Burnout, Low Libido, and Losing Yourself: Why Midlife Women Feel Numb (with Dr. Julie Merriman)

Perimenopause doesn't just change your body – it surfaces years of suppressed needs, emotional labor, and quiet resentment that never had anywhere to go. In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, I sit down with counselor, educator, and author Dr. Julie Merriman to unpack why so many women hit midlife feeling numb, exhausted, and unlike themselves. We talk about the hidden weight women carry – caregiving, careers, motherhood, relationships, emotional labor – and how chronic stress rewires the nervous system, tanks libido, flattens pleasure, and slowly erodes identity. If you've ever thought "I don't know who I am anymore," this one is for you. In this episode: → Burnout vs compassion fatigue – how to tell the difference → Why women feel emotionally numb in midlife (and it isn't just hormones) → Cortisol, estrogen, and the stress-libido connection → How nervous system overload shuts down pleasure and intimacy → Shame around aging, sex, and body image → Social media, perfectionism, and the comparison trap → "Micro rebellions" – the small way back to yourself → Rebuilding confidence, radiance, and joy after burnout → Why choosing yourself isn't selfish Dr. Julie also shares practical tools for nervous system regulation, body scans, and reconnecting with desire and purpose. If you've been carrying everyone else and losing yourself in the process, this conversation will feel like permission. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – Welcome, Dr. Julie 01:53 – What burnout in midlife actually looks like 07:42 – Irritability, resentment, and the "good girl detox" 12:44 – Nervous system overload explained 16:23 – How stress shuts down pleasure 20:09 – Hormones vs stress vs shame 22:00 – Shame around sex and aging 28:14 – Social media, comparison, and body image 34:30 – Throat chakra, authenticity, and perfectionism 38:51 – The case for a social media fast 39:38 – Where to start: micro rebellions 42:00 – Scheduling "soul joy" 51:14 – What radiance means at 63 52:56 – Takeaways 📚 Connect with Dr. Julie Merriman Website:https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/ Where you can find links to purchase her books: In Pursuit of Soul Joy and Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? Podcasts: Compassion Fatigue Cure | Sexy After 50 🎙 Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj All episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj 🤝 Work with Mialisa Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wellness-growth-agency/ Instagram: itsmialisa (https://www.instagram.com/itsmialisa/?hl=en) If this episode resonated, share it with a woman who needs to hear it.