The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast

Episode 032: Mental Health & Menopause

• April Haberman and Kim Hart • Season 1 • Episode 32

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Curious about how menopause impacts mental health? Carolyn Thayer, a seasoned leader in mental health and wellness, joins us to shed light on the complex interplay between menopause and emotional well-being. Carolyn shares her expertise on how hormonal shifts influence neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, leading to heightened anxiety and depression risks. We challenge the idea that menopause is merely a physical transformation, advocating for supportive environments that foster open dialogues about mental health in both personal and professional settings.

Discover practical strategies for managing menopause symptoms with a focus on cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and breath work. Carolyn passionately explains how these tools, akin to strengthening muscles, can enhance emotional regulation and stress management over time through the power of neuroplasticity. By being present without judgment and using breath work as a calming tool, individuals can rewire their brains for better mental health. From recognizing the signs that therapy might be needed to adopting regular mindfulness practices, we explore actionable ways to cope with the challenges of menopause.

The conversation takes a turn towards advocacy, particularly within the workplace, where creating a supportive culture is paramount. Carolyn offers insights on how women can assert their needs amidst menopause-related challenges like mood swings and brain fog. We emphasize the importance of psychological safety, open communication, and proactive solutions to address mental health resource gaps. Balancing personal and professional obligations becomes a theme as Carolyn shares her mantra for prioritizing tasks, along with her love for fall and her favorite drip coffee with oat milk. This episode is a heartfelt journey towards normalizing discussions about menopause and mental health, helping listeners find joy and understanding in their experiences.

Website: https://carolyn.thayer.azof.fr/services.pdf

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Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 


Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Medovia Menopause Podcast, your trusted source for evidence-based, science-backed information related to menopause. Medovia is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness and supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit medoviacom to learn more home and in the workplace. Visit Medoviacom to learn more. I'm one of your hosts, april Haberman, and I'm joined by Kim Hart. We're co-founders of Medovia, certified health coaches, registered yoga teachers and midlife mamas specializing in menopause. You're listening to another episode of our podcast, where we offer expert guidance for the most transformative stage of life, bringing you real conversations, education and resources to help you overcome challenges and reach your full potential through midlife. Join us and our special guests each episode as we bring vibrant, fun and truthful conversation and let us help you have a deeper understanding of menopause. Hi everyone, today we have Carolyn Thayer on the show. Carolyn has over 15 years of experience building strategies, programs and teams in the mental health and wellness space, including leadership roles in startups through Fortune 50 organizations. Grounded in her background in counseling and health psychology, she brings a unique combination of successes and learnings to integrative mental health and well-being program leadership. It seems really timely to have her on the show and we're happy to share this episode with you.

Speaker 1:

Carolyn, welcome to the show. We're so excited to have you today. Hi, april, yeah, great to be here. Yeah, this is going to be a great conversation. I almost said fun conversation. I hope we have fun, but hopefully we can have fun talking about mental health. Right, it's a very serious topic and it's something that we really have not discussed at length on our show here mental health and menopause. So we're thrilled to have you here and I want to dive right in, because I know that there are a lot of questions that are out there that our audience has and there's a lot of content to cover in a short amount of time. So, if it's okay with you, I'm going to dive right in.

Speaker 2:

Great. Are you ready? I'm ready.

Speaker 1:

Okay, perfect. I want to start by having you help us understand how hormonal changes during menopause impact mental health and what some of the most common health challenges women face during this time are.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so. I like to start with just a shared definition or understanding of mental health, right? So mental health it's a continuum, right? So many times when we talk about mental health, we think of and are talking about mental health conditions or mental illness. But really, you know, thinking of mental health as something that we all have, just like physical health and that is, from you know, mentally healthy through mental illness. And so I think I just like to kind of lay that foundation.

Speaker 2:

And for most of us, our mental health ebbs and flows throughout life and so with that, of course, during menopause, our bodies go through many big changes and great, our bodies go through many big changes. And with hormones like estrogen and progesterone, you know, as they go up and down, they also affect neurotransmitters in our brain which are closely tied to our mood and our emotions. So serotonin, for example, this is what helps us be calm and happy, and dopamine is is, you know, kind of the pleasure part of our part of our brain and things like focus. And so, as hormones go up and down throughout transitions and experiences like menopause, there's that chemical impact on our mental health.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, we get a lot of questions about this, especially people that are surprised about gosh. My anxiety went through the roof and I'm probably not a very nice person anymore.

Speaker 1:

And.

Speaker 3:

I don't know why and I feel sad and I don't know why. Like is what's happening in the brain as the as the hormones change, and what can we do to support ourselves when we recognize gosh? This is happening to me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So I mean that's a great just myth to dispel, right? That menopause yes, it has big physical impacts, but there's also the mental and psychological impacts and this is because as estrogen and progesterone levels change, they making serotonin and dopamine levels change as well and drop, and this can lead to mood swings and feelings of anxiety, depression, and that's why women are at increased risk of anxiety and depression during menopause. And this is not yes, it does you know pre-existing conditions of anxiety and depression can worsen, but it's not only people who have had anxiety and depression before, right. So, and in terms of you know ways to to support, I mean there's a lot right at home and and at work.

Speaker 2:

I think that a big one is just getting ahead of any shame or silence around around menopause and mental health. I mean there's so many parallels between the stigmas that there is around menopause and mental health and when you're having mental health struggles, and so you know how can we create that supportive culture and environment to have that open conversation and psychoeducation about the realities of. You know the impact on, focus on, you know brain fog on on our mental well-being, to normalize and educate and then from there, you know, empower to to, you know, to have some really practical ways to support people in those in those times.

Speaker 1:

I'm glad you brought that up. I mean, mental health certainly has come a long way. In just the past couple of years, individuals male, female wouldn't discuss mental health in the workplace or even with one another. Right, it was very much. It carried a lot of stigma and shame and I feel like menopause is just kind of coming out right now as well. You know, kim was on a webinar yesterday and someone asked you know, how do we start to talk about menopause in the workplace?

Speaker 1:

Because of the shame and the stigma and if I'm having brain fog, I don't want to be looked at like I have a disease, like I need an accommodation, like I am right that person in the workplace. I think it is really important what you brought up, that this is normal and this is a hormonal reaction, what's happening in our bodies, and not something that we can help. Right, it's not a disease and nothing's wrong with me. I just need a little bit of support. So I mean, that being said, as we think about anxiety and depression, whether it's at home or at the workplace, what are some of those coping mechanisms? How do we? You, you mentioned training, awareness. I think that's first and foremost what we need to do everywhere. But what are some of those coping mechanisms? If I'm at work and I'm feeling anxious, and I'm feeling depressed, what can I do?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I just want to. What you said is so just, you know we will get to coping mechanisms, but what you said about the like mental health has really become more on the forefront and I think that you know, oftentimes we talk about there are, you know, life transitions that cause increased levels of stress or anxiety, right, whether that be positive stressors like you know, marriage or moving, these things that our mental health is impacted or negative, like grief and loss and job loss, right and thinking about. But menopause isn't typically in those frameworks of just life transitions, right. So I think that that's really profound and something that could be interesting for you know, just to kind of anchor into. So, in terms of coping strategies, you know, of course there's. I mean, always remembering that our mental and our physical health are connected, right, and so thing like focusing on your well-being as an individual, so your sleep, your nutrition, your physical activity, right, of course, distress management techniques, so things that are always accessible to us, like breathing or, you know, mindfulness and social is really huge.

Speaker 2:

I think that there's great opportunity to find that space to talk about your experiences in that whether that be at work, right in an employee resource group or, you know, if you have that level of psychological safety with your manager, with- coworkers right friends, or you know, if you have that level of psychological safety with your manager, with coworkers, right, friends, family, whatever that looks like, just having those open conversations to remember I'm not alone.

Speaker 2:

I'm not alone in this experience and I'm not alone in the challenges that come with it. And then, of course, you know, understand what your employer offers or what's available to you in terms of mental health benefits, Right so, therapy, counseling, you know EAPs, whatever that looks like, and don't just become aware of them, but take advantage of them Absolutely.

Speaker 3:

I love that you say that the social aspect is so important, because one of the things when we get into the workplace and start doing training people are like, oh my gosh, you're hearing me, you're seeing me, I feel like I'm not going crazy. And when other people start talking about it, they feel like okay, me too Right. They feel like okay, me too Right. You mentioned understand what your company offers and take advantage of therapy. The menopause society has said that cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best ways to um to help with your menopause symptoms, and you know, I think that makes sense on the surface, but can you talk a little bit about you know when someone should consider that and why it is helpful?

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So you know, I would say that there's no right or there's no certainly wrong time to seek out therapy in my opinion, right, mental health is something that we don't need to be in crisis to benefit from counseling or therapy, right, but there are, and there's also, you know, there's group support, there's coaching support, there's a wide array of mental health support, you know, again, across that continuum, but there are some times that are, you know, things to look out for, when it is especially important to seek out professional help, whether that be for yourself or if a loved one or a coworker right, if you're noticing these things in them to really, you know, show up with compassion and care and encourage them to, um, to get, you know, the support that they need.

Speaker 2:

So a lot of it is around just time and intensity, right, and really impact on daily life. So if you're experiencing, you know, um, persistent, uh, changes to your mood, so things like, you know, ongoing, like sadness or even heightened anxiety or panic attacks that are affecting, that are ongoing and affecting your daily functioning, definitely If you're feeling chronic fatigue or insomnia, of course there's other things that could be impacting that, but certainly a signal. And also, we know that, you know, a lack of sleep impacts our mental health as well. So those two things are aren't. And then, just, you know, if you are having a loss of interest in activities that you typically enjoy, right, if you're maybe not as keen on on seeing or connecting with the people that you're closest to, or if you have a hobby and you're not doing that. Those are all things to just pay attention to as signals that it might be time to seek out some additional support.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I want to come back to something that you said a few minutes ago, where you talked about coping mechanisms, and you know, things that are within our control, that are at our fingertips, like breath work and mindfulness. I think we can often and we, I say this includes myself say that. But for those that aren't familiar with breath work or mindfulness or have never practiced it before, I think there's two camps A some people think it's woo woo, like that. What are you talking about? That is woo woo. Or B All right, how do I breathe Right? Or what is mindfulness? I'm going to go have to look that up. What does it mean?

Speaker 1:

So I think we can kind of just kind of um reign it in a little bit. We can talk a little bit about breath work. Why is that important? What type of breath work can I do? Sitting in my desk at work for a few minutes, or go hide in the bathroom? Timeout, what does it look like? And then, what is mindfulness? And how can I practice that too? Just to leave our audience with some practical tools.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, I love it. So you know, mindfulness at its most fundamental level is, you know, fully attuning to the now, so not being bogged down in. You know, fully attuning to the now, so not being bogged down in you know the past or preoccupied with the future, but really being fully attuned to the now, and without judgment, so without placing kind of a good or bad on something, and also with acceptance right, so without the desire to change what is.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And mindfulness, you know it can be. It helped a lot with with, I mean, stress management, emotional regulation, self things like self-awareness. There's actually like mindfulness-based stress reduction can really help with physical pain. And so, and the thing about mindfulness in terms of practical tools is it's something that you know, you don't have to go to a day long silent mindfulness retreat, right, it's. You know, go outside and go.

Speaker 2:

One of my favorites is just to go on a walk around the block, leave my phone at my desk. It's uncomfortable, but um, and and practice, you know, feeling the ground under my feet. You know, hearing the birds, hearing the cars, and as my mind inevitably um jumps to got to pick up the kid from school, I have to answer this email, right, just gently bringing it back to the now. Um, there's like mindful eating. You know, maybe there's some Halloween candy on your counter, like for me, and sit there with you know, an M and M or a piece of chocolate and mindfully eat it.

Speaker 2:

And and as we practice mindfulness, the beauty of it and the hope that I find in it is that as we practice it, thanks to neuroplasticity, right, our brain changes to kind of default, more to that mindful, that mindful state. And then breathing is another. Just it can be a tool for mindfulness. And then breathing is another. It can be a tool for mindfulness, just focusing on your ins and your outs, even just for a minute, and notice just how that kind of regulates and calms your body and noticing whether you're holding your breath right.

Speaker 1:

I think that's the first. If I could rest for me, I'm like, oh, I'm not breathing. Yeah, oh, my breath Right.

