Angela and Kate Muir look at the profound impact of perimenopause on women's mental health, particularly for those with a history of conditions like postpartum depression, who may be more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations.  Kate explains the neurological changes during menopause using the analogy of "Inside Out" characters, highlighting how the decline of key hormones like oestrogen (joyful) and progesterone (calming) and the resulting increase in cortisol can lead to symptoms like anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and brain fog, severely affecting confidence and productivity KEY TAKEAWAYS: Hormonal Sensitivity: Women with a history of mental health issues like postpartum depression are often more sensitive to the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause The Brain's Hormonal Shift: The decline of oestrogen (linked to serotonin) and progesterone (calming) during menopause leaves hormone receptors empty, leading to increased cortisol  Under-Recognised Benefits of Testosterone: Beyond libido, testosterone is crucial for women's mental health, aiding in motivation, drive, and cognitive function Holistic Support for Brain Health: Optimising nutrition (high protein), sleep hygiene (using micro-recoveries and supplements like L-theanine and phosphatidylserine), and specific exercises (compound lifts to increase BDNF) can significantly support brain health TIMESTAMPS AND KEY TOPICS: [0:22] -: Link Between Postpartum Depression and Perimenopause [1:27] -: "Inside Out" Analogy for Hormonal Decline [2:45] -: Mental Health Symptoms and Physical Effects [7:47] -: Testosterone's Role Beyond Libido VALUABLE RESOURCES ⁠Join The High Performance Health Community⁠ ⁠Click here⁠ for discounts on all the products I personally use and recommend A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/