Mental health and the perimenopause | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

Content advisory: this podcast contains themes of mental health and suicide.
Joining Dr Louise on the podcast this week are Lynsey and her husband Kieran. Lynsey movingly describes a rapid deterioration in her mental health during the perimenopause which saw her sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
‘I just felt desperate that this was a new version of me and I couldn't work out why,’ she recalls.
Lynsey and Kieran, who is a GP, speak to Dr Louise about the need for greater understanding of how hormonal changes during the perimenopause and menopause can impact on mental health, coupled with improved access to HRT.
Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Пікірлер: 46

  • @laurahill6321
    @laurahill6321Ай бұрын

    Thank you for this pod cast , literally today I’ve just called my GP to make an appointment due to what I think is the perimenapause, I quit my job last month that’s how bad it’s got as I can’t cope with work, running a home , doing life things even cleaning my house, I’ve lost interest in hobbies,friends, doing things I used to love , typing this Iam crying because the thing I’ve lost most is myself . I look back to aged 38 Iam 48 now , the symptoms over the years are totally making sense , the heavy periods, then no periods for ages , anxiety, memory, taking in information, dizziness unexplained for years , now the not coping and now struggling with absolutely everything. Thank you to you Louise for all you do for women.

  • @terrietheridge9692
    @terrietheridge969210 ай бұрын

    Thank you. I’ve been struggling. My gyno put me on hrt. I feel better. I went to a female gyno after for more specific direction and she blew me off and she was part of the North American menopause society. So it’s so hard to find support. Your KZread channel has helped me so much with the missing pieces. I appreciate you.

  • @menopause_doctor

    @menopause_doctor

    10 ай бұрын

    I'm really pleased to hear you're better after starting HRT. Thank you for your kind words

  • @mermaidmaca
    @mermaidmaca10 ай бұрын

    I've even had 3 consultations with a Menopause Consultant (Not Newson Health) and I still cannot get testosterone prescribed. They want my Oestrogen to be a higher level first but that would mean continued blood tests but at the same time I am hearing we should not be reliant on blood tests but rather focus on how we feel. I know testosterone is what I need as that level was pretty much zero. I'm still having brain fog, moodiness, no libido, tiredness, bad sleep etc. My Oestrogen level on my blood test result was 76 but that was tested on the day I was supposed to change my patch. Oestrogen levels go up and down so I have no idea why I cannot start testosterone. I'm now on a higher Oestrogen patch. I wish the people I speak to were as passionate as Dr Louise Newson. She's amazing to listen to and I love her passion for helping women get their hormones back.

  • @Gilly-gx8rt

    @Gilly-gx8rt

    9 ай бұрын

    Newson health have virtual & in person testosterone clinics. They can prescribe it & get it sent to you. I started 6 weeks ago & feel so much better already.

  • @michelleburl

    @michelleburl

    7 ай бұрын

    Go back to your GP and insist you want to trial testosterone for 6 months. Tell them your libido is non existent and your marriage is in jeopardy! That’s the only way they’ll prescribe it and it’s absolutely crazy because it helps with so much more than sex drive! It’s helped my concentration, my focus, my mood and increase in muscle tone and energy levels. Good luck and I hope they let you try it! X

  • @blgolpe
    @blgolpeАй бұрын

    Thank you so much for your bravery and sharing. So many women are suffering unnecessarily. I also worry for the future of my daughters. Thank you again

  • @Corrans
    @Corrans9 ай бұрын

    As a woman in perimenopause myself, I can so relate! I suffer with feelings of depression rather than anxiety. It sucks. Being on biodentical estrogel does help!

  • @jelenatisma4215
    @jelenatisma42155 күн бұрын

    my dr has only prescriped the pill as has the opinion that HRT is prescribed after going into actual menapuase. I have mental health problems in the past but currently have been suffering for around 4 years, previous episodes were cyclical and i would be fine for several years. I can really relate to this lady

  • @tracyanntaylor-bj9fi
    @tracyanntaylor-bj9fi3 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your story. It's like looking in a mirror. I myself have been going through the same thing for 10 years after my last child was born, and I put it down to Postnatal depression. My youngest daughter has had so much from me shouting, screaming at her for no reason, and I asked the school to help me, and they did nothing. My partner was out at work all day, so he didn't get how bad I was. It is so debilitating, and you can see what you're doing but can't stop. The worst part was we moved from Manchester to Cornwall, so I had no one there to support me or the girls. It's been a very hard 10 years for all of us. Thank you again. luckily, the doctors offered me Anti depressant , but said no to them as I caught a video of Louise newson on menopause, Now that was a god send to me. Days are still a struggle but I'm getting there. Thank you all ❤

  • @walkinjewel
    @walkinjewel5 ай бұрын

    Im on HRT for 3 months but severe anxiety started that I almost cant eat. My gyno said she cant prescribe testosteron when I requested. Or ask me anything about my anxiety. I go out for shopping and next minute I think I cant walk or talk to anybody and return to home rightaway. I saw testo creams online but not sure it this should be the way. Im really tired to think on behalf of my ignorant dr😫

  • @lindacooper355
    @lindacooper3553 ай бұрын

    Thanks for this podcast. I got to the suicidal thoughts stage, but having had mental health issues in the past I was convinced I was having a breakdown. I was infact suffering with the menopause. It took my local superb pharmacist to walk me to the surgery and get an immediate appointment with a very kind and understanding Dr. A week after I was started on hrt patches, and after 2 days I felt better!! Long live hrt.

  • @helenroscoe1124
    @helenroscoe1124Ай бұрын

    Amazing video ❤❤ im hoping to visit Newson health soon after being poorly for 10 years and two failed major surgeries...........i believe it was perimenopause all along xx

  • @breevestal
    @breevestal10 ай бұрын

    I can relate to this. Thank you so much for sharing❤

  • @ayselkarafiruze1893
    @ayselkarafiruze18939 ай бұрын

    Thank you very much for this wonderful podcast. I appreciate it greatly🎉❤

  • @kellywhitehouse7406
    @kellywhitehouse74069 ай бұрын

    Thank you 🙏 thank you 🙏

  • @Miracles999
    @Miracles9994 ай бұрын

    I started HRT but I was still up and down with anxiety and depression. Until I heard about Keto diet and it changed everything like miracle! It was like a bright light turning on in the darkness of my world. The peace and calm that I have in my heart now is indescribable. The permanent anxiety had become a part of me and kind of my identity, I thought I had to live with this new me forever. But changing my diet changed everything. Have you ever thought, how our body is making hormone? FOOD! Food is the fuel for our body to make hormones. Are we giving the right food to our body to be able to make enough hormones? Our diet is so wrong nowadays and we expect our body and brain to function well. Change your diet one step at a time and eliminate things one by one. The first thing I cut from my diet was sugar and after only 2 weeks I felt like I was literally in heaven and I am not even exaggerating. Before changing my diet, it was like a constant war in my head with racing negative thoughts and a washing machine rolling in my stomach from anxiety and then suddenly everything stopped and it was complete silence and deep feeling of relief and freedom. This is how I can describe it. I am free now, I am happy, I have hope and looking forward to life. I got myself back and I got my life back thanks to my diet, Keto for a year and now 3 months Carnivore. If you really care about yourself, please look into changing your diet.

  • @Hollowmoon007
    @Hollowmoon0072 ай бұрын

    I am sorry to hear that in the UK testosterone is not easily available for women. In the US, pellets seem to be gaining popularity. Many women end up on too high of a dose and stop the pellet. I started a low dose a couple of months ago and it has helped with so much!

  • @Amanda_7777
    @Amanda_777710 ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed this ! Thank you. Can relate to so much of it. I’m now on HRT 🙏❤️

  • @menopause_doctor

    @menopause_doctor

    10 ай бұрын

    I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope you are doing better now?

  • @Amanda_7777

    @Amanda_7777

    10 ай бұрын

    @@menopause_doctor so much better, thanks to you giving so much information on the benefits ❤️

  • @jessicahitchens6926
    @jessicahitchens69264 ай бұрын

    9 Electric Shock Treatment that's absolute ABUSE!!

  • @helenroscoe1124

    @helenroscoe1124

    Ай бұрын

    ECT is honestly a horrifying treatment 😳 this is truly shocking x

  • @ankaviva
    @ankaviva5 ай бұрын

    I was 45 when my GP in Glasgow wanted me to take antidepressants, mainly to treat sleep issues. I refused to take them, but wasn't offered any alternative despite obvious symptoms of perimenopause. The interesting thing is, my otherwise very sympathetic GP was herself in her 50's and surely should have known better, but nope she did not. 2 years later, doctors in France wanted me to take anxiolytics. Again, I refused and started taking HRT instead. It's been a game changer. I've even lost the midline fat I accumulated in Glasgow 😂 Do I think most doctors are idiots everywhere? Hell yeah I do.

  • @jessicahitchens6926

    @jessicahitchens6926

    4 ай бұрын

    Well what about the crazy nonsense that happened in 2020-22. I don't trust or rate most doctors. Only a few good ones out there. You have to advocate for yourself.

  • @historianz3711
    @historianz37119 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this video. I heard mentioned briefly 'flat effect'. I'm global Anhedonic. Been for 20 + years. (Self diagnosed) Just wondering if any reports of relief from Anhedonia in your patients please? I'm starting HRT soon and it it my final go at something. Thank you so much in advance. I'm in New Zealand.

  • @jean6460

    @jean6460

    7 ай бұрын

    I have anhedonia too. For 20 years. Ever since I I came off of Zoloft (antidepressant I took for anxiety). Now it’s worse as I’m peri menopausal.

  • @ajwico
    @ajwico10 ай бұрын

    Hi there, I've been on oestrogen patches and progesterone tablet for very 6 months, started off ok but as time has passed I just feel so tired and achy, my libido is low and I feel like I'm lost! I've also been bleeding every 2 weeks, I am going to Gynecology appointment to make sure all is OK but I know suggestions on the merina coil but I don't really want to have it. I have suggested I might not be absorbing enough oestrogen. Any advice would be greatly appreciated 😊

  • @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    10 ай бұрын

    Estrogen is the bleeding hormone so you maybe on too much as this happened to me ..its also normal to have a bleed when you first start on hrt .. Again I had a bleed within the first couple of months its just your hormones trying to regulate .. But the bleed every 2wks sounds definitely too much estrogen..talk to your gp are you peri or post??? You can reduce estrogen or increase progesterone..😊

  • @ajwico

    @ajwico

    10 ай бұрын

    @cearilindubhlaoi9507 thanks for replying, I'm Post menopause, I had to go to gynaecology because I have been bleeding every 2 weeks for 7 months now, they said to increase my progesterone to 2 tablets at night, I'm having ultrasound done Wednesday and I'm having hysteroscopy just waiting for appointments now. They were suggesting merina coil again too.

  • @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    10 ай бұрын

    @@ajwico yeah the exact same thing happened to me ..I lowered my estrogen & I was also on 200mg of progesterone..I was having a bleed every 2wks for 7mths also & I'm post menupause..it took 2mths for the progesterone to stop the bleeding so be patient it will go from bleeding to spotting to zero ..AVOID at all costs to get mirena as it is synthetic progesterone & you do not want the side effects of that..I had an ultrasound & it showed I had tiny friboids never had gyna issues before ..I know 100% I was just on too much estrogen for me unfortunately my doctor hasn't a clue I had to work it our myself with each hormone ..estrogen progesterone & testosterone..you have to listen to your own body & be your own health advocate..

  • @ajwico

    @ajwico

    10 ай бұрын

    @cearilindubhlaoi9507 can I ask you, what strength oestrogen were you on? Did you increase it to 100? And then start feeling tiredness and Fatigue ?

  • @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    10 ай бұрын

    @@ajwico I was on 50mg increased to 75mg within 1 mth I had a histamine reaction a catch in my throat & a cough that lasted 3mths , after much research I realised it was from too much estrogen it can cause histamine issues.. It was the increase to 75mg that caused then the 2wk bleeds.. The fatigue & tiredness is also from too much estrogen..if you are on 100mg estrogen that is a high does for post menupause less is definitely more.. You should have been on 200mg progesterone continuously with that estrogen dose....Anything over 50mg estrogen needs 200mg progesterone that is the guidelines..that's another reason I had the bleeds progesterone was not increased when estrogen was increased...

  • @jean6460
    @jean64607 ай бұрын

    I’m already on HRT but struggling with serious depression and anxiety. What else can I do??😞😢 Help!

  • @Miracles999

    @Miracles999

    4 ай бұрын

    Hi Jean, I was the same as you. I started HRT but I was still up and down with anxiety and depression. Until I heard about Keto diet and it changed everything like miracle! It was like a bright light turning on in the darkness of my world. The peace and calm that I have in my heart now is indescribable. The permanent anxiety had become a part of me and kind of my identity, I thought I had to live with this new me forever. But changing my diet changed everything. Have you ever thought, how our body is making hormone? FOOD! Food is the fuel for our body to make hormones. Are we giving the right food to our body to be able to make enough hormones? Our diet is so wrong nowadays and we expect our body and brain to function well. Change your diet one step at a time and eliminate things one by one. The first thing I cut from my diet was sugar and after only 2 weeks I felt like I was literally in heaven and I am not even exaggerating. Before changing my diet, it was like a constant war in my head with racing negative thoughts and a washing machine rolling in my stomach from anxiety and then suddenly everything stopped and it was complete silence and deep feeling of relief and freedom. This is how I can describe it. I am free now, I am happy, I have hope and looking forward to life. I got myself back and I got my life back thanks to my diet, Keto for a year and now 3 months Carnivore. If you really care about yourself, please look into changing your diet.

  • @jessicahitchens6926

    @jessicahitchens6926

    4 ай бұрын

    Change your diet and lifestyle. Incorporate high quality supplements as well. Intermittent fasting. Excercises short burst of sprints and walking. Get non processed coarse salt into you regimen as well.

  • @lindacooper355

    @lindacooper355

    3 ай бұрын

    Maybe it's not strong enough? Can you tell Dr how you feel and maybe it's worth trying an increase?

  • @maytaylor228
    @maytaylor22810 ай бұрын

    I’m on HRT but cannot get testosterone at all. Can someone sell it to me?

  • @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    @cearilindubhlaoi9507

    10 ай бұрын

    Testosterone is a hormone it can only prescribed by a doctor or menupause specialist by prescription only...if it is needed .

  • @jessicahitchens6926

    @jessicahitchens6926

    4 ай бұрын

    Newsons health clinic can prescribe it online. Louise Newson set it up with others. The doctor on the the podcast.

  • @Lawyersadvise1
    @Lawyersadvise1Ай бұрын

    The husband should have turned his mic off ,all you hear is him breathing 😳 😂