S2 | EP 38: When You Don't Feel Like Yourself: Hormones, Stress & Midlife with Dr. Heather Elton

Have you ever thought, *I just don’t feel like myself anymore*?

Maybe your sleep has changed. Your energy isn’t what it used to be. You’re experiencing brain fog, anxiety, changes in your body, lower motivation, or you simply feel off — but you’re not quite sure why.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Heather Elton, IFMCP, DCBCN, DC, owner of Move•ment Chiropractic & Integrative Wellness, for a conversation about women’s hormones, perimenopause, stress, and what can happen when changes inside our bodies collide with major changes happening in our REAL lives.

We talk about why perimenopause is so much more than hot flashes, how hormonal shifts can affect our physical and emotional well-being, and why two women experiencing similar symptoms may need very different kinds of support.

We also explore something I think is especially important: this stage of life often overlaps with divorce, betrayal, career changes, caring for aging parents, children leaving home, grief, and other major transitions. So how do we begin sorting through what’s hormonal, what’s stress, what’s emotional, and what may be a combination of all three?

In this episode, we talk about:

What functional medicine is and how Dr. Heather approaches women’s healthWhat’s actually happening during perimenopause and how long this transition can lastHow changing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels may affect sleep, energy, mood, motivation, brain fog, libido, body composition, and moreWhy women can feel like something is wrong even when they’ve been told their labs are “normal”The relationship between prolonged stress and hormonal healthWhat happens when hormonal changes overlap with major life transitionsWhy community and asking for support matter during this seasonThe foundational role of nutrition, movement, hydration, stress support, and sleepWhy there isn’t one supplement, protocol, or hormone solution that is right for every womanHow to approach all of the hormone and wellness information online with more discernment

One thing I really appreciated about this conversation is Dr. Heather’s reminder that women deserve individualized care. Feeling different as your body changes doesn’t mean you need to resign yourself to feeling less like you for the rest of your life.

And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Continue the Conversation

Dr. Heather and I will also be continuing this conversation during an upcoming workshop on women’s health and hormones, where we’ll have more time t