When we think of perimenopause, we hear about hot flashes—but what about the mood swings, anxiety, and depression no one talks about?

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Reproductive Psychiatrist Dr. Lindsay Standeven to break down the mental health side of perimenopause. They talk about why women are more likely to face depression during this stage, what it means if you’ve struggled in pregnancy or postpartum, and—most importantly—what you can do now to protect your mental health.

About Dr. Lindsay R. Standeven:

Dr. Lindsay R. Standeven is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins. After completing her residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Standeven completed a two-year research and clinical fellowship specializing in reproductive psychiatry. Dr. Standeven spent the earlier part of her career on the faculty at Johns Hopkins, serving as the clinical and education director for the Johns Hopkins Reproductive Mental Health Center, where she oversaw clinical staff and taught psychiatry residents in reproductive psychiatry.

She is passionate about teaching and advocacy in women’s mental health and serves as a member of the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry, where she helped spearhead a training program in women’s mental health for psychiatrists across the country. Her clinical expertise is in helping individuals struggling with mood-related changes due to pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, reproductive loss, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and perimenopause.