8 Celebs Open Up About Nightmarish Perimenopause Diagnoses
Mon Feb 02 2026
For years, these women were told they were depressed. Anxious. Burnt out. Even bipolar.
In this powerful compilation episode of Is It Hot In Here?, we share eight moments from past celebrity guests where the penny finally dropped — the real cause of their symptoms wasn’t a psychiatric disorder, stress, or personal failure… it was perimenopause.
From fears of early-onset dementia and brain tumours, to antidepressants prescribed as a quick but ineffective fix, these stories expose how often women’s hormonal transitions are misunderstood, dismissed, or missed entirely.
If you’ve ever been told “it’s just anxiety”, “it’s probably stress”, or “this happens to everyone” — this episode is for you.
Follow Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter
Follow Dr Naomi Potter:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter
More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/
00:00 – Lorraine Candy: mistaking perimenopause for a brain tumour
00:54 – Lisa Snowdon: perimenopause being overlooked by depression
01:47 – Cally Beaton: perimenopause misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder
05:17 – Lavina Mehta: a fear of Alzheimer's overshadowing perimenopause diagnosis
06:08 – Kate Lawler: mistaking perimenopause for heart problems
07:01 – Naga Munchetty: Women's pain not being taken seriously
07:56 – Rosie Nixon: menopause symptoms being shrugged off as anxiety
09:58 – Bryony Gordon: perimenopause causing OCD to flare up
Watch Naomi's full conversation with:
Lorraine Candy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oPlBmuiw0mI7yPEU3Ez6Z?si=io10fuoHT8y5zbZfWjOdLw
Lisa Snowdon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WJEhycgRWgk6QqZqdhcMm?si=4gvi2yhCQ5GdAovMPxKtWQ
Cally Beaton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l6DH9H9VyfR8Wz9kgvZR1?si=0evUO6oxSxqu86dKyWfkjw
Lavina Mehta: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UNeIYs6QhMFTjTqnSU1pk?si=cBLu6umbRFKYYljT8U7_6A
Kate Lawler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eSbAVhA0ymFYWkGWzV5QP?si=CDhKbqL3QCOmD_J0h8AmXg
Naga Munchetty: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kSIqsjmTaxELkjGiv3Ojh?si=7HYXdgmnRLeI8jWn-CdkzQ
Rosie Nixon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zWwGun1xjFISmV2hI6FHY?si=SQObyoaYS-mIOR04U53fNA
Bryony Gordon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2HvWsF9n00VTSyRVDqutLQ?si=PRuD7GFXST26J_Ow3oeUKQ
#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter
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For years, these women were told they were depressed. Anxious. Burnt out. Even bipolar. In this powerful compilation episode of Is It Hot In Here?, we share eight moments from past celebrity guests where the penny finally dropped — the real cause of their symptoms wasn’t a psychiatric disorder, stress, or personal failure… it was perimenopause. From fears of early-onset dementia and brain tumours, to antidepressants prescribed as a quick but ineffective fix, these stories expose how often women’s hormonal transitions are misunderstood, dismissed, or missed entirely. If you’ve ever been told “it’s just anxiety”, “it’s probably stress”, or “this happens to everyone” — this episode is for you. Follow Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter Follow Dr Naomi Potter: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ 00:00 – Lorraine Candy: mistaking perimenopause for a brain tumour 00:54 – Lisa Snowdon: perimenopause being overlooked by depression 01:47 – Cally Beaton: perimenopause misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder 05:17 – Lavina Mehta: a fear of Alzheimer's overshadowing perimenopause diagnosis 06:08 – Kate Lawler: mistaking perimenopause for heart problems 07:01 – Naga Munchetty: Women's pain not being taken seriously 07:56 – Rosie Nixon: menopause symptoms being shrugged off as anxiety 09:58 – Bryony Gordon: perimenopause causing OCD to flare up Watch Naomi's full conversation with: Lorraine Candy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oPlBmuiw0mI7yPEU3Ez6Z?si=io10fuoHT8y5zbZfWjOdLw Lisa Snowdon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WJEhycgRWgk6QqZqdhcMm?si=4gvi2yhCQ5GdAovMPxKtWQ Cally Beaton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l6DH9H9VyfR8Wz9kgvZR1?si=0evUO6oxSxqu86dKyWfkjw Lavina Mehta: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UNeIYs6QhMFTjTqnSU1pk?si=cBLu6umbRFKYYljT8U7_6A Kate Lawler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eSbAVhA0ymFYWkGWzV5QP?si=CDhKbqL3QCOmD_J0h8AmXg Naga Munchetty: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kSIqsjmTaxELkjGiv3Ojh?si=7HYXdgmnRLeI8jWn-CdkzQ Rosie Nixon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zWwGun1xjFISmV2hI6FHY?si=SQObyoaYS-mIOR04U53fNA Bryony Gordon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2HvWsF9n00VTSyRVDqutLQ?si=PRuD7GFXST26J_Ow3oeUKQ #menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter