraid to Google in daylight. From the full truth about perimenopause (yes, brain fog and anxiety are often the first signs, not the hot flushes) to HRT, burnout, health span, friendship, and what it actually means to let go of an identity that no longer fits.

Layne opens up about going straight to menopause without realising it, visiting a cardiologist for what turned out to be a hormonal heart rate, and her decision to finally give HRT a full year instead of stopping and starting. Tess talks about prepping for perimenopause before it arrives, why the Flow app has become a relationship tool in her household, and the four-step energy audit she uses when someone says “I’m exhausted but I don’t know why.”

You will learn:

• The real symptoms of perimenopause that have nothing to do with hot flushes — and why so many women are misdiagnosed
• Why the story you tell about your treatment might be more powerful than the treatment itself
• How Layne’s relentless pushing through eventually led to chronic fatigue — and what the body whispers before it screams
• The difference between health span and lifespan, and why your 40s are your most important decade for building the body you’ll have in your 70s

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Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey — not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you’re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

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