Anxiety 101: What I Wish I Knew Before I Hit Perimenopause + How I Got My Life Back

Anxiety 101: What I Wish I Knew Before I Hit Perimenopause + How I Got My Life Back

Menopause anxiety and mood changes can creep up so slowly you don't even notice. You're avoiding things you used to do, snapping at people you love, waking at 3 a.m. with your heart racing. It's not in your head, and it often starts years before a single hot flash. This episode is part of Tamsen's series breaking down the topics from her New York Times bestselling book How to Menopause, one conversation at a time. This week it's anxiety and mood. Tamsen starts with the moment she caught herself avoiding driving in LA, a city she used to drive without a second thought. When she posted about it, the floodgates opened. She breaks down what the top doctors she's interviewed have taught her about why this happens and what actually helps, including the hormonal piece almost every doctor skips. She's not a doctor. She's a journalist who has lived this, including a panic attack on a live news set that started her down this whole path. Inside the episode: - The two hormones behind your mood, and why the calming one disappears first - Why anxiety here so often shows up as avoidance or rage instead of obvious panic - The reason so many women get handed an antidepressant before anyone checks their hormones - What actually helps, from body identical progesterone to the therapy approaches with real evidence behind them - How Tamsen got back behind the wheel, and why facing the fear gradually breaks the loop - The single shift that helped her more than any pill The first step is recognizing this has a name and you're not making it up. If you like this episode, then you will love: The 4 Tools That Rebuild Your Confidence Fast [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-confidence-anxiety101] If you liked this conversation, check out the rest of the How To Menopause series: ⁠⁠Estrogen Down There 101: Here's Everything You Need to Know⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-htm-estrogen-101%E2%81%A0] ⁠Testosterone 101: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Minutes⁠⁠ ⁠Relationships 101: Is It Him or Is It Menopause? Here's How to Tell⁠ ⁠Perimenopause 101: The Symptoms, Tests & Fixes No One Tells You About⁠ Alcohol 101: Belly Fat, Bad Sleep and the Long-Term Cost of Drinking [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-htm-alcohol101] Coming up: Anxiety, Mental Health, Estrogen 101 and more! Stay connected with Tamsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-newsletter] filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-htm] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-hub] from Tamsen  Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-yt] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig1]  The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig2] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-tt]  Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. If you’re struggling, you don’t have to do it alone. In the US, call or text 988 anytime to reach the Crisis Lifeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Heart Doctor: 5 Warning Signs Your Heart Is in Trouble

This is a conversation we should have had decades ago, because we're talking about a part of women's health that's been overlooked for too long: heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, but most don't even know it. In this episode, Tamsen Fadal sits down with cardiologist and Chief Medical Correspondent for ABC News, Dr. Tara Narula to break down how cardiovascular disease develops in women, why heart attack symptoms look different than they do in men, and the cardiac risk screening tools (including the calcium score and the Lp(a) test) that could save your life. Tamsen and Dr. Narula discuss: - Why heart disease risk builds earlier than most women think, and the life stages where it quietly accelerates - The calcium score test that tells you exactly how much plaque is in your arteries - The Lp(a) blood test that 1 in 5 women have elevated, is not controlled by diet or exercise, and almost nobody knows to ask for - Why women are regularly sent home from emergency rooms with chest pain and told it is anxiety - How pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes predict future cardiac risk - What GLP-1 medications are actually doing for the heart beyond weight loss - The PREVENT calculator you can run online today to see your 10 and 30 year cardiovascular risk - What the research actually says about hormone replacement therapy and heart health - Why resilience after a cardiac diagnosis is not about going back to who you were Plus, Tamsen explains why heart disease was never on her radar, and what Dr. Narula told her in this conversation that she wishes someone had said years ago. Resources mentioned in this episode: PREVENT Risk Calculator [https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements/prevent-calculator%20] Centrum Silver: here [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KCCVL9V?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamztamsenfa-20&creativeASIN=B09KCCVL9V&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3VLM3AEIF6VC0&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin] and here [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPPX6LRS?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamztamsenfa-20&creativeASIN=B0BPPX6LRS&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3VLM3AEIF6VC0&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin] Follow Dr. Narula on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drtaranarula/?hl=en]‍ Follow Dr. Narula on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/drtaranarula/] If you liked this conversation, check this out: The Menopause Heart Doctor Reveals the 3 Warning Signs Doctors Dismiss with Dr. Jayne Morgan [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-jayne-tara] Find all The Tamsen Show expert picks here [https://www.amazon.com/shop/tamsenfadal/list/3VLM3AEIF6VC0?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d] Stop putting off those doctor's appointments! Go to https://www.zocdoc.com/TAMSEN [https://www.zocdoc.com/TAMSEN%20]to find and instantly book a doctor you love today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] Stay connected with Tamsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-newsletter] filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-htm] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-hub] from Tamsen  Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-yt] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig1]  The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig2] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-tt]  Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Alcohol 101: Belly Fat, Bad Sleep and the Long-Term Cost of Drinking

