SOS S6 E1(2): What is happening to my body?! Hormones, weight gain, GLP-1 use and much more...

SOS S6 E1(2): What is happening to my body?! Hormones, weight gain, GLP-1 use and much more...

You've been doing everything right. So why does your brain — and your body — still feel completely off? If you've ever wondered why you suddenly can't focus, can't lose weight no matter what you try, can't shake the low-grade flatness that's settled over your life like a fog — this episode is going to give you something nobody else has: an actual explanation. Licensed therapists and real women in the thick of it themselves, Megan Bayles Bartley and Elizabeth McCormack, are back for Part 2 of their Season 6 opener on the Shifting Our Sh*t Podcast — and this time, they're going straight into the brain chemistry behind perimenopause and menopause, plus two of the most honest conversations you'll hear about weight, GLP-1 medications, and what it really means to feel like yourself again. In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down the three neurotransmitters every woman needs to understand — dopamine (your "I'm winning" chemical), serotonin (your stability and calm), and norepinephrine (your focus and stress response) — and explains exactly how declining estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are disrupting all three. Why does perimenopause feel like permanent PMS? Why are so many women in this phase being handed antidepressants when the root cause is hormonal? Why does the weight keep creeping up even when nothing in your lifestyle has changed? This episode answers all of it. Then Megan and Elizabeth get personal — really personal — about their own experiences with GLP-1 medications. Megan shares her three-month journey with Tirzepatide, the 30 pounds she lost, the brain fog that lifted, and the hair thinning nobody warned her about. Elizabeth shares what it's meant for her lupus, her inflammation, and 50 pounds of weight loss — covered by insurance — that changed her relationship with her body and with food. No judgment. No agenda. Just two women telling the truth so you feel less alone in yours. They also cover what your doctor is going to ask you about: movement, protein, sleep hygiene, hydration, and why your relationship with food itself might be worth a closer look. And they tie it all back to the bigger picture — because perimenopause isn't just a physical shift. It's physical, mental, emotional, relational, and for many women, deeply identity-shaping. And it deserves a real conversation. In this episode: * Dopamine, serotonin & norepinephrine — what they are and how hormones affect all three * Why declining estrogen can mimic (and cause) depression and PMDD * The honest truth about weight gain in perimenopause and menopause * Megan & Elizabeth's real, unfiltered GLP-1 stories — what worked, what didn't, what surprised them * What you can control — and how to stop white-knuckling the rest * Why this transition is so much more than physical 🎙️ Hosted by Megan Bayles Bartley & Elizabeth McCormack | Mindfulness Center 🌐 mindfulness-center.com | meganbaylesbartley.com 💬 Drop your questions and topic requests in the comments. For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider.

SOS S6E1(1): Help! I don't feel like myself! Welcome to Perimenopause and Menopause!

You're not crazy. You're not "just stressed." And you are definitely not alone. If you've found yourself wide awake at 3am, snapping at people over small things, feeling foggy, exhausted, dried out, and completely unlike yourself — this episode is your starting point. Licensed therapists (and real-life humans navigating this themselves) Megan Bayles Bartley and Elizabeth McCormack are kicking off Season 6 of the Shifting Our Sh*t Podcast with the conversation we've all needed: a real, honest, judgment-free breakdown of perimenopause and menopause — what it is, what's happening in your body, and why it affects so much more than you probably realized. In Part 1 of this two-part season opener, Megan and Elizabeth walk you through the hormonal shifts at the root of it all — estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — and explain what each one actually does for your mood, your sleep, your libido, your motivation, and your daily sense of self. (Hint: estrogen does a lot more than you think, and testosterone isn't just a "man thing.") They break down why testing is frustratingly unreliable, why symptom management is often the only real option, and how to find providers who will actually take you seriously. They also cover the wide-ranging symptom list that most women aren't warned about: sleep disruption, night sweats, hot flashes, brain fog, weight changes, decreased libido, UTI-like symptoms that aren't UTIs, pelvic floor changes, increased anxiety, mood swings that feel chemically out of control — because they are. If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place. This season is about empowerment. It's about giving women the language, the information, and the permission to advocate for themselves — with their doctors, in their relationships, and in the mirror. Megan and Elizabeth are bringing both their clinical expertise and their own personal experiences to every episode, with zero filter and a whole lot of warmth. In this episode: * What perimenopause and menopause actually are (and when they can start — hint: earlier than you think) * The role of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in your mood, sleep, and quality of life * Why hormone testing is often inconclusive — and what to do instead * The full symptom picture, including the ones nobody talks about * Why Gen X is the first generation demanding real answers — and what that means for all of us Part 2 drops next, and we go deeper into brain chemistry, mood, and what all of this means for your relationships and your sense of self. 🎙️ Hosted by Megan Bayles Bartley & Elizabeth McCormack | Mindfulness Center 🌐 mindfulness-center.com | meganbaylesbartley.com 💬 Questions or topics you want covered? Leave them in the comments. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

