Am I dying or is it perimenopause? Blood, rage and other surprises in Small Achievable Goals
Jennifer Whalen and Meredith MacNeill are on a mission to normalize the conversation around menopause
Julie Muldoon has spent decades curating the perfect life: a loving husband, a great career, and a Peabody Award-winning podcast. But on her 50th birthday, everything implodes. Her body betrays her with hot flashes at the worst possible moment, her internal filter suddenly becomes very external and her rage erupts in front of her entire office.
To make matters worse, she's just been paired with new colleague Kris Fine, a TikTok-famous midlife beauty expert whose first day on the job involves an unexpected period disaster and a much younger co-host.
Welcome to Small Achievable Goals, CBC's new comedy, where menopause doesn't politely knock — it kicks down the door. Created by Baroness von Sketch Show alumni Jennifer Whalen and Meredith MacNeill (who, alongside Carolyn Taylor and Aurora Browne, memorably captured perimenopause confusion in their "Is it?" sketch), the series brings their signature wit to the messy reality of midlife change.
Between Julie's hot flashes and Kris's non-stop periods, the show captures what millions of people are experiencing behind closed doors (or, in Julie's case, very publicly, in a white dress). If any of this sounds familiar, you're part of a massive club that's finally getting loud about it.
While celebrities like Naomi Watts and Halle Berry are using their platforms to build menopause awareness, the numbers tell an even bigger story. According to the Menopause Foundation of Canada, 10 million people over 40 are experiencing this transition — that's one-quarter of the Canadian population. While every journey is unique, most people (95 per cent) will experience an average of seven out of a possible 30 symptoms. Most of us know about hot flashes and mood swings, but what about frozen shoulder? Electric shocks? Phantom body odour? That insatiable, itchy ear canal that makes you want to stick a crochet hook in (despite your better judgment)? If you're reading this and thinking, "Wait, that's a menopause symptom?" you're not alone.
"The conversation is only now beginning about the impact of hormonal change during perimenopause," says Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe, Menopause Society-certified family doctor and Medical Director of Primary Care Outreach at Women's College Hospital. "Many people feel blindsided by symptoms they never expected."
Since so many of us are Googling symptoms at 3 a.m., wondering if we're dying or just in perimenopause (spoiler: this is a trending search term), we figured it was time for a no-BS guide to the weirdest, least-discussed menopause symptoms. Let's get into it.
Perimenopausal depression and emotional symptoms: What's normal?
Perimenopause, which typically starts in your 40s can be a time of intense emotional turbulence. As Small Achievable Goals illustrates through Julie's epic workplace meltdown, those moments of losing your cool aren't just about stress or poor anger management — they're chemistry.
"The mental health and mood changes during this time can be very significant and really impact well-being and general functioning," explains Dr. Wijayasinghe. "When estrogen levels drop, they affect serotonin production, our key mood-regulating brain chemical." The result? A spectrum of emotional symptoms that can blindside even the most put-together people: sudden anxiety, unexplained irritability, and mood shifts that often mimic clinical depression. Even doctors sometimes struggle to determine whether symptoms stem from hormonal changes or depression — and sometimes it's both.
These shows and discussions are becoming more common, and that's great. It can be validating when so often, women are invalidated in medical settings.- Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe
Add in nights of disrupted sleep (thanks, 3 a.m. hot flashes), an array of physical symptoms like dizziness and joint pain, and what Dr. Wijayasinghe calls "carrying so much" (caring for kids, aging family members, demanding careers). It's no wonder Julie and Kris struggle to keep it together at The Podcast Folx.
From frozen shoulder to itchy ears: The perimenopause symptoms you might find surprising
While many midlife women look forward to official menopause — that milestone marking 12 months without a period — the journey there can feel like your body's writing its own surreal comedy series.
Dr. Wijayasinghe explains that perimenopause can be a real rollercoaster due to the hormonal ups and downs. "Some cycles can actually produce more estrogen, which thickens the uterine lining and results in heavier bleeding. At the same time, declining estrogen can thin the lining, leading to unpredictable periods." Conditions like fibroids and polyps also become more common, making monitoring changes crucial.
According to the Canadian Menopause Society, perimenopause's most surprising guest stars include:
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The physical plot twists: That mysterious frozen shoulder (technically called adhesive capsulitis) that shows up uninvited, making your arm stiff and painful. While doctors aren't entirely sure why it targets women during perimenopause, it's likely another gift from our fluctuating hormones. Add joint and muscle aches and suddenly basic tasks feel like Olympic events.
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The neurological novelties: Your nervous system gets in on the act, too. Some people experience electric shock sensations (like sudden jolts under the skin), unexplained episodes of dizziness, and even tinnitus — that fun ringing in your ears that makes you wonder if you accidentally joined a rock band.
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The sensory surprises: If your skin suddenly feels like bugs are crawling on it (there's a medical term for this: formication), or your ears become inexplicably itchy, blame those same hormonal changes affecting your skin's hydration levels. As Dr. Wijayasinghe explains, "Decreasing estrogen levels can lead to reduced skin hydration, resulting in dryness and itchiness."
While these symptoms might seem like a cruel practical joke, they're your body's response to hormonal fluctuations.
Breaking the silence together
More than just personal challenges or a "women's issue," perimenopause and menopause are workplace issues, too. Women in this stage of life are at the prime of their professional lives; they're the backbone of companies, industries and the economy. According to the Menopause Foundation of Canada, unmanaged menopause symptoms cost the Canadian economy an estimated $3.5 billion annually, with one in 10 women leaving the workforce entirely due to their symptoms.
That's where Small Achievable Goals breaks new ground. Despite their initial clash, Julie and Kris discover the only way through this challenging transition is together. While their symptoms and experiences differ — Julie battles rage and libido issues while Kris fights for medical support — their unlikely friendship offers something the medical system often can't: validation, humour and understanding.
"Women deserve to feel healthy, and they should not suffer in silence," says Dr. Wijayasinghe. "These shows and discussions are becoming more common, and that's great. It can be validating when so often, women are invalidated in medical settings."
Getting help: Your achievable goal
While Small Achievable Goals mines comedy gold from Kris and Julie's struggles to get medical support, Dr. Wijayasinghe emphasizes that help is available. "There is preventative care, lifestyle choices and safe and effective treatment options to help women thrive during their menopausal years. Talking to your healthcare practitioner is a great first step."
"If you don't feel like yourself, that's a good reason to seek care," she says. "Most people experience a constellation of symptoms, and there's no one-size-fits-all experience."
Her advice for that first doctor's appointment? Come prepared. "Set up an appointment specifically to discuss perimenopause, so it doesn't get buried among other concerns," suggests Dr. Wijayasinghe. "Going in with information can help close the communication gap with your healthcare provider."
This is especially important for new symptoms that appear in midlife. "If you're experiencing anxiety or depression for the first time in your forties or fifties, that might signal hormonal influence," she explains. "But it's our job as clinicians to rule out other causes first."
Dr. Wijayasinghe recommends visiting the Menopause Foundation of Canada website, which offers a comprehensive symptom tracker that you can bring to your healthcare provider. The Canadian Menopause Society provides an evidence-based treatment guide listing available Canadian options for medication and therapies to help start the conversation.
Watch Small Achievable Goals on CBC
Ready to feel seen? Small Achievable Goals, now streaming on CBC Gem, is perfect for your next hot-flash-induced 3 a.m. binge-watch. Because sometimes the best medicine is knowing you're not alone — and having a really good laugh about it.
CBC Gem is available for free as an App for iOS, tvOS, Fire TV, Android TV, Android phones and tablets, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Roku, and Xbox One/S/X.
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