One glass of wine at dinner. That's all it takes now to wreck your sleep, spike your anxiety, and leave you feeling like garbage for two days. It's not in your head, and it's not about willpower. Your body processes alcohol completely differently now, and almost nobody has explained that to you. This episode is part of Tamsen's series breaking down the topics from her New York Times bestselling book How to Menopause, one conversation at a time. This week it's alcohol, and Tamsen gets honest about her own relationship with it. She was never a big drinker, but a habit crept in over the years, and after the pandemic she realized one glass she didn't even really want was quietly costing her sleep, workouts, mood, and how she felt in her own skin. She has not quit drinking, and she's not telling you to. She's breaking down what the leading doctors she's interviewed have taught her about what alcohol actually does to your body in midlife, so you can decide for yourself. Inside the episode: - The real reason one glass at 48 hits like five did at 32, and why you're essentially still drinking it the next morning - What's happening in your body at 3 a.m. when your eyes pop open with your heart racing - The hidden connection between alcohol and hot flashes, belly fat, and that next-day anxiety you haven't been linking to your Friday night wine - What every doctor in the studio has told Tamsen about alcohol and breast cancer risk, and why this one is actually within your control - The single question that changed Tamsen's drinking: what are you actually reaching for? -Word-for-word scripts for the social pressure, the pushy friend, and the partner conversation - Why tracking your drinks for one month with zero judgment might change everything You don't have to quit. You don't have to call yourself anything. But if your body has been trying to tell you something, this episode will help you finally hear it. If you liked this conversation, check this out: How to Eat to Curb Alcohol Cravings [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-brooke-alcohol101] If you liked this conversation, check out the rest of the How To Menopause series: ⁠⁠Estrogen Down There 101: Here's Everything You Need to Know⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-htm-estrogen-101%E2%81%A0] ⁠Testosterone 101: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Minutes⁠⁠ ⁠Relationships 101: Is It Him or Is It Menopause? Here's How to Tell⁠ ⁠Perimenopause 101: The Symptoms, Tests & Fixes No One Tells You About⁠ Coming up: Anxiety, Mental Health, Estrogen 101 and more! Stay connected with Tamsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-newsletter] filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-htm] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-hub] from Tamsen  Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-yt] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig1]  The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig2] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-tt]  Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Melinda French Gates: Inside Her $600 Million Mission for Women's Health

Melinda French Gates joins Tamsen with a major announcement, a huge new donation toward women’s midlife and menopause care, and she’s making it right here on The Tamsen Show.  Melinda has pledged $2 billion to women and families in her lifetime, and this new commitment expands her women’s health work into menopause for the first time. In this episode she breaks down what the funding means for perimenopause and menopause care, why so many women get dismissed by their doctors, and how she plans to fix it, starting with the people we turn to first: our doctors. Right now only about a third of OBGYNs are trained in menopause. Less than one percent of aging research even looks at it. Melinda is putting real money and her name behind changing that, and this conversation is about what that shift will mean for you, your friends, your daughters, and the generations coming up behind us. We also cover: - Why the funding goes toward training doctors instead of going straight to women - Why it took Melinda three doctors to get the right care, even with every resource available to her - The bone health and cardiovascular risks no one warns you about - How menopause could have its own Susan G. Komen moment - What she learned about navigating big transitions and building your next chapter - The daily non-negotiables and decades-long friendships that keep her grounded Melinda’s latest book, The Next Day, is a must-read on navigating life’s biggest transitions. You can find it here [https://www.amazon.com/Next-Day-Transitions-Change-Forward/dp/1250378656] If you like this episode, then you will love: Perimenopause 101: The Symptoms, Tests & Fixes No One Tells You About [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-melinda-peri101] Follow Melinda on ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/melindagates] Follow Melinda on ⁠Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/melindafrenchgates] Stay connected with Tamsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-newsletter] filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-htm] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-hub] from Tamsen  Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-yt] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig1]  The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig2] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-tt]  This show is sponsored by Midi Health. Visit https://joinmidi.com/tamsen [https://joinmidi.com/tamsen] today to book your personalized, insurance-covered virtual visit. Midi. The Care Women Deserve. Go to https://www.leesa.com/ [https://www.leesa.com/] for 25% off select mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TAMSEN. Support our show and let them know we sent you after checkout! Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Hormone Doctor: The Truth About Cortisol, Estrogen and Balancing Your Hormones

Most of what you've heard about hormone balance, perimenopause symptoms, and hormone therapy online is wrong. That misunderstanding is costing women years of unnecessary suffering through puberty, pregnancy, and menopause stages when effective solutions like testosterone for women already exist and can make a real difference. Endocrinologist Dr. Gillian Goddard is joining Tamsen Fadal on The Tamsen Show to cut through the noise and explain how your hormonal system actually works and what to do when it feels like it isn't. She breaks down the feedback loop mechanism that keeps your hormones self-regulating, why that process is far more dynamic than any "hormone optimization" trend on social media, and what happens when those loops are disrupted at key life transitions. In this episode, Tamsen and Dr. Goddard cover: - What a hormone actually is, and why the feedback loop model changes everything - The thyroid-immune system connection and why puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause are your highest-risk windows for thyroid disease - The late reproductive stage: the perimenopause phase most doctors miss, and why it matters - HRT vs. birth control for perimenopausal symptoms, and why the right answer depends on where you are in your reproductive stage - Testosterone for women: what the science actually shows (and what it doesn't yet) - How to talk to your doctor about perimenopause, hormone therapy, and getting your symptoms taken seriously If you've ever left a doctor's office dismissed because your periods were still regular but you knew something was off, this episode is for you. The late reproductive stage affects roughly 50% of women between ages 37 and 45, and most women have never heard of it. Dr. Goddard's message is clear: you don't need to suffer. Whether you're navigating your first period or your last, your symptoms are valid and they can be addressed. If you liked this conversation, check out the rest of the How To Menopause series: ⁠⁠Estrogen Down There 101: Here's Everything You Need to Know⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-tf-htm-estrogen-101%E2%81%A0] ⁠Testosterone 101: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Minutes⁠⁠ ⁠Relationships 101: Is It Him or Is It Menopause? Here's How to Tell⁠ ⁠Perimenopause 101: The Symptoms, Tests & Fixes No One Tells You About⁠ Stay connected with Tamsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-newsletter] filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-htm] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-hub] from Tamsen  Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-yt] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig1]  The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-ig2] Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/tts-audio-tt]  Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]