S5, E12: Reflecting & Growing Forward

Mom-Teen Conversations About Trust, Communication & Honesty This Season's Concept: An authentic mother-teenager between therapist/mom, Megan Bayles Bartley, and her twelve year old daughter, Gracie. The interview series explores trust, non-verbal communication, and honesty in relationships, particularly focusing on anxiety's impact Our Purpose: To normalize open conversations about difficult topics, provide relatable content for both parents and teens struggling with trust issues, and offer practical insights in an accessible format Episode Twelve: Reflecting & Growing Forward Highlights: Year In Review Mom: "What's the biggest thing you've learned about trust this year?" Teen: Reflects on personal growth and insights. Closing: "Understanding trust is a lifelong journey." Trust Languages Mom: "Do you think people have different 'trust languages' like love languages?" Teen: Explores this concept based on year of conversations. Closing: "Learning each other's trust language strengthens connection." Trust Resolutions Mom: "What's one way you want to be more trustworthy next year?" Teen: Shares personal growth goal. Closing: "Trust starts with our own commitments." Gratitude For Trust Mom: "What moment of trust are you most grateful for this year?" Teen: Shares meaningful trust experience. Closing: "Recognizing trust builds more trust." The Trust Journey Mom: "What would you tell someone just starting to work on trust in their relationships?" Teen: Offers wisdom from year of conversations. Closing: "Every trust conversation brings you closer to understanding." Visit Megan B. Bartley and her team online for more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mindfulness-Center.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://mindfulness-center.com/] and enter to win your chance for a free copy of Megan's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET: Six Powerful Exercises to Refocus Your Attention on What Works for You and Let Go of What Doesn't⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://amzn.to/4mccHFN]

S5, E11: Rebuilding Broken Trust

Mom-Teen Conversations About Trust, Communication & Honesty This Season's Concept: An authentic mother-teenager between therapist/mom, Megan Bayles Bartley, and her twelve year old daughter, Gracie. The interview series explores trust, non-verbal communication, and honesty in relationships, particularly focusing on anxiety's impact Our Purpose: To normalize open conversations about difficult topics, provide relatable content for both parents and teens struggling with trust issues, and offer practical insights in an accessible format Episode Eleven: Rebuilding Broken Trust First Steps After Betrayal Mom: "What's the very first thing someone should do after breaking trust?" Teen: Shares perspective on immediate aftermath of trust breaches. Closing: "How you handle the first moments after betrayal sets the tone for healing." Forgiveness vs. Trust Mom: "What's the difference between forgiving someone and trusting them again?" Teen: Explores this important distinction. Closing: "Forgiveness is a gift; trust is earned." Rebuilding Timeframes Mom: "How long should it take to rebuild trust after it's broken?" Teen: Discusses realistic expectations for trust repair. Closing: "Healing happens on the wounded person's timeline." When to Walk Away Mom: "How do you know when a relationship can't be trusted again?" Teen: Shares perspective on boundaries and deal-breakers. Closing: "Sometimes the most trustworthy thing is knowing your limits." Visit Megan B. Bartley and her team online for more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mindfulness-Center.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://mindfulness-center.com/] and enter to win your chance for a free copy of Megan's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET: Six Powerful Exercises to Refocus Your Attention on What Works for You and Let Go of What Doesn't⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://amzn.to/4mccHFN]

S5, E10: Anxiety Management & Trust

Mom-Teen Conversations About Trust, Communication & Honesty This Season's Concept: An authentic mother-teenager between therapist/mom, Megan Bayles Bartley, and her twelve year old daughter, Gracie. The interview series explores trust, non-verbal communication, and honesty in relationships, particularly focusing on anxiety's impact Our Purpose: To normalize open conversations about difficult topics, provide relatable content for both parents and teens struggling with trust issues, and offer practical insights in an accessible format Episode Ten: Anxiety Management & Trust Anxiety's Lies Mom: "What lies does anxiety tell you about relationships?" Teen: Identifies common anxiety-driven distortions. Closing: "Recognizing anxiety's voice is half the battle." Grounding Techniques Mom: "What helps you get grounded when anxiety makes you doubt everything?" Teen: Shares personal coping strategies. Closing: "Bringing yourself back to the present helps clear anxiety's fog." Trust Check-Ins Mom: "How can we check in about trust in a way that doesn't feel weird?" Teen: Suggests comfortable approaches to difficult conversations. Closing: "Regular check-ins prevent trust emergencies." The Certainty Trap Mom: "How does needing to be 100% certain affect your ability to trust?" Teen: Discusses the relationship between uncertainty tolerance and trust. Closing: "Trust always involves some uncertainty." Visit Megan B. Bartley and her team online for more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mindfulness-Center.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://mindfulness-center.com/] and enter to win your chance for a free copy of Megan's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET: Six Powerful Exercises to Refocus Your Attention on What Works for You and Let Go of What Doesn't⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://amzn.to/4mccHFN]