139. Emotions hit hard in midlife

Are your emotions feeling a little… unpredictable lately? One moment you’re fine, and the next you’re overwhelmed, irritable, or wondering why everything suddenly feels so heavy. If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, you’re not imagining it—and you’re certainly not alone.In this episode, Dr. Sara Poldmae opens up about the emotional toll that midlife hormonal shifts can take. She breaks down what’s happening in the body—from fluctuating estrogen to declining progesterone—and why these changes can create mood swings, anxiety, loneliness, or even guilt around intimacy. More importantly, she shares compassionate, practical ways to support your emotional well-being during this transition so you can move through midlife with more awareness, support, and self-compassion. In this episode:Why perimenopause and menopause can feel like an emotional roller coaster—and why that experience is completely normalHow fluctuating estrogen, declining progesterone, and shifting testosterone levels influence mood, anxiety, sleep, and libidoThe role of cortisol (the stress hormone) and why stress can feel more intense during midlifeHow Chinese medicine concepts like liver Qi stagnation and declining kidney Qi may help explain emotional imbalance during menopauseThe emotional impact of low libido, including guilt, shame, and relationship tension—and why open communication mattersWhy loneliness can become more common in midlife as friendships shift and we enter a more reflective phase of lifeSimple practices that can support emotional balance, including meditation, movement, therapy, and connecting with other womenLinks and Resources: If you are in Maryland, my concierge clinic is now offering a hormone assessment for $249. Includes at home hormone test and a 45-minute visit with myself, or Nurse Practitioner Monique: Hormone AssessmentPlease join me in Tuscany this October: Restore Again in Tuscany in 41013 Panzano, Province of Modena, ItalyInsight Timer Meditation App: https://insighttimer.comConnect with me, Sara Poldmae:Website: https://risingwomanproject.comEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmaeReady to feel more empowered in midlife? Explore Sara’s resources and programs designed to help you navigate perimenopause and menopause with clarity, support, and confidence.And if this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend who may also be navigating the emotional side of this transition.Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!