Speaker 2:

I think that's the first like if I rest for me, I'm like oh, I'm not breathing.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, oh, my gosh. Yes, right, yes, absolutely yeah. Yeah, I love that you talk about neuroplasticity as a way that breathing and mindfulness helps calm your brain. Um, but it I know the more I meditate, the better, better I feel, because it's a sort of muscle that you, that you sort of practice. And can you talk a little bit about what it does for your brain with the stress, because it's hard to just pick up and be present in the moment. So you're present for that moment. What does it do for the rest of your day? What does it do for tomorrow? Like what, what? Why am I going to invest the time in this when it's just at this particular moment?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so I mean breathing, right, and mindfulness. There are impacts on kind of your, your experience, now, right, In terms of kind of emotional regulation. Even things like, you know, self-awareness so being aware of you know where am I feeling emotions in my body, right, Can help us just better, better self-regulate and better kind of interact in social situations. But neuroplasticity, right, it's like thinking about our brain like a muscle the more we practice, the stronger it becomes, and so there's actually like structural changes that happen in our brain in areas related to our stress response. Right, that can, and there's some really interesting resources around this. But as those areas of our brain are strengthened, then our stress response becomes, you know more, I guess, regulated Right, and it allows us to respond versus react, and so are, I think I, we could. I could go into that as much as you like, but a couple hours yeah.

Speaker 3:

No, but that's I mean. I think it's really good because it if, when you're practicing that and some kind of stress hits, if you can take a breath remember to take a breath and your brain can be like, okay, I know how to deal with these things. Right, I think that's. That's really great. I want to switch gears and talk about the workplace. How do women advocate for themselves during this time when they're struggling with mental health issues related to menopause, mood swings, brain fog, which was still and will ever be my challenge? What are some of the ways in which women can take care of themselves and advocate for themselves when they're struggling with this kind of mental health challenges around this age?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. I think there's a lot that we as women can do to advocate. I would, and I would also say, you know, this isn't just a women's issue, it's not also, when people are having mental health struggles, it's not just something for them to to advocate for Right, and so I think that there's um uh, but there's um a lot that you know women can do to advocate, um, when they are having mental health challenges related to menopause, um, or just mental health challenges in general. Um, I will say that um, a lot of it does require a foundation of uh psychological safety, right and and psychological safety being our ability to show up authentically with vulnerability, without there being risk of a negative consequence, and so that is kind of a really big asterisk to um, that is a place to start. I guess you know when, to just make sure that there is a, an environment where um people can advocate for themselves. You know when they are, when they're, when they are having mental health challenges, um, uh, so, with that kind of known, and we can talk about ways to to foster psychological safety as well, um, uh, so, with that kind of known, and we can talk about ways to foster psychological safety as well, um, but you know there's you can talk, to talk to your manager, for example, or HR, if there is that level of trust, right, um to to explain, hey, this is what I'm going through, this is, um, this is what I'm experiencing, and um, and to really focus on um ways that you can be supported and asking for those Right.

Speaker 2:

So, um, I, I could, I could, you know, uh, benefit from maybe coming into working from home a couple of days a week, or coming into work a little later, or having a quiet place to be, for you know when I need it at work, if there is a, you know, if you're feeling really overwhelmed expressing that, and maybe there's something in terms of a deadline, or you know something with your work responsibility that can be shifted, with your work responsibility that can be shifted right, and just having that conversation, I think you know requesting well, first of all, knowing what mental health resources you have available and then vocalizing what else you might find is helpful for you and for other people A really great place to do that can start with, you know, if you have an employee resource group or kind of a community within work, hr is obviously a great place to have those conversations as well.

Speaker 2:

And then lastly and this gets back to kind of having that conversation with your manager or HR but familiarizing yourself first of all with whatever policies are in place, using them and then advocating for what are the gaps. What are the gaps? And then you know if you can, maybe being a part of starting of kind of initiating some of those right in your workplace.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I love that. I love that you mentioned employees bringing solutions to the table, because I think that's an important piece. Oftentimes, if we don't do that and we come to a manager and say this is what I'm experiencing and it falls flat, it's because they don't know what you need right, or they don't know what to do, or they don't know how to help. So that intrinsic knowledge of self right, self-awareness like this is what I'm experiencing is really important, and that's work that we have to do for ourselves so that we can advocate for what we need right. I need to listen to me, what's happening with me, and I think this is what I need. So then we advocate in a safe environment. Yes, as you mentioned, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3:

There's many studies that say that when employers the reasons why they don't have some of these benefits is because no one asked, yeah, interesting. And so I know April's been asked several times in some panel discussions that we've been in what should people do when they want to have these benefits? And the first word out of her mouth is ask, ask.

