By Michelle Freimark | Calgary Women’s Strength Coach
Depression, Estrogen Dominance, and Finally Feeling Seen in Perimenopause
Perimenopause Has a Way of Sneaking Up on You…
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been taught to push through.
To be resilient.
To accept that your changing body is just “part of aging.”
But what happens when your body starts whispering things that no one else can hear—until it’s screaming?
Earlier this year, that was me. I was in the thick of perimenopause, experiencing symptoms that didn’t make sense… and yet, every doctor I saw told me I was “healthy.” That nothing was wrong.
They blamed it on aging.
Said it was normal.
Welcomed me to “this new phase of life.”
But I knew something deeper was going on.
My Symptoms Weren’t Just in My Head
Let me tell you exactly what I was feeling:
- Muscle wasting and weight gain (despite training 3x/week)
- Low energy and fatigue
- Disrupted sleep that made recovery harder
- Histamine issues—random food sensitivities
- Loss of vaginal volume in the labia majora (and no, no one talks about this)
- A small fibroid
- And an unshakable feeling that my body had fundamentally shifted
I knew this wasn’t just “aging.”
I refused to accept that this was my new normal.
Finding the Right Support Changed Everything
Eventually, I met a fellow perimenopausal woman who recommended her hormone specialist here in Calgary. That recommendation led me to Dr. Bobby Screenivasan at Jacksonport Medical Clinic YYC—and honestly, I’m so glad I listened.
In April 2025, I began HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).
So many of my symptoms started to ease almost immediately:
- Sleep improved
- My energy returned
- Histamine reactions subsided
- Vaginal volume returned
- The fibroid and weight gain gone
Muscle growth has been slower to return—but it is coming back.
What’s important to know is that my testosterone was near zero when I started HRT.
And none of the previous doctors had even bothered to test it. Even when I asked.
That’s how easily women’s concerns are dismissed.
Then Came the Depression (Out of Nowhere)
Last week, I woke up with a wave of deep, unshakable depression. There were no emotional triggers. Nothing in my personal life had changed.
It just hit—suddenly and without warning.
I immediately booked a follow-up with Dr. Bobby.
And instead of suggesting an antidepressant or brushing it off, he said:
“Let’s check your estrogen levels.”
He’s the first doctor who’s heard me and not treated me like a “whiny woman or a W.W.” an actual term some doctors use.
Tomorrow, I get bloodwork.
Estrogen Dominance Is Real—and It’s Hereditary
As it turns out, I’m estrogen dominant.
So is my mother.
Her estrogen dominance went unchecked and dismissed—because her bloodwork came back “normal.”
And now, she’s recovering from estrogen-dominant breast cancer.
That was the path I was on… until someone listened.
This isn’t just about me.
It’s about all of us.
If You’re Struggling, You’re Not Alone
Too often, women in midlife are told:
- “It’s just aging.”
- “Your labs are fine.”
- “Go home and rest.”
But normal isn’t optimal.
And silence doesn’t mean we’re okay.
If you’re reading this and nodding along, please hear me:
You are not alone.
You are not crazy.
And your body is trying to tell you something.
You deserve a provider who will listen.
Who will investigate.
Who will partner with you.
I’m Sharing This Because I Care
I work with women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond every day.
As a personal trainer and midlife wellness coach, I’ve seen firsthand how hormone shifts can derail progress, confidence, and vitality.
If this post resonates with you, I encourage you to explore your own hormone health.
Ask questions. Seek a second opinion. And never let someone else’s dismissal override your inner knowing.
🖤 Michelle
Are you a woman in Calgary navigating midlife changes?
If you’re ready to reclaim your strength, confidence, and wellbeing—let’s talk. I offer strength training and holistic support tailored for women just like you.
📩 Click here to contact me or learn more about my programs.