Menopause isn’t just a physical experience; it’s a mental one, too. In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with the mother-daughter duo Dr. Amy Shah and her mother, Rekha, to explore the mental shifts that accompany this change and why the conversation around menopause can be so hard to start.
In her midlife, Rekha’s anxiety began to feel unbearable. It wasn’t until years later that she and her daughter Amy realized that this and other symptoms were due to menopause.
Later in the episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford, a reproductive endocrinologist, author, and a leading voice in women’s hormone health, joins Sreela to dive further into the science of menopause. Dr. Crawford unpacks the hormonal shifts, the connection between the brain and the ovaries, how to optimize your health before perimenopause, and how to advocate for yourself when you are not getting the support you need.
00:00 Introduction: Why We Need to Talk About Menopause
02:32 Meet Our Guests and Rekha’s Menopause Journey
07:23 Understanding the Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Menopause
12:23 Mental Health, Relationships, and Life During Menopause
18:49 Why Women's Health Has Been Overlooked
24:45 Supporting Loved Ones Through Menopause
26:09 Introducing Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Natalie Crawford
33:41 How Hormonal Fluctuations Impact Women’s Mental Health
35:43 Feeling Heard: Validation and Women's Healthcare
37:18 How Women Can Prepare for Midlife Changes
49:50 Advice for Navigating Menopause with Confidence
52:08 Closing Reflections on Menopause, Community, and Support