By Karen Vernon, BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist, RMN and Founder of Menopause Masters® One of the most common things I hear from women during perimenopause and menopause isn’t about hot flushes or night sweats. It’s this: “I don’t feel like myself anymore.” For many women, this can be one of the most distressing aspects of […]
Why Menopause Can Leave You Feeling Overwhelmed, Anxious and Unlike Yourself Read More »
One of the most distressing concerns I hear from professional women during perimenopause and menopause isn’t: “I’m having hot flushes.” It’s: “I’m terrified I’m losing my edge.” Women describe searching for words during meetings, forgetting why they opened an email, losing their train of thought mid-sentence, or needing to reread documents multiple times before information
If you’ve found yourself forgetting words mid-sentence, walking into a room and forgetting why you’re there, or reading the same email multiple times, you’re not alone. Many women experiencing perimenopause and menopause describe a frustrating collection of symptoms often referred to as menopause brain fog. For professional women in particular, these symptoms can feel unsettling,
Menopause Brain Fog: Why It Feels So Frightening and What You Can Do About It Read More »
The Resolution Trap: Why Your New Year Goals Might Be Hurting Your Mental Health The arrival of January usually brings a tidal wave of “New Year, New Me” energy. We are bombarded with messages telling us to overhaul our lives, lose weight, master new skills, and become the most productive versions of ourselves. But at
The Resolution Trap Read More »
When the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Doesn’t Feel Like It. For many, the festive season is a whirlwind of lights, laughter, and connection. But for others, the arrival of December can bring a heavy sense of dread, exhaustion, or profound sadness. At DeVernon Psychotherapy, we see a significant shift in the emotional landscape
Navigating Mental Health at Christmas Read More »
Menopause Awareness Month: Unpacking the Impact on Cognition and Mood As we mark Menopause Awareness Month throughout October, our focus sharpens on a critical theme: the effect of menopause on cognition and mood. This year, especially leading up to World Menopause Day on 18th October, we aim to validate and illuminate these often-misunderstood symptoms. While
Menopause: Cognition, Mood, and Support Read More »
We all know the feeling. A racing heart, a knot in your stomach, a mind that won’t stop spinning with “what if” scenarios. For many people, anxiety feels like a constant, unwelcome companion. But what is really happening beneath the surface, and why does it feel so overwhelming? As a CBT therapist, I often help
What’s Really Going On When You Feel Anxious? Read More »
When we think of menopause, the image of hot flashes often comes to mind. But for the 13 million women in the UK currently navigating this stage of life, the reality is far more complex. Menopause is a whole-body experience, with a surprising range of symptoms that many women don’t expect. As a CBT
Surprising Truths About Menopause Symptoms Read More »
A recent and insightful article by Dr. Clare J. Spencer on Medscape highlighted a crucial and often distressing symptom of the menopause transition: brain fog. Her work, a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, underscores that this is a far-reaching issue, with psychological symptoms like poor concentration, anxiety, and memory loss being top concerns for women
Menopause Brain Fog: CBT & Holistic Care Read More »
Understanding Your Body’s Built-In Alarm: The Fight, Flight, Freeze Response Have you ever found yourself in a stressful situation and felt your heart pound, your breath quicken, or perhaps you froze, unable to move or speak? These are not signs of weakness; they’re the powerful, automatic workings of your nervous system doing exactly what it’s
Understanding Fight, Flight, Freeze: Trauma Response Explained Read More »