Alcohol, SSRIs & Midlife Coping: What Used to Work Doesn’t Part 1 of 2

Your favorite coping mechanisms — wine, edibles, even your go-to SSRI — might suddenly betray you in midlife. In this episode of the Luminescence Podcast, Schuyler Grant sits down with Dr. Sarah de la Torre, Elena Brower, and Dr. Somi Javaid to dig into why alcohol hits harder after 40, antidepressants become less reliable, and the things that used to take the edge off start creating new problems instead. They explore the neuroscience of why your old stress relievers stop working as hormones shift. They discuss: Why hormonal shifts change how you experience pleasure, reward, and stress — how declining estrogen affects dopamine and serotonin, and what that means for mood and cravings What makes alcohol and cannabis hit differently during perimenopause and post-menopause — the metabolism changes, sleep disruption, and anxiety that weren't there before The truth about SSRIs in midlife — when they help, when they don't, and what the risks actually are as your brain chemistry changes The real impact of your nightly glass of wine — when it crosses from pleasure into problem, and why that line moves in midlife How to tell the difference between what actually supports you and what just keeps you stuck — and why your coping mechanisms need to evolve For any woman whose go-to stress relief isn't working anymore and wants to understand why — before figuring out what comes next. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off. Try Schuyler's new personalized yoga app: https://schuylergrant.com/app