"Pause Please: The Empowered Perimenopause Playbook" dives into the invisible, yet profound, impact of hormonal shifts on women's mental health and cognitive function. Hosted by Dr. Sara Kinnon, a naturopathic physician and Menopause Society certified practitioner, this episode validates the common experience of increased anxiety, irritability, emotional reactivity, and even sudden onset of ADHD symptoms during perimenopause. Dr. Kinnon breaks down the hormonal neuroscience, explaining how declining and fluctuating estrogen directly influences key neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, causing emotional shifts that are often tragically missed or misattributed to stress alone.

This episode is critical for women in their 40s and 50s who feel that their brain has changed. Dr. Kinnon addresses the rising trend of women being diagnosed with ADHD for the first time in midlife, explaining how estrogen's supportive role in dopamine modulation (key for attention and focus) disappears during the transition, unmasking underlying executive function issues. Listeners will learn the evidence-based supports available, including the role of Hormone Therapy (MHT) for stabilizing mood, targeted use of mental health medications, and the power of therapies like Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

Ultimately, Dr. Kinnon empowers listeners to understand that their emotional changes are physiological, not a character flaw. Tune in to "Pause Please" to discover crucial lifestyle strategies (sleep hygiene, stress resilience, nutrition), evidence-based supplements (magnesium, saffron, adaptogens), and how to effectively advocate for yourself when seeking treatment. You are not broken; you are becoming. Subscribe for more clarity and support on your perimenopause journey.

LEARN MORE:

Work With Me:
https://drsarakinnon.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drsarak/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@drsaralk?lang=en

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Drsarakinnon

"Pause Please: The Empowered Perimenopause Playbook" cuts through the hype and consumer confusion surrounding hormone testing for perimenopause and menopause. Hosted by Dr. Sara Kinnon, a licensed naturopathic physician and Menopause Society certified practitioner, this episode delivers clarity on when hormone testing is genuinely useful and when it is merely a costly diagnostic shortcut. Dr. Kinnon addresses the current trend of influencers promoting expensive mail-away kits and debunks the idea that a single lab result can diagnose the nuanced, fluctuating clinical transition of perimenopause.

Listeners will gain expert insights from major guidelines (ACOG, The Menopause Society), which confirm that routine hormone testing is not required for diagnosis in most women. The episode clearly differentiates between the reliability and utility of Dutch tests, saliva tests, and serum (blood) testing, explaining which tests are best for monitoring MHT levels versus ruling out conditions like POI. Dr. Kinnon provides a vital reality check on why cortisol testing is not a diagnosis for "adrenal fatigue," emphasizing that using testing to support clinical decision-making is warranted, but never as a substitute for a thorough history.

Ultimately, this podcast validates the listener's experience, asserting that symptoms—such as trouble sleeping, mood swings, and persistent fatigue—matter more than a single lab snapshot. Tune in to "Pause Please" to learn how to make testing useful (if needed), ask the right questions, and reclaim your power over your health journey. Subscribe for more evidence-based guidance on navigating your perimenopause symptoms.

LEARN MORE:

Work With Me:
https://drsarakinnon.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drsarak/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@drsaralk?lang=en

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Drsarakinnon

"Pause Please: The Empowered Perimenopause Playbook" addresses the overwhelming noise and confusion surrounding menopause in popular culture, helping women distinguish between hype, misinformation, and clinical reality. Hosted by Dr. Sara Kinnon, a licensed naturopathic physician and Menopause Society certified practitioner, this episode dives into the crucial question: "Is this just aging or is it my hormones?" Dr. Kinnon unpacks a range of common midlife symptoms, including unexplained weight gain, trouble sleeping, mood swings, and brain fog, clarifying how often these issues are a complex dance between natural aging and perimenopause accelerating biological changes.

Listeners will gain practical steps to achieve clarity, emphasizing the power of symptom tracking over isolated lab tests, and learning why trusting your intuition about your body is vital. Dr. Kinnon dispels common myths with a "Hormone Fact or Fiction" segment, tackling fears about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and the myth that weight gain after 40 is inevitable. Ultimately, this episode is a call to action to tune out the noise, find a provider who listens, and start rebuilding a foundation of sleep, muscle, protein intake, and stress resilience to ensure a better quality of life.

Whether you're struggling with perimenopause symptoms or simply feel like your body isn't cooperating, this podcast offers the clarity and science-backed support you need. Subscribe to "Pause Please" and join Dr. Sara Kinnon in the mission to empower your transition, prove that you are not broken, and optimize your health for the decades ahead.

LEARN MORE:

Work With Me:
https://drsarakinnon.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drsarak/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@drsaralk?lang=en

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Drsarakinnon