126: Menopause & Perimenopause: What Actually Helps: With Susanne Williams

Menopause is more than hot flashes and hormone shifts — it's a full-life transition affecting physical health, mental clarity, emotional regulation, daily routines, and identity. So why aren't more women being offered practical, lifestyle-based solutions? In this powerful episode of the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast, co-hosts Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with occupational therapist Susanne Williams to explore the surprising and powerful intersection between occupational therapy and menopause. Many women don't realize that occupational therapy isn't just for injury recovery — it's about helping people function better in daily life. And menopause may be one of the most important life phases where that support is needed. We discuss: How menopause creates physical and mental stress during an already emotional life stage Brain fog, fatigue, sleep disruption, and overwhelm Why feeling "out of control" is common — and what to do about it How occupational therapy assesses lifestyle patterns and daily demands Creating personalized, practical plans that actually work Why social media menopause hacks can distract from what truly moves the needle Trendy fixes (including weighted vests for menopausal women) and how to evaluate what's evidence-based The "big levers" that actually improve quality of life during perimenopause and menopause Susanne shares how she informally surveyed a large women's group she's part of and discovered just how valuable occupational therapy tools could be during this transition. What she found confirmed what many women are quietly experiencing: menopause isn't just hormonal — it's occupational. This conversation cuts through the noise of quick fixes and Instagram trends and instead focuses on sustainable lifestyle design, habit restructuring, energy management, and environmental adjustments that support women through perimenopause and menopause. If you're navigating: Menopause symptoms Perimenopause anxiety or overwhelm Midlife lifestyle stress Or wondering which menopause solutions actually work This episode offers clarity, strategy, and empowerment. Because healthy aging isn't about chasing every new trend — it's about using smart, evidence-based approaches to help your body and brain function at their best. 🎧 Listen now and discover how occupational therapy may be the missing link in your menopause support plan. Learn More about Susanne: www.touchstoneOT.com *Subscribe, Share, & Rate our Show. And follow us on social media:**   📷 Instagram: @GirlsTalkHealthyAging   Facebook Group: Girls Talk Healthy Aging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030 🌐 Website: GirlsTalkHealthyAging.com   📧 Email: [email protected] Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).  Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com