Dr. Jessica Shepherd

It's a drop, so it's the fluctuation. It may go down, then come up really quick. But unfortunately, in perimenopause, it's going down, but it's not really coming back up. It's like, I'm really going down, and I'm not coming back up. And so that's why you start to see in between the ages of 45 and 55, we have the most diagnoses of anxiety and depression. It makes so much sense.

It's a drop, so it's the fluctuation. It may go down, then come up really quick. But unfortunately, in perimenopause, it's going down, but it's not really coming back up. It's like, I'm really going down, and I'm not coming back up. And so that's why you start to see in between the ages of 45 and 55, we have the most diagnoses of anxiety and depression. It makes so much sense.

Because this is when estrogen, our key response, our key hormone in how it interacts with the brain is going to be impacted because our mood, our neurotransmitters, our dopamine. After menopause, we start to see that dopamine receptors are 30% less. And so if that's our hormone that's going to be around to make us feel good, and now it's not there anymore, what do you think is going to happen?

Because this is when estrogen, our key response, our key hormone in how it interacts with the brain is going to be impacted because our mood, our neurotransmitters, our dopamine. After menopause, we start to see that dopamine receptors are 30% less. And so if that's our hormone that's going to be around to make us feel good, and now it's not there anymore, what do you think is going to happen?

Because this is when estrogen, our key response, our key hormone in how it interacts with the brain is going to be impacted because our mood, our neurotransmitters, our dopamine. After menopause, we start to see that dopamine receptors are 30% less. And so if that's our hormone that's going to be around to make us feel good, and now it's not there anymore, what do you think is going to happen?

And so this is why it's so crucial that people understand the mind-body connection is so important. And you are not alone during this journey. You are not the only one who's experiencing this. And the more that we can look inward and say, I'm going through this, I'm going to be okay, but I also understand why, wouldn't that make someone feel better?

And so this is why it's so crucial that people understand the mind-body connection is so important. And you are not alone during this journey. You are not the only one who's experiencing this. And the more that we can look inward and say, I'm going through this, I'm going to be okay, but I also understand why, wouldn't that make someone feel better?

And so this is why it's so crucial that people understand the mind-body connection is so important. And you are not alone during this journey. You are not the only one who's experiencing this. And the more that we can look inward and say, I'm going through this, I'm going to be okay, but I also understand why, wouldn't that make someone feel better?

Do you see how it impacts careers? It impacts relationships. Your personal life. Yeah, you're feeling you're going through just like this. And that's what women used to come in and tell me because they couldn't put their finger on it. They would say, I don't feel right. Something's off. I feel like I'm just so emotional. I can watch TV and cry at a commercial or someone can say one thing to me

Do you see how it impacts careers? It impacts relationships. Your personal life. Yeah, you're feeling you're going through just like this. And that's what women used to come in and tell me because they couldn't put their finger on it. They would say, I don't feel right. Something's off. I feel like I'm just so emotional. I can watch TV and cry at a commercial or someone can say one thing to me

Do you see how it impacts careers? It impacts relationships. Your personal life. Yeah, you're feeling you're going through just like this. And that's what women used to come in and tell me because they couldn't put their finger on it. They would say, I don't feel right. Something's off. I feel like I'm just so emotional. I can watch TV and cry at a commercial or someone can say one thing to me

and I will snap. And they feel as if it's an out-of-body experience. They're literally watching themselves have these responses.

and I will snap. And they feel as if it's an out-of-body experience. They're literally watching themselves have these responses.

and I will snap. And they feel as if it's an out-of-body experience. They're literally watching themselves have these responses.

Mel, this is why this conversation is so important for a 20 and 30-year-old.

Mel, this is why this conversation is so important for a 20 and 30-year-old.

Mel, this is why this conversation is so important for a 20 and 30-year-old.

So let's bring it back to the reproductive phase, right?

So let's bring it back to the reproductive phase, right?

So let's bring it back to the reproductive phase, right?