Perimenopause is a major life transition that affects both the body and mind. While it’s often recognized for causing irregular periods and hot flashes, its impact on mental health can be just as significant. In this conversation, Wildflower’s co-founder Aga Grabowski, LCSW, PMH-C, CST, interviews Dr. Vesna Pirec, MD, PhD, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in…
women's mental health
Perimenopause: Debunking Unhelpful Myths
Perimenopause is the period of time leading up to menopause when women begin to undergo hormonal changes, such as fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, which can then cause a variety of physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms. While this phase most commonly begins in the 40s, it can start as early as the late 20s…
There Is No Health Without Mental Health: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
The transition to parenthood is often described as a journey, yet this word does not sufficiently capture the dramatic and profound nature of change and transformation that takes place during this time. A more appropriate term might be “odyssey.” There are very few, if any, other life experiences that match the physical, emotional, mental, relational,…
Beyond Cramps and Cravings: Understanding the Difference Between Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Throughout history, the medical field has had a complicated and often contradictory relationship with reproductive mental health. While accounts of symptoms related to the menstrual cycle date back to ancient times, their existence was often met with irrational skepticism. Mood fluctuations were frequently attributed to a wandering uterus or the toxic and healing properties of…