Joey and Angie Mead King Get Real About Navigating Perimenopause Together

Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause, when the ovaries gradually begin producing less estrogen. This hormonal shift often leads to irregular menstrual cycles and symptoms commonly associated with menopause, including mood swings, hot flashes, sleep problems, and changes in appetite or weight. According to Cleveland Clinic, the phase is a natural progression, though it can last for years.

For Angie, the experience has been “an emotional rollercoaster.” She cited issues such as temperature regulation, weight gain, and fluctuating appetite as changes that affected Joey's daily life and, at times, their relationship dynamics. Sometimes, it may feel as if nothing can please a woman going through perimenopause, according to her observations.

As Joey’s partner, Angie said one of the biggest lessons she learned was to “take it day by day.” She added, “I had to be more mindful and understanding that the emotional outbursts are just uncontrollable, because there [are] moments of lapses and forgetfulness.”

Angie admitted that she is sometimes "scared,” especially because her partner’s moods and reactions may become unpredictable. “I don’t like the energy,” she shared candidly, though she emphasized that she continues trying to better understand what Joey is going through. One way she does this is by tracking Joey’s hormone cycle to gain a clearer picture of the changes happening inside her body.

At this stage, the tracking reveals fluctuating patterns—something Angie jokingly compared to strands of spaghetti. The phase is often referred to as the “Zone of Chaos,” a term coined by Dr. Mary Claire Haver.

“It begins in your brain,” the medical expert wrote. As egg supply naturally declines with age, the brain begins to notice that the ovaries are no longer responding as they once did. “When the ovaries don’t respond like they used to, the whole system starts short-circuiting,” she said, noting that the body’s usual monthly rhythm becomes disrupted—often leading to the emotional and physical “chaos” many women experience during this stage.

“The road to success is not [linear],” the couple recognized, and Joey likened the experience of perimenopause to navigating “way too many options and humps and dead ends and cliffs and potholes.” She described it as a particularly difficult period not only for women, but also for their spouses and family members, who may feel helpless watching someone they love go through such intense emotional and physical changes.

“It’s a challenging time, especially for spouses and family members.” Joey explained that they may feel like they're at fault, when they're actually not.

She also underscored the importance of strong support systems during this stage of life, noting that many couples struggle in relationships during the perimenopausal years. According to Joey, this often stems from a lack of understanding about what women are actually experiencing.

“I believe that’s because spouses and family members seriously don’t know how to support the woman at that time,” she said. “The person you know might not be as bubbly and fun anymore because they’re going through a hard time.”

She added that, historically, women experiencing hormonal and emotional changes associated with perimenopause were often misunderstood and unfairly labeled as “crazy.” In reality, she emphasized, what many of them needed most was patience, compassion, and understanding.

Joey and Angie’s video has since garnered over 400,000 views, with many women taking to the comments section to share their own experiences with perimenopause. Several opened up about the emotional and physical toll of the transition, while others expressed frustration over how little the condition is still discussed and understood.

Many commenters also thanked the couple for openly discussing their experience, saying it helped articulate feelings they had long struggled to explain themselves. For some women, the conversation served as validation that the emotional and physical changes associated with perimenopause are not “made up” or exaggerated for drama, but are legitimate, science-backed symptoms that deserve greater awareness and understanding.