Speaker 1:

You have to ask. You have to ask for it. Yeah, they don't know what they don't know. We assume that they know, but if no one's speaking up, then I don't see the importance right. So we have to speak up and advocate for ourselves.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I think it's also, I mean so interesting, because then we can also ask the question why might someone not speak up Right, what? And so that, in terms of you know, there's the fear of the negative consequences or it's going to be a reflection on my ability to perform or to grow or to lead, of education about menopause, about mental health, about mental well-being, into kind of you know, the global wellness programs, into the employee experience, when you talk about things like growth and development, just really kind of integrating it in right across the employee population, not just for a segment, can, at a minimum, just just kind of uh, help with a shared foundational knowledge or shared language, maybe, if things aren't forgotten, um, right, to get it to um, and also for other people to advocate for you know these, these not just people who are experiencing menopause or who will experience menopause, but for but for others to as well, kind of holistically across corporate wellness initiatives.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That fear of retaliation and fear of someone looking at me like I'm not capable any longer, because it's real and right. We have to start. We have to start advocating for ourselves. Organizations have to start talking about it so that it is a part of a common language and have allies Right yes, inner corner as well that can help speak for us and with us, not for us, actually. I'm going to retract that, if I can delete that from this. For us, actually.

Speaker 2:

I'm going to retract that, if I can delete that from this. That's important though being aware of our language and learning out loud.

Speaker 1:

Here we go. I know Right, I just want to take that back because nobody needs to speak for me. But with me right To get from an arm, I think is important yeah.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and when you have other people in the workforce with you, you feel more psychologically safe, which is something you pointed out, carolyn, which I think is really important. Feeling safe enough to have those conversations is a huge part of it, and I know it's not always an easy conversation, but it's worth having to help you so that you can flourish while you're in this stage.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, I mean so many parallels with just kind of the mental health movement. And you're, while you're in this stage, absolutely I mean so many parallels with just kind of the mental health movement. And you know, bringing it is is that you know that leadership is talking about their own experiences with mental health and and just that, normalization, destigmatization and bringing that into the conversation of the life experience of many employee experience.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think it is important. Senior leadership and listen, we're at an age I say we. I'll fold you in too, carolyn. I don't know how old you are, but I know how old Kim is. You're the oldest one in the room April, so go ahead, darn it. Darn it by a couple of days here. I just turned right. But I think, you know, we get to this age and we get to a point in our careers too, where we are brave enough to talk about it, and it is okay to talk about it because you know, we kind of have this I don't give a. You know, we kind of have this I don't give a, you know what anymore attitude, and we know that nothing's going to happen. Right, you have this historical work experience where you, you do feel safer speaking up. So we really need for those that have gone before us, that are older and wiser, to speak up and share their story. I think storytelling is really, really important, yeah absolutely.

Speaker 2:

I mean I know for me, I'm on the, I mean it is in my future and fast approaching, right, but just having these types of conversations is incredibly informative and empowering to me, right to look ahead and to just to have this, to have the conversation as a reality, and it's something that is not an issue, it's just it's something that is inevitable. And, and then the key is, and if I also then feel supported right In that, beyond the ways that I can advocate for myself, yeah, yeah, and so using those positions of kind of tenure and career and leadership as a part of just being a leader is also sharing that human experience.

Speaker 3:

Yeah. And a person is hard, as I say to my kids all the time. Person is hard, isn't?

Speaker 1:

it, yeah, yeah. So what I'm hearing is awareness is key first. Is awareness is key first, educating awareness so that we begin to normalize any menopause symptoms, whether that is anxiety, depression, mental health, that it is a part, it could be a part of the journey for someone. So understanding that and then really becoming in tune with ourselves, knowing ourselves what do I need advocating for that? Having those conversations in the workplace and utilizing benefits that you have within the workplace and support groups are really, really important.

Speaker 2:

Yes, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. Is there anything else that we haven't asked you that you wish that our audience knew or knows, or you want to share with them?

Speaker 2:

I think that, you know, one thing that's just really striking is, yes, it's about, I mean, and this goes to supporting women with menopause, you know, who are experiencing menopause, people who are having mental health struggles, right, is that it is the right thing to do to support them right, with the right benefits and resources and kind of supportive culture and environment.

