Women’s Health in Real Life: When Your Brain and Body Don’t Feel Like Your Own
You know that feeling of thinking, “I don’t feel like myself anymore… and I can’t explain why”? That’s exactly the space this Women’s Health Panel stepped into, with honesty, expertise, and a whole lot of heart.
This panel brought together physicians, coaches, trauma practitioners, domestic abuse advocates, grief and joy guides, parenting and workplace experts, mediators, women and allies who are on the front lines of what real life looks like for women navigating hormones, divorce, trauma, career shifts, parenting, and everything in between.
When Your Brain and Body Don’t Feel Like Your Own
Dr. Esnielle Brooks, a menopause and midlife women’s health specialist at Red Deer's Menopause Clinic, sees it every day: women who show up with “mystery” depression, anxiety, brain fog, and sleep issues… and get told they’re “just stressed” or “just getting older.” In reality, perimenopause can start as early as 35 and dramatically affect mood, sleep, cognition, and quality of life.
Women described:
New, deep depression that feels different than anything they’ve had before
Sudden anxiety, like not being able to sit in a car as a passenger anymore
Waking in the night in a full-body anxiety surge
Feeling like they’re “losing it” while still holding up jobs, homes, and families
Layer on hot flashes, night sweats, weight changes, and brain fog, and it’s no wonder relationships, work, and self-confidence can all start to wobble at once.
The key message: you are not broken, and you’re not imagining it. Hormones are real, the impact is real, and you deserve more than a shrug and “that’s just menopause.”
Trauma, Conditioning, and a Nervous System on High Alert
Several panelists highlighted something crucial: by the time many women hit perimenopause, their nervous system has already been in survival mode for years or decades, whether from childhood trauma, domestic abuse, or chronic stress and over-functioning.
That means:
Hormonal shifts hit harder
Resilience feels lower
Old patterns and pain can suddenly surge to the surface
Practitioners like Ramona Kossowan, Louise Rellis, and others spoke about how “little-t” trauma is often minimized or not even recognized as trauma at all. It doesn’t have to be one big catastrophic event; it can be years of feeling unsafe, unseen, or over-responsible for everyone else.
They also shared that when we gently release trauma at the root, women often notice changes everywhere: in their mood, their body, their relationships, their food patterns, and their ability to set boundaries.
Domestic Abuse, Coercive Control, and Real-World Barriers
Advocates like Maj Osman (Women on Wings), AJ Gajjar (Trauma Healing Parent) and Amy Munroe (Sagesse) named something that doesn’t get talked about enough:
Abuse is a public health issue, not a private shame.
It affects mental, physical, emotional, social, and financial health.
Leaving doesn’t magically end the abuse; coercive control and post-separation abuse are common.
They also pointed out that healing itself is a privilege. If you’re choosing between groceries, rent, and therapy, access to counselling and support groups becomes a barrier. That’s where organizations, nonprofits, and collaborations step in to:
Provide trauma-informed support
Offer practical help like food hampers or financial assistance
Create free or low-cost peer support and workshops
It’s not “just” about telling women to get help; it’s about actually making that help reachable.
Identity, Self-Worth, and the Question: “Who Am I Now?”
Coaches, including Nicki Laberge and Connie Kobylko and counsellor Lara Thomas on the panel see a recurring theme: women who’ve spent years being everything for everyone else, mom, partner, employee, caregiver, volunteer, suddenly hit a point where the roles shift or fall away and they’re left asking:
Who am I now?
What do I want?
Do I even know how to listen to myself anymore?
Some of the support mentioned included:
Root-cause therapy and gentle trauma release to rewrite old internal stories
Nervous system regulation so you’re not living in permanent fight-or-flight
Spiritual and mindset work to reconnect with purpose, joy, and self-trust
Grief and loss support (not just for death, but for lost dreams, health, or relationships)
The panelists kept coming back to this:
You are not “too much,” “too broken,” or “too late.” You are allowed to reinvent.
Connection as Medicine
One of the most powerful threads in this panel was the idea that connection is part of healthcare.
Women spoke about:
The healing power of being seen and heard without judgment
How shame starts to melt when you realize, “It’s not just me”
The importance of community, peer groups, and safe spaces where you don’t have to pretend you’re fine
A divorce shouldn’t automatically mean a divorce from friendship; we can play a huge role in each other’s healing just by staying kind, curious, and present.
Where You Go From Here
If any of this sounds uncomfortably familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not overreacting. A few gentle next steps the panel points toward:
Track your symptoms (mood, sleep, cycle changes, anxiety, physical shifts). Bring that to a provider.
Advocate for yourself. If you’re dismissed, seek a second opinion or look for a menopause-informed provider.
Explore trauma-informed support: counsellors, coaches, groups, or nonprofits that understand domestic abuse, coercive control, and complex trauma.
Prioritize connection: one trusted friend, a group, a program, a panel replay, anything that reminds you you’re not alone.
Remember: you’re allowed to take up space with your needs.
And if someone in your life came to mind as you were reading this, please share the replay or this recap with them. Sometimes the first step toward healing is simply knowing there is a path forward.
This article was written by Deena Kordt and featured in her ‘Human First’ LinkedIn Newsletter.
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Meet the Author - Deena Kordt
Deena Kordt, publisher of Life Changes & Divorce Magazine Canada, host of the Life Changes Channel podcast, is also an author & speaker from Southern Saskatchewan with a passion for inspiring personal growth and community support. Growing up on a farm and ranch, she developed strong small-town values and a deep sense of community. Deena has had a diverse career, including roles as a nurse, librarian, and reiki master, but her most cherished role is as a mother.
Deena's books, podcast, magazines, blog and presentations aim to help individuals reconnect with their inner strength and joy, encouraging them to embrace life with courage and resilience. She has overcome significant personal challenges, including the loss of two brothers and living in an abusive situation, which has fueled her mission to support others on their healing journeys.
Known for her adventurous spirit and rock 'n roll heart, Deena believes in the power of a supportive community of women. She invites you to join her in exploring life with curiosity and courage.
Awards and Recognition:
2023 Womanition Trail Blazer Award Nominee
2024 Soroptimist International Ruby Award Winner
2025 IOFP Top Women’s Leadership Coach & Publisher of the Year
Deena has been featured on several podcasts and magazines, co-hosts the “Shift Happens Show” and is working on her memoir.
Note: The author, compiler and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party due to these words coming from the author’s own opinion based on their experiences. This account is based on the author’s own personal experience. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in these articles.
