Eps 452: Perimenopause Burnout: Why Women Feel Exhausted, Disconnected, and “Not Like Themselves” with Maraya Brown

When was the last time you felt truly vibrant, not simply “fine”?For many high-achieving women, “fine” means sleeping poorly, waking up exhausted, dragging themselves through workouts, losing interest in intimacy, and continuing to take care of everyone else without stopping long enough to ask what they need.In this episode, I sit down with Maraya Brown CNM, MSN, Yale and functional medicine-trained women’s health expert, founder of The Women’s Vibrancy Code, and host of The Women’s Vibrancy Code podcast.Together, we explore why ambitious women can become so connected to productivity and achievement that rest begins to feel uncomfortable. We discuss perimenopause burnout, nervous system regulation, loneliness, receiving support, and why optimizing your hormones is only the beginning of feeling like yourself again.You deserve more than getting through midlife feeling “fine.” You deserve to feel connected, supported, energized, and fully present in your life.In This Episode00:00 When was the last time you felt truly vibrant?02:24 How Maraya’s work with women has evolved05:50 What vibrancy actually means in midlife06:20 Why “fine” has become the standard for so many women09:24 Why high-achieving women struggle to rest10:50 Who are you when you are not achieving or producing?12:50 The dull-knife analogy and the productivity of rest13:41 How feeling unsafe can affect our ability to think clearly17:02 Rest, hydration, nutrition, breathwork, and time in nature19:17 Why no protocol can replace the ability to rest and digest20:24 It is not only what we do, but who we are while doing it22:17 What a truly vibrant woman in midlife looks and feels like24:14 The women’s experiences that still happen behind closed doors25:26 Shame, loneliness, and why women isolate when they feel like they are failing27:12 Learning how to receive meaningful support31:02 Small practices for returning to yourself35:20 When a personalized health protocol becomes another stressful checklist36:12 Moving out of comparison and into possibility38:21 Maraya’s most important takeaway for women42:38 Where to connect with MarayaConnect with Maraya BrownInstagram: @marayabrownWebsite: https://marayabrown.comConnect with BriaInstagram: @bria_period_whispererWebsite: https://theperiodwhisperer.comReady for more than simply feeling “fine” in midlife?Inside Midlife Mojo, you’ll find comprehensive guidance, practical tools, and a community of women who understand what it is like to navigate changing hormo