Did perimenopause - or menopause - catch you off guard? - Weird symptoms appearing from nowhere? - Wondering who is this person who's inhabiting your body? - And most of all, having no one to talk to about it? It happened to me, too! Anger, depression, and a bottomed-out libido played havoc on my marriage, career, and my relationship with my son long before I felt my first hot flash. In the aftermath of that wreckage, without any clue as to the true nature of the problem, I vowed to get fit and healthy, hoping that would at least allow me to survive the chaos that was my life. It worked - I lost weight, got fit, met a great guy, and even became a personal trainer, helping other women to lose weight and get fit. Like I said - it worked. That is, until it didn't. The weight started creeping back, and the weird, unpredictable symptom parade started again. Everything I'd worked to achieve was in danger of collapsing. This time, though, I knew I had to figure it out and the signs all pointed to menopause. I dug in, reading often outdated books and searching obscure references on the internet. I learned how our shifting reproductive hormones mess with every cell in our bodies. And as I realized how complete this hormonal disruption was, I became determined to help other women understand and control their own Menopause Journey. Because Menopause Matters. This is Menopause Matters, where we talk about all things menopause, especially how you can ditch the symptoms and delight in your life again. I'm your host, Jeanne Andrus, and this is the Menopause Matters Podcast.