Your Emergency Toolkit: When You Hit Rock Bottom In Menopause – Dr Naomi Potter
When Menopause Feels Overwhelming: Understanding the Mental Health Impact Viewer discretion: this episode does contain mention of suicide. Today, Dr Naomi Potter tackles one of the most misunderstood – and under-discussed – aspects of menopause: the severe emotional distress many women experience.Naomi explains why hormonal changes can push women to emotional breaking points, what the data actually tells us, and what to do if you are feeling hopeless. This conversation alone does not equate to medical help. We created this episode first and foremost because we want to shed light on a tough topic many people aren't prepared to talk about.If you can relate to this episode and are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call:NHS on 111The Samaritans on 116 123Or ask your GP for an emergency appointmentIn an emergency:Call 999 for an ambulance💬 Topics include:• Why some women experience severe emotional symptoms in menopause• How hormones affect mood, resilience, and mental wellbeing• The real data on emotional distress during perimenopause• Early warning signs to look out for• What to do if everything feels “too much”• Where and how to seek safe, confidential help• Treatments that can support both mood and hormone balanceFollow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – When despair hits in menopause00:31 – Why these feelings matter01:04 – Urgent help for severe menopause symptoms01:56 – Treatments that can ease emotional overwhelm02:26 – How doctors assess mental health in perimenopause02:48 – How common intrusive thoughts are in menopause03:20 – How hormones affect mood in perimenopause04:12 – Why early menopause impacts mental wellbeing04:45 – Hormonal mood changes vs mental health conditions05:37 – Why getting help can feel so hard06:41 – How loved ones can support you07:04 – Why recovery from symptoms takes time07:52 – Why this phase of menopause won’t last forever08:16 – When to seek immediate help08:43 – Why you shouldn’t wait More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter
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Kate Lawler Opens Up About Menopause Struggles (fear of HRT, symptoms & marriage)
Feel like you've lost yourself in menopause? Don't worry, getting back on track doesn't need to be a gruelling task. In this deeply honest conversation, broadcaster, Big Brother winner, and fellow podcaster Kate Lawler joins Dr Naomi Potter to talk about the emotional and physical toll of menopause. Kate opens up candidly about her fear of taking HRT, the whirlwind of menopause symptoms she's trying to keep at bay, how she wishes she could "give my husband the wife he married back" and so much more.If you have also felt like a hormonal mess with no idea what to fix first, this episode will be an absolute game-changer for you.💬 Topics include:• Kate’s personal journey through perimenopause• The fear and stigma surrounding HRT• How hormone changes can impact relationships• Losing (and rediscovering) your sense of identity• Dr Naomi Potter’s advice for women feeling “not themselves”Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Kate Lawler below:Kate's Instagram: @thekatelawlerKate's TikTok: @thekatelawlerKate's YouTube channel: @katelawlerofficial Kate's podcast Boj and Kate Have A Lot On Their Plate: https://linktr.ee/bojandkate?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnthf83MQB3QCQlYTqfqJKS2tjJiCSp5weC6KQE7FXsZw0lK5hfZK-punRLoE_aem_w6T5Dd2sv0lkhTOmCneO3Q&brid=twDZS9EANZGY80xeeatMAgFollow her podcