Maybe you can't name what's wrong, only that something feels off. You wake at 4 a.m. and can't get back to sleep. Work that used to take an hour takes the afternoon. Or you've already been treated for depression or anxiety and still don't feel like yourself. A psychiatric evaluation is where those experiences get looked at closely. You don't need a diagnosis in mind or a tidy way of explaining yourself. Your clinician's job is to help you sort out what has been happening and

Many women approach perimenopause expecting hot flashes and irregular periods. Fewer expect to find themselves crying in a parking lot or losing their temper over something that would barely have registered a few years earlier. Perimenopause can bring mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Hormonal changes may contribute, alongside disrupted sleep, life stress, and a history of mental health concerns. These symptoms deserve attention, especially when the