Millions of women say the same thing in their late 30s and 40s “I don’t feel like myself anymore.” Fatigue grows, stress tolerance collapses, brain fog hits, and everyday tasks suddenly require more effort. Yet most are told it’s “normal aging,” “just stress,” or “anxiety.”

In this hol+ episode, Dr. Taz sits down with functional medicine expert and bestselling author Dr. Mariza Snyder to ask the hard questions about perimenopause, what it is, when does perimenopause start, and why rage, irritability, and cognitive changes are often the earliest symptoms women experience.

Together, they unpack why perimenopause is widely misdiagnosed, why progesterone decline shows up long before hot flashes or missed periods, how estrogen fluctuations affect brain function, and why so many women feel like their identity, mood, and capacity are suddenly slipping away.

From mood swings, brain fog, and sleep crashes to metabolic slowdowns and rising visceral fat, this conversation reframes perimenopause symptoms as hormone-driven neurological and physiological shifts – not personal weakness, aging, or lack of willpower.

You will learn what perimenopause is, what age perimenopause starts, why rage and irritability show up first, and how to track early hormone changes through menstrual patterns, symptoms, biometrics, and stress physiology. Dr. Taz and Dr. Mariza also share lifestyle tools, boundaries, morning and evening routines, and targeted support that help stabilize brain energy, mood, and metabolic health during this transition.

Dr. Taz and Dr. Mariza discuss:

  • What is perimenopause and why it hits earlier than women expect
  • When does perimenopause start and what age perimenopause typically begins
  • Why perimenopause rage is real and often the first warning sign
  • Perimenopause brain fog, cognitive shifts, and declining stress tolerance
  • Progesterone decline, estrogen fluctuations, and why hormones become unpredictable
  • Perimenopause vs aging: why symptoms are dismissed or misdiagnosed
  • Mood swings, irritability, fatigue, and the identity shift many women feel
  • Early metabolic changes in perimenopause and why belly fat increases
  • How to track symptoms, cycles, HRV, sleep, and biomarkers for early clues
  • Tools women can use: routines, nervous system regulation, boundaries, lifestyle resets
  • When progesterone or estrogen support can make a meaningful difference
  • Why community and sisterhood become critical for emotional resilience

About Dr. Mariza Snyder

Dr. Mariza Snyder is a functional practitioner, women’s health expert, hormone educator, and bestselling author of The Perimenopause Revolution. With over 15 years of clinical experience, she helps women navigate perimenopause and midlife with clarity, confidence, and science-based tools that support hormone balance, brain health, emotional resilience, and metabolic vitality. Her work empowers women to understand what perimenopause is, recognize early symptoms, and take back control of their health with practical strategies and integrative support.

Instagram:   / drmariza
Podcast: Energized with Dr. Mariza
Book: The Perimenopause Revolution https://amzn.to/3KwDW06

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Host: Dr. Taz; Edited and Produced by Clip Growth

Chapters
00:00 Women saying they do not feel like themselves
00:24 Rage and irritability as first symptoms
00:42 Why perimenopause is misdiagnosed
01:07 Introducing Dr. Mariza Snyder
01:50 Why perimenopause deserves more clarity
03:18 Dr. Mariza shares her personal story
04:22 Early signs: fatigue, brain fog, mental load
05:08 Losing emotional capacity and bandwidth
06:26 Women noticing sudden shifts in mood
07:31 What age perimenopause starts
09:41 Brain symptoms before hot flashes
11:02 Why rage shows up first
13:29 The concept of second puberty
15:08 Why the brain reacts before the cycle
16:41 Tracking cycles and symptoms
19:14 Biometrics and early hormone clues
21:33 Progesterone decline during the luteal phase
23:51 How HRV and sleep reflect hormonal stress
26:17 Chronic stress and early perimenopause
30:12 Lifestyle and boundary resets
33:01 Morning habits for stability
36:19 Evening routines and nutrient support
40:45 Using progesterone or estrogen strategically
45:04 Metabolic shifts and belly fat
47:49 Estrogen detox pathways
49:58 The seven pillars of perimenopause health
51:01 Nutrition and blood sugar balance
54:14 Community and emotional support
56:24 Closing reflections
58:23 Outro from Dr. Taz