199: Perimenopause, nervous system health, and how stress affects your hormones

Hi friends! I have a brand new podcast episode live, and today we’re going to dive into a topic that confuses but deeply affects many women: perimenopause.

I’m also joined by the stunning mother-daughter duo Candace and Jess your hormonal balancewe’re breaking down what perimenopause actually looks like, why it starts earlier than most women expect, and how chronic stress and nervous system imbalances play a huge role in hormonal imbalances, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, and more.

If you’re in your 30s or 40s and feel “off” in your body, have trouble with sleep, energy, anxiety, or cycle changes, but are told everything is “normal,” this episode is especially for you.

This is what we chatted about:

• What exactly is perimenopause (and why it’s an 8-10 year transition period, not a single moment)

• Early signs of perimenopause, including changes in cycle, mood, sleep, and energy

• Why progesterone is often the first hormone to go down—and how it affects anxiety, PMS, and stress tolerance

• How chronic stress, overexertion, undereating, and people-pleasing disrupt ovulation and hormonal balance

• Link between neurological disorders and symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, bloating and low libido

• Why so many women are estrogen dominant—and how stress can cause this imbalance

• The importance of hormone testing (and why symptoms alone don’t tell the whole story)

• Simple, Realistic Nervous System Exercises Lower Cortisol and Support Healing

• Breathing techniques like “Physiological Sighing” can instantly relieve anxiety

• Daily Vagal Tools: Humming, Singing, Grounding, and Gentle Movements

• How boundaries, asking for help, and cutting back on people-pleasing can really improve your hormones

• Why heavy, painful or irregular periods are something you shouldn’t ignore

• Protein, nutrition, and the role of avoiding extreme behavior through exercise and caffeine

199: Perimenopause, nervous system health, and how stress affects your hormones

This episode is such a powerful reminder Your body is not injured; it is a response to your life. With the right tools, support, and awareness, you can feel calmer, stronger, more disciplined, and more in tune with your body during menopause.

I hope you enjoyed this episode!

Connect with Candace and Jess here:

Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter
For my free autoimmune therapy e-book, click here.
Detailed show notes are here:

Partners:

Try Vivrelle’s luxury handbags and jewelry and use my code GINAHARNEY to get your first month free!

Look at us eating raw! Messi is crazy about this! I use it as a topping on her kibble or mix it into her puppy bread. You can try the original version, Original Dehydrated Kibble, and they will help you tailor a plan for your puppy. Save 40% on your Diet Plan Starter Box with FITNESSISTA40!

Check out my favorite new red light gear here and use code FITNESSISTA for huge discounts.

I have been using Nutrisense on and off for several years. I love being able to see how my blood sugar reacts to my diet and habits and experiment with it. You can try Nutrisense here and get 30% off with GINA30.

If any of my health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. If you’re not currently working in the health or fitness industry, you can definitely join; many international hydrology programs don’t start out on this path. They are friends who are passionate about learning more about health and want to share this information with their loved ones. You can do it as a hobby or start a whole new career.

You can use my referral link and code FITNESSISTA here to get up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner Plan. I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much for listening and for all your support of the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a rating or review. If you leave a rating, please go to this page and you will receive a “thank you” gift from me.

Try again later