The Shelly Show with Dr Fatima Khan

**Dr Fatima Khan: Hormone Health is Mental Health** What if the anxiety, depression, rage, brain fog or feeling that you’ve completely lost yourself isn’t “just stress” or something you simply have to push through? In this episode of **The Shelly Show**, I’m joined by **Dr Fatima Khan**, women’s health doctor, menopause expert and author of *Hormone Health is Mental Health: How perimenopause hijacks your brain and how to reclaim yourself*. Fatima has trained across psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology and general practice, and has spent the past decade focused on women’s hormonal and mental health.  Our topic is **Hormone Health is Mental Health**. This is a deeply personal conversation for both of us. Fatima opens up about her own mental health struggles during perimenopause and what it was like to suddenly experience the very symptoms she had spent years treating in other women. I also share what happened to me when perimenopausal depression hit. I didn’t understand why I suddenly felt anxious, depressed and unlike myself. I blamed myself before I understood that my changing hormones were playing a significant role. We talk about why the psychological symptoms of perimenopause can be missed, why women are so often told they’re stressed, burnt out or simply need antidepressants, and why doctors need to look at the whole hormonal picture when a woman in midlife suddenly presents with new mental health symptoms. We also unpack anxiety, depression, rage, sleeplessness, brain fog, loss of confidence and that frightening feeling many women describe as **“I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”** These are among the psychological symptoms Dr Khan discusses in her work.  And importantly, we talk about what women can actually do, what questions to ask their doctors and why treatment needs to look at the whole person rather than separating mental health from hormonal health. Because women deserve more than being told it’s all in their heads. **Hormone health is mental health. It’s time we treated it that way.** Welcome to **The Shelly Show. One topic. Done well.** Follow **The Shelly Show**, leave a review and share this episode with a woman who might need to hear that what she’s feeling deserves to be taken seriously. **Watch full video episodes:** https://www.youtube.com/@shellyhorton1 **Find Dr Fatima Khan:** Instagram: @drfatminakhan Buy *Hormone Health is Mental Health* here **Stay Connected with Shelly:** Stay Connected with Shelly: Follow Shelly on Instagram @shellyhorton1 Follow Shelly on Facebook @shellyhorton/journalist Follow Shelly on TikTok @shellyhorton4 Subscribe to The Shelly Show on Substack https://substack.com/@shellyhorton Buy Shelly’s book, I’m Your Peri Godmother Amazon Listen to it on Audible Speak with Impact training with ShellShocked Media Peri Godmother workplace training   **Content note:** This episode included discussion of depression and suicidal thoughts. If this raised anything for you and you need support, contact Lifeline in Australia on **13 11 14** or call **000** if you or someone else is in immediate danger. **Medical Disclaimer:** The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Shelly Show. **Medical Disclaimer:** The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Shelly Show.