The Middling Along podcast is for those of us navigating the Messy Middle bit of life - whether that is peri/menopause, the midlife collision of caring upward and downward, overwhelm, burnout, health challenges, and gendered ageism... Often, we find as women hitting a ‘certain point’ in life, that we are so used to people-pleasing, and making sure that everyone else is OK, and their needs are met, that we have lost touch with what we want, what we need, who we are… I started Middling Along with the aim of reclaiming my own ‘midlife’ and finding my happy.
Along the way we’ve covered stories of people starting new businesses, changing careers, and taking up new hobbies that have changed their lives forever.
We also cover topics such as peri/menopause, midlife wellbeing and positive aging.
Join us for a dose of inspiration - and make sure you spend your ’messy middle’ years thriving too!
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The Middling Along podcast is for those of us navigating the Messy Middle bit of life - whether that is peri/menopause, the midlife collision of caring upward and downward, overwhelm, burnout, health challenges, and gendered ageism... Often, we find as women hitting a ‘certain point’ in life, that we are so used to people-pleasing, and making sure that everyone else is OK, and their needs are met, that we have lost touch with what we want, what we need, who we are… I started Middling Along with the aim of reclaiming my own ‘midlife’ and finding my happy.
Along the way we’ve covered stories of people starting new businesses, changing careers, and taking up new hobbies that have changed their lives forever.
We also cover topics such as peri/menopause, midlife wellbeing and positive aging.
Join us for a dose of inspiration - and make sure you spend your ’messy middle’ years thriving too!
Dr Rachael Chrystal on Navigating Burnout and Perimenopause
Middling Along
37 minutes 5 seconds
3 months ago
Dr Rachael Chrystal on Navigating Burnout and Perimenopause
In this enlightening episode I chat with Dr Rachael Crystal, a GP and accredited menopause specialist, about the complex relationship between burnout and perimenopause.
We explore how hormonal changes, stress, and life pressures intertwine, impacting women's mental and physical well-being during midlife.
Rachel shares her Masters research on the lived experiences of professional women navigating burnout during perimenopause, revealing key themes like loss of identity, the importance of support, and pathways to empowerment. If you're curious about recognizing burnout, understanding hormonal impacts, or seeking ways to thrive through midlife, this episode is packed with valuable insights and hope.
Key Points & Takeaways:
Burnout & Perimenopause Overlap: Many women experience symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, and emotional detachment during perimenopause, often exacerbated by stress and life pressures. These symptoms can be mistaken for other issues, leading to confusion and delayed support.
The Role of Hormones: Fluctuating oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels during perimenopause impact brain function, resilience, and stress management, making women more vulnerable to burnout.
Research Insights: Rachael's qualitative research with 15 women uncovered four key themes, including the "lost in transition" feeling—women feeling a loss of identity and grappling with the invisible pressures of work and life.
Challenges in Diagnosis: Many women struggle to get clear answers, often being misdiagnosed or told their symptoms are due to stress or depression. Blood tests may not always provide clarity in perimenopause.
Pathways to Empowerment: Supportive interventions like hormone replacement therapy (HRT), coaching, counseling, and building community can help women regain confidence, set boundaries, and re-evaluate their lives.
The Power of Community & Support: Normalizing conversations about menopause and burnout, creating safe spaces, and sharing stories can reduce stigma and foster resilience.
Hope & Positive Change: Many women find empowerment and renewed confidence after navigating these challenges, often emerging with clearer boundaries, stronger self-awareness, and a sense of freedom.
Connect with Rachael and learn more about her work at Manchester Menopause Hive (https://manchestermenopausehive.co.uk/) and via The Burnout Revolution podcast and Substack newsletter (https://rachaelchrystal.substack.com/podcast)
If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.
Want to work with me?
Join me over at www.holdingupthesky.com - our new community for women navigating the "midlife collision"
Coaching with me at http://www.thetripleshift.org
Menopause in the workplace support at www.managingthemenopause.com
Connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/
Follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/
Or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/
Middling Along
The Middling Along podcast is for those of us navigating the Messy Middle bit of life - whether that is peri/menopause, the midlife collision of caring upward and downward, overwhelm, burnout, health challenges, and gendered ageism... Often, we find as women hitting a ‘certain point’ in life, that we are so used to people-pleasing, and making sure that everyone else is OK, and their needs are met, that we have lost touch with what we want, what we need, who we are… I started Middling Along with the aim of reclaiming my own ‘midlife’ and finding my happy.
Along the way we’ve covered stories of people starting new businesses, changing careers, and taking up new hobbies that have changed their lives forever.
We also cover topics such as peri/menopause, midlife wellbeing and positive aging.
Join us for a dose of inspiration - and make sure you spend your ’messy middle’ years thriving too!
