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Is It Perimenopause or Burnout? What Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Know

Are you experiencing unexplained fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, poor sleep, or changes in your menstrual cycle? Is it perimenopause, chronic stress, burnout—or something else entirely?

For many ambitious women and mothers entering their late 30s and 40s, these changes can feel confusing and overwhelming. But understanding your body is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward protecting your long-term health.

In this episode of Musings of a Geriatric Mama, host Kedna Amey, APRN, welcomes back board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Francheska Alcide (Dr. D) for an honest, insightful conversation about perimenopause, preventive healthcare, hormonal changes, and women's wellness after 35.

Together, they explore why perimenopause symptoms are often overlooked, how burnout and chronic stress can overlap with hormonal symptoms, and why women must become proactive advocates for their health.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What perimenopause is and some of the early signs women may notice.
• How to recognize the overlap between hormonal changes, burnout, anxiety, and fatigue.
• Why sleep and stress management are essential parts of women's wellness.
• Which preventive health screenings and risk factors to discuss with your provider after 35 and 40.
• Why family medical history matters for breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other health risks.
• How a history of preeclampsia may affect future cardiovascular health.
• Why symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog shouldn't automatically be blamed on hormones.
• How to advocate for yourself by scheduling a focused medical appointment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Women's Health in Your 40s
02:14 Continuing Leadership and Wellness Journey
849:58:10 Are Women More Prepared for This Stage?
15111:05:05 What is Perimenopause?
16722:11:45 Symptoms and Diagnosis of Perimenopause
20305:31:53 Early Signs and Overlooked Symptoms
23944:25:15 Overlap with Other Conditions and Differentiation
30944:25:20 Burnout, Stress, and Hormonal Changes
33749:58:45 Sleep's Role in Recovery and Hormonal Balance
44694:25:54 Lifestyle Modifications and Prevention
53416:39:20 Family History and Risk Factors
62722:12:46 Screenings for Cancer and Heart Disease
74361:06:14 Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Blood Sugar
84555:33:04 Proactive Health and Self-Advocacy
1035277:46:34 Key Takeaways and Action Steps
1090277:46:37 Connecting with Dr. D and Final Thoughts

3 actionable takeaways from this conversation:

1. Know your numbers. Understand your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other health markers recommended by your provider.
2. Schedule what you've been postponing. Make time for your preventive screenings, follow-up visits, and health appointments.
3. Pay attention to patterns. Track changes in your menstrual cycle, mood, sleep, and energy so you can have more informed conversations with your healthcare provider.

Whether you're approaching 40, navigating perimenopause, recovering from burnout, or simply ready to prioritize yourself after years of caring for everyone else, this conversation is your reminder that your health deserves a place at the top of your priority list.

Connect with our guest: Dr. Francheska Alcide on Instagram at @franthemomdoc.

Stay connected: Follow Musings of a Geriatric Mama on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations about motherhood after 35, women's health, identity, ambition, and burnout recovery.

Need a guide for burnout recovery? Download this guide

https://k-amey-inspires.kit.com/1525dc16f8

And stay tuned for Part 2, where we explore perimenopause symptoms and how to navigate this transition in greater depth.

Medical disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Discuss symptoms, screening schedules, and treatment decisions with your healthcare provider.

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What could change in your life if you finally gave yourself permission to do it scared?

In this one-year anniversary episode of Musings of a Geriatric Mama, Kedna reflects on what it means to start before you feel ready, grow through the messy middle, and redefine success in motherhood, ambition, entrepreneurship, and burnout recovery.

After a year of conversations with mothers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and wellness experts, one message continues to stand out: motherhood may change us, but it does not erase our purpose, creativity, or ambition.

In this episode, Kedna shares lessons on:

• Starting before you feel ready
• Letting confidence grow through action
• Navigating identity shifts after motherhood
• Releasing hustle and grind culture
• Asking for help and setting boundaries
• Redefining success in your 30s, 40s, and beyond
• Building a meaningful life without abandoning yourself

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Embracing the journey and doing things scared
00:02 Lessons learned from a year of purpose and growth
00:11 The importance of starting before you're ready
00:12 Confidence follows action, not before
00:15 The clarity that comes with using your voice
00:42 Evolving through life and embracing the messy middle
01:12 Redefining success and the importance of wellness
01:24 Motherhood, identity, and holistic self-care
01:53 Healing from burnout and the role of therapy
02:22 Building sustainably and trusting the process
02:47 The power of micro-movements and faith-driven purpose
03:15 Community support and shared wisdom
03:42 Looking ahead: Deeper conversations and next steps

As the show enters its next season, expect deeper conversations around motherhood after 35, women’s health, maternal mental load, entrepreneurship, career pivots, sustainable ambition, identity, and burnout recovery.

Scriptures mentioned:
Habakkuk 2:2 — “Write the vision and make it plain”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk%202%3A2&version=NIV

Proverbs 31:10 — A woman of worth is more precious than rubies
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2031%3A10&version=NIV

Mental Health Support:
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7 in the U.S.
https://988lifeline.org/

Follow Musings of a Geriatric Mama, save this episode, and share it with a woman who needs the reminder that she can still do the scary thing.

Grab a copy of From Burnout to Balance Reset Guide and stay connected with a community of vision centered ambitious women here! https://k-amey-inspires.kit.com/1525dc16f8

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Are you constantly overwhelmed, always “on,” or struggling to fully relax?

In this episode of Musings of a Geriatric Mama, Kedna Amey sits down with holistic Doctor of Physical Therapy and nervous system expert Dr. Lauren DeCicco to talk about nervous system regulation, burnout, chronic stress, survival mode, and motherhood.

Dr. Lauren shares how fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses can show up in everyday life, especially for high-achieving women who are used to pushing through stress. Together, they explore people pleasing, perfectionism, hustle culture, emotional overwhelm, and why slowing down can actually create more clarity, creativity, and resilience.

You’ll also learn simple ways to support nervous system regulation through grounding, intentional recovery, longer exhales, humming, and creating small moments of safety throughout your day.

If you’ve been feeling burned out, overstimulated, or stuck in survival mode, this conversation is for you.

Key topics
Nervous system regulation and its impact on health
Trauma and childhood beliefs shaping adult relationships
Practical techniques for self-regulation and grounding
The role of chronic stress in autoimmune and physical health issues
Strategies for busy moms to incorporate quick self-care practices
The importance of community and team support in healing
Rewiring responses to triggers for better emotional regulation
The connection between mental health and physical symptoms

Takeaways

Practicing quick grounding techniques like vagus nerve stimulation can reset your nervous system.
Leaving toxic environments is a crucial step in healing and health recovery.
Understanding your nervous system states helps in managing triggers and stress responses.
Slowing down and regulating your nervous system increases productivity and creativity.
Motherhood and trauma are interconnected; healing one benefits the other.
Building a team of health professionals supports multidimensional healing.
Self-awareness about your body's signals can prevent burnout.
Creating safety around triggers rewires your brain's response.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nervous System and Motherhood
01:27 Dr. Lauren's Journey Through Trauma and Healing
02:33 Societal Norms and Motherhood Expectations
07:29 Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Relationships
11:43 COVID and the Slowdown in Healing
2766:39:43 Motherhood as a Messy but Beautiful Journey
3174:59:43 What Does Living in Survival Mode Mean?
3466:39:43 Balancing the Nervous System for Optimal Health
4244:26:23 Cellular Impact of Chronic Stress
4999:59:43 The Paradox of Slowing Down to Get More Done
5844:26:25 Healing from Toxic Work Environments
6402:46:25 Vagus Nerve and Self-Regulation Techniques
7602:46:29 Managing Triggers and Overwhelm
9055:33:09 Practical Self-Regulation Strategies for Busy Moms
10019:26:29 Building Resilience and Creativity in Business
113583:19:58 Words to Your Younger Self
120472:13:20 You Already Have What You Need to Heal

Connect with Dr. Lauren:
Instagram: @dr.laurendeciccodpt
Website: drlaurendecicco.com

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