Am I Losing My Mind?! Or Is This Perimenopause? With Desiree Burch

Brain fog in menopause – who else can relate?

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih

In this episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by comedian, voice actor and presenter Desiree Burch. You might know Desiree from competing on the gameshow Taskmaster, the narrator for Netflix's dating show Too Hot to Handle, or from her current standup comedy tour The Golden Wrath.

Desiree opens up about what perimenopause really felt like behind the scenes: the sudden shift from “fine” to not fine, the shock of losing mental sharpness as a professional performer, and the very real trial-and-error of getting HRT right when your body won’t absorb it.

She shares the moment she realised this wasn’t “just stress” – including the mental health side that so many women are quietly battling – and why perimenopause can feel like a full-body initiation, not just a list of symptoms.

They also discuss what to do when treatment stops working, why follow-up matters, and how midlife can become a turning point for boundaries, self-trust, and giving fewer f***s (in the best way).

There are still tickets available for Desiree's tour! Get yours here: https://www.desireeburch.com/the-golden-wrath-tour/

Follow Desiree Burch below: Desiree's Instagram: @destheray Desiree's website: https://www.desireeburch.com/

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

00:00 – Intro + meet Desiree Burch 00:33 – Performing nerves: “pure panic” + adrenaline 02:58 – Brain fog hits midlife (and comedy suffers) 03:38 – Testosterone + mental acuity when words vanish 06:06 – Identity, misogyny & being misunderstood 07:26 – “Witch initiation” — perimenopause as inner overhaul 08:21 – The HRT train: progesterone first + Mirena 09:00 – Ectopic pregnancy + suicidal thoughts: “Add estrogen” 10:44 – Menopause in silence + not asking your mum 11:55 – Hearing other women’s stories brings relief 13:23 – Hormones vs antidepressants in midlife 14:39 – Penny-drop moment: bleeding, polyps & heavy periods 17:40 – The sudden “flip” + fear of how bad it gets 18:22 – HRT helped — and forced healthier habits 19:59 – Absorption chaos: gels, patches & lozenges 21:50 – What works: regulated options explained 29:39 – When symptoms return: troubleshooting HRT 34:09 – Why menopause care still feels like guesswork 37:46 – Can perimenopause derail careers? 46:08 – The Golden Wrath: show, dementia & women’s stories 52:49 – Listener Qs: partners + “giving fewer f**ks”

#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter