Are You There, Midlife? It’s Me, Monica. | Balance Hormones Naturally in Perimenopause, Menopause for Women Over 40

70 | Are You Guilty Of This?: The Daily Habit Hijacking Your Hormones In Perimenopause And Menopause

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

We do it every 8 minutes.
(And no, it’s not peeing, although that might also be true.:)

This week, we’re talking about something that might be secretly sabotaging your hormones every single day.

It’s not your diet.
It’s not your wine.
It’s not even your overflowing to-do list.

👉 It’s your screen.
Or more specifically… the scroll.

Because while social media might seem harmless (or even helpful, depending on who you follow), it could be raising your cortisol, tanking your progesterone, and sending your sleep, mood, and metabolisminto a full-blown hormone spiral.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how your phone habits may be contributing to hormone imbalance in perimenopause and menopause—and what you can do to interrupt the scroll without hurling your iPhone into a lake.

If your idea of “unplugged” is charging your phone in another room, this episode is for you. 🎧

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Next Steps:

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Get Your Question About Hormone Balance Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

69 | Am I Depressed…Or Is It My Hormones? 3 Questions To Ask Before Taking An SSRI in Perimenopause Or Menopause

✨ Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones Naturally With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

 

You’re not crying in traffic because you’re crazy.

You’re not snapping at your family because you’re unstable.

You’re just living in a body that’s shifting—and no one explained what that would feel like.

 

Let’s be honest: Doctors are trained to treat clinical depression.

 

But most were never taught how perimenopause and menopause can impact our mood—or how symptoms of hormone imbalance like sadness, irritability, and emotional overwhelm can overlap with what looks like mental health issues.

 

Maybe you recently saw your GP, and she gave you a prescription for an SSRI without ever talking about your hormones.

Or maybe you’ve been taking an antidepressant for a while and are wondering if it’s actually helping.

 

If you’ve been medicating your mood but not seeing real healing, it’s time for a deeper look.

 

In this episode, you will learn:

✔How hormone changes in midlife can mimic depression (and why your doctor may miss it)

✔ What SSRIs are actually designed to treat—and what they’re not

✔ How symptoms like brain fog, exhaustion, and night sweats are related to emotional health

✔ What no one’s asking in your doctor’s office—but absolutely should

✔ The 3 red flags that your prescription might be masking a hormone imbalance

✔ Why your bloodwork might say “normal” even when everything feels off

✔ The sneaky difference between coping and healing (and how to tell which you’re doing)

✔ What to ask before refilling your SSRI (that your doctor may have missed the first time)

 

Plus, learn how Hormone Symptom Profiling can uncover the hormonal root cause of your emotional symptoms.

 

If you’ve ever said, “I just don’t feel like me anymore” or are wondering why you’re still struggling…even though you’re on an antidepressant…this episode is for you!

—

Next Steps:

 

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Episodes Mentioned:

EP 1 | How Do I Know If I'm In Perimenopause?: https://pod.fo/e/2297e9

EP 40 | Feeling Anxious? The REAL Reason Your SSRI Isn't Working, Plus 5 Tips to Reduce Anxiety Naturally [Perimenopausal Symptoms: From A-Z]: https://pod.fo/e/26f30e

Connect With Me:

 

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

 

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

68 | Your 3pm Crash Isn’t Normal—It’s Hormonal: What’s REALLY Zapping Your Energy In Perimenopause and Menopause?

✨ Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Dragging by 3pm—even after a “clean” lunch and your second coffee?

It’s not your schedule.

Or your age.

Or even those 10 pounds that won’t budge.

It’s your hormones.

Even if your doctor says everything looks “normal,” that mid-day crash could be a hormone red flag—one even your labs might be missing.

In today's episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on what’s really going on with your energy in perimenopause and menopause—and what you can actually do to start getting your energy (and your afternoons) back.

In this episode you will learn:

✔ The real reason why you can power through your morning—but then crash like clockwork by afternoon

✔ Why the same snacks that used to give you a boost are now leaving you drained

✔ The hidden connection between midlife inflammation and can’t-keep-your-eyes-open fatigue

✔ Why your blood sugar behaves differently in midlife—and the impact on your energy, mood, and focus

✔ Why more rest isn’t a solution if your hormones are out of sync

If you have a drawer full of energy snacks and a Starbucks order every barista in a 10-mile radius knows by heart, this episode is for you. 🎧

—

Next Steps:

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

 

67 | Wait—Could THIS Be What's Holding You Back? 4 Reasons You’re (Still) Living With Hormone Imbalance in Perimenopause & Menopause

✨ Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

What if the reason you’re still struggling to balance your hormones has nothing to do with what you’re doing… and everything to do with what you’re thinking?

Here’s the thing: our brains are wired to keep us safe.

(You know—safe, as in stuck. In the same place. Snapping at our kids for breathing too loud.:<)

So even when our house is on hormonal fire, our thoughts can convince us, “it’s not that bad”—or change is "just too risky."

But that kind of thinking could be the very reason WHY you’re still struggling.

In today's episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the top 4 limiting beliefs that might be holding you back from balancing your hormones naturally.

In this episode you will learn:

✔ Why mindset—not just meal plans—might be the key to healing your hormones

✔ How our nervous system is actually wired to keep us safe (and stuck!)

✔ The biggest frustration among women in perimenopause and menopause when it comes to managing their symptoms

✔ Why “being too busy” might be code for something deeper 

✔ The real reason you keep putting off taking that next step (and how to finally take it)

If you've ever said, "I should be able to figure this out on my own" or 'I'm too busy to deal with this right now", this episode is for you. 🎧

—

Next Steps:

 

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

 

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

 

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

66 | Your Health Insurance Won’t Fix This: The REAL Cost of Perimenopause & Menopause

✨ Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

 

You’ve done everything right…scheduled a visit with your doctor, got some lab work done, maybe even filled a prescription (or two.)...

So why do you feel like you're slowly dying inside while pretending everything’s fine?

 

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or flat-out invisible in your doctor’s office—you are not alone. And you are definitely not crazy. 🙃

 

The truth is, traditional healthcare doesn’t always connect the dots when it comes to hormone imbalance in perimenopause and untreated menopause symptoms.

 

Symptoms are often managed or “medicated away” with insurance-approved quick fixes—but the real cost of perimenopause and menopause goes way beyond hot flashes and skipped periods.

 

In today's episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on what insurance covers, what it doesn’t, and why what you’re paying might be just managing symptoms… without really solving the problem.

 

In this episode you will learn:

 

✔ The emotional, physical, and financial toll of untreated menopause symptoms—and how they impact your daily life

 

✔ How much hormone imbalance really costs—and why relying on insurance is keeping women stuck

 

✔ What no one tells you about missed work days, strained relationships, and midlife burnout (until it’s too late)

 

✔ How traditional healthcare fails women in midlife—and why natural hormone support isn’t covered (but should be)

 

✔ The long-term risks of untreated hormone imbalance—and how to protect your mental and physical health

 

If you’ve ever said, ‘I’d get help if my insurance covered it…’ or ‘I can’t afford to spend any more money on this'…this episode is for you! 🎧

 

Next Steps:

 

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

 

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

65 | It’s Not You! 6 Surprising Reasons Hormone Balancing Programs Fail in Perimenopause & Menopause

What’s Going On With Your Hormones? Take My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and Find Out!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow 

 

Does it ever feel like you’re the only one still struggling to figure out your hormones?

Trust me—you’re not alone.

Up to 85% of women over 40 experience hormone-related symptoms like chronic fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, and brain fog. And yet, we still feel like we’re on our own when it comes to finding a solution that actually works.

I talk to women every day who feel like “it’s all their fault.” Maybe they didn’t stick with a program long enough or they didn’t follow it perfectly. So they try another diet, another supplement, another program… only to end up right back at square one.

Truth? No amount of effort can make the WRONG approach work.

YOU haven’t failed. Because, more often than not, it was the program, the protocol, or the so-called magical fix that actually failed YOU!

In today's episode, I’m spilling 6 surprising reasons why hormone-balancing solutions fail—and what to do instead.

Join me as I unpack:

✔ The "hidden" issue with most "natural hormone balance" programs--plus, how to spot the red flags before wasting time & money

✔ The science behind what makes hormonal weight loss harder in midlife—even when you're "doing everything right"

✔ How chronic stress and lifestyle habits secretly mess with your hormones, metabolism, and energy

✔ The sneaky ways our body changes after 40—and why your old diet-and-exercise tricks don’t work anymore

✔ And, how popular hormone-balancing quick fixes may actually be working against your body instead of with it

If you’ve been following all the “rules," but still feel exhausted, unmotivated, and snapping at your houseplants, then this episode is for you! 🎧

 

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Next Steps:

Do You Have A Hormonal Imbalance? Take My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and Find Out!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Ready To Stop The Guesswork, Balance Your Hormones, And Feel Like “You” Again? Apply to “Master Your Midlife Hormones”: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

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Episodes mentioned on the podcast:

EP 6 | What Foods Cause Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms?: 10 "Healthy" Foods To Avoid: https://pod.fo/e/231a75

EP 57 | How Can I Have a Hormone Imbalance If My Blood Work Is Normal? https://pod.fo/e/2a1b75

EP 58 | Quick Hormone Fixes: Which Ones Work for Balancing Hormones... And Which Ones Miss the Mark?:  https://pod.fo/e/2a5265

EP 61 | How Did I Get HERE? 6 Root Causes of Hormone Imbalance in Perimenopause & Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/2ae786

—

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

 

64 | No Energy to Change? Why Fixing Your Hormones Is the Key to Motivation in Perimenopause & Menopause

Do You Have A Hormonal Imbalance? Take My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and Find Out!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Balance Your Hormones Naturally In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnowbit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

 

Hey friend,

Are you waking up exhausted, no matter how much sleep you get? Are you drooling on your keyboard by 3 PM, wondering if napping under your desk is less fireable than falling asleep during a Zoom? Or maybe you want to change your habits, but every attempt feels like a nonstarter.

 

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Studies show that 85% of women in midlife experience chronic fatigue, brain fog, and lack of motivation—leaving many of us to wonder: 

 

Is it just “aging”, or is something actually wrong?

 

The problem isn’t your willpower, your workouts, or even what time you go to bed—it’s your hormones.

 

That’s because in midlife, hormone shifts can send our brain into energy-conservation mode, draining motivation and making even simple lifestyle changes feel impossible.

But here’s the good news: Once you understand what’s happening biologically, you can stop blaming yourself and start working withyour body to reclaim your energy.

 

In this episode, you will learn:

✔ Why your lack of energy isn’t just a phase—and how midlife hormones actually work together to hijack your brain 

 

✔ The impact of adrenal fatigue, insulin resistance, and thyroid function on our energy, mood, and mental drive 

 

✔ Why willpower alone isn’t enough—and what your brain actually needs to get you moving 

 

✔ How perimenopause and menopause trick your body into slowing down (and how to override the shutdown)

 

If you find yourself asking:

 

❓ Why am I so exhausted even after a full night of sleep?

 

❓ Why do I feel completely unmotivated, even though I want to change?

 

❓ Is this just part of getting older, or is something actually wrong?

 

Then this episode is for you! 🎧

—

Next Steps:

 

Do You Have A Hormonal Imbalance? Take My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and Find Out!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Ready To Stop The Guesswork, Balance Your Hormones, And Feel Like “You” Again? Apply to “Master Your Midlife Hormones”: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

—

Episodes mentioned on the podcast:

 

EP 14 | Is Estrogen Dominance Causing Your Hormonal Weight Gain? 3 Quick Tips To Move The Scale: https://pod.fo/e/23e32f

 

EP 15 | Hypothyroidism And Weight Gain: 3 Healthy Hacks To Help Shed Those Extra Pounds: https://pod.fo/e/240c5f

 

EP 17 | The Hidden Cause of Hormonal Weight Gain in Women Over 40: Adrenal Fatigue: https://pod.fo/e/243891

 

EP 20 | Menopause, Sleeping Problems, and Post Menopausal Weight Gain: Is Low Estrogen to Blame?:https://pod.fo/e/248b3b

 

EP 21 | Age-Related Insulin Resistance: The Sneaky Saboteur of Weight Loss After 40: https://pod.fo/e/24b833

 

—

 

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

 

63 | 👉 THIS! My Exact 3-Step System for Balancing Your Hormones Naturally in Perimenopause & Menopause

Do You Have A Hormonal Imbalance? Take My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and Find Out!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Stop The Guesswork, Balance Your Hormones, And Feel Like “You” Again! Apply for My Program, “Master Your Midlife Hormones”: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

 

Hey friend,

😵‍💫 Are you waking up exhausted, no matter how much you sleep? Clothes suddenly feeling tighter, …even though you’re eating the same and working out? Snapping at your partner lately for breathing too loud? 🙃 If perimenopause or menopause has you feeling like a moody, tired, sleep-deprived “blob” you’re not alone.

Nearly 85% of women in midlife experience hormone-related symptoms, but the majority of us report feeling unsupported and unsure of where to turn for real solutions. 

The problem isn’t your willpower, your workouts, or even your age. The problem is that most of us are searching for hormone balance “solutions” when what we actually need is a SYSTEM.

🚨 In this episode, I’m breaking down my EXACT 3-step method to balance hormones naturally—so you can stop chasing symptoms and finally start feeling like yourself again.

In this episode, you will learn:

✔️ Why most diets, supplements, and hormone “hacks” fail—and what your body actually needs to get real results

✔️ The truth about detoxing—and why your liver, gut, and lymphatic system hold the key to hormone health

✔️ Why eating “healthy” isn’t enough—and how your diet could be blocking hormone production 

✔️ The missing nutrients that are essential for hormone production, but most women don’t get enough of

✔️ Why your hormones keep yo-yoing—and the one thing that’s keeping you stuck in the same cycle.

✔️ The daily habit that matters just as much as your diet when it comes to hormone balance

If you feel like your body is working against you, no matter how hard you try, this episode is for you.

—

Next Steps:

 

Do You Have A Hormonal Imbalance? Take My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and Find Out!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

 

Stop The Guesswork, Balance Your Hormones, And Feel Like “You” Again! Apply for My Program, “Master Your Midlife Hormones”: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

—

Episodes mentioned on the podcast:

EP 56 | The 3 Biggest Lies About Hormone Imbalance In Perimenopause & Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/29dcf2

EP 57 | How Can I Have a Hormone Imbalance If My Blood Work Is Normal?: https://pod.fo/e/2a1b75

EP 59 | 5 Things You Need To Know When Googling Solutions for Your Perimenopause or Menopause Symptoms: https://pod.fo/e/2a876e

EP 61  | How Did I Get HERE? 6 Root Causes of Hormone Imbalance in Perimenopause & Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/2ae786

EP 62  | What Are You Missing? 4 Reasons Why What You’re Doing Isn’t Working to Balance Your Hormones in Perimenopause & Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/2b1bd8

—

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.