Speaker 2:

But it's also just an incredibly important kind of strategic play, right, I mean, to help people show up as their best at work and continue to work, right, and so I think that that is um, and for women, especially women, to continue to thrive and grow um and be uh at work. And so I think that that is uh is one thing that's standing up for me. And I also think I mean this is very raw, but just the intersection of, you know, menopause and mental health and well-being, right, and really at the individual level, as mental health has kind of become more normalized, more destigmatized, with menopause kind of thankfully in women's health just getting more of a spotlight, just how can those two things be a part of the same conversation? Um, right, and so that's a really exciting, uh, exciting opportunity, I think, for um, for everybody, not just women, for all people who are in the workforce and for employers as well.

Speaker 3:

So great Agreed. How can people find you if they want to get more information about the work that you do?

Speaker 2:

yeah, um, thanks for asking. I would just. I think the best place and you'll find all the links and everything is just to connect with me on linkedin. Um, so find me on linkedin. Carolyn thayer azoff, t-h-a-y-e-r-a-z-o-f-f. There's not many times that hyphenating becomes long winded, but that's one. And just mention that you I'd love to hear how you found me and that you heard this conversation on the podcast and I'd love to hear what stood out to you. So that'd be a great place. And then there's links and everything else from there.

Speaker 1:

Perfect, and we'll put that in the show notes too, so that folks can find you as well, so look in the show notes.

Speaker 3:

Are you ready to have some fun? Carolyn, we're gonna do a rapid fire.

Speaker 1:

Let's do it a little bit better. So I'm gonna dive right in and just ask what your favorite season is oh, I love fall.

Speaker 2:

I love the the cup. I oh I guess it's rapid fire. You probably don't want commentary. You know the crisp air, the leaves are changing colors.

Speaker 3:

I just, I, really, I really love fall well, I mean, I'm glad you said that, because my next question is what's your favorite fall drink?

Speaker 2:

oh my gosh. I mean, I think my favorite drink all year long is coffee. And I'm just drip, drip coffee with oat milk.

Speaker 1:

Simple, simon, I know Me too. None of that pumpkin stuff, I mean.

Speaker 2:

I feel like I'm obligated to have one pumpkin spice latte every year, but I would, yeah. I then tend to want to stick just with my coffee, all right, oh, I kind of felt disappointed, like why did I do that?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I know I'm so sweet, you, carolyn. Yeah, okay, this one is a uh, this or that um, would you?

Speaker 2:

prefer skiing or ski lodge skiing?

Speaker 1:

good for you. Hey, I know like you go girl.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, I do look forward to the you the post skiing festivities as well.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Both, both yeah, skiing first.

Speaker 2:

Skiing first, yeah.

Speaker 3:

And our final and favorite question what's the best piece of advice you've ever received or given?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think it's a mantra that I start most days with. Every day is what's the highest and best use of my time? There will always be, and it was given to me by a somebody that I worked with and it was as I was actually entering the workforce now, as a new mom, I now have two little little ones, but you know, there will always be more to do, um, more to and just really focusing whether that be at work or in my or my personal life just what is the highest and best use of my time.

Speaker 3:

and anchoring on that, Prioritize things that you think are important, but they're probably not, probably not.

Speaker 2:

Prioritize every day, things will always drop right, just hopefully they're not the most important ones.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely, I love that one. Well, caroline, it has been a joy having you on the show. Thanks so much for coming and talking about mental health and menopause and for what you do and helping so many people. We really appreciate it.

Speaker 2:

I'm really grateful that you both had me, and I think that I look forward to more conversations in the future. I love it.

Speaker 1:

We do too. But until we meet again, that's listening. Go find joy in the journey. Take care. Bye everyone. Thank you for listening to the Medovia menopause podcast. If you enjoyed today's show, please give it a thumbs up. Subscribe for future episodes, leave a review and share this episode with a friend. There are more than 50 million women in the US who are navigating the menopause transition. The situation is compounded by the presence of stigma, shame and secrecy surrounding menopause, posing significant challenges and disruptions in women's personal and professional spheres. Medovia is out to change the narrative. Learn more at medoviacom. That's M-I-D-O-V-I-A dot com.

People on this episode

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April Haberman

Co-host
Head Shot

Kim Hart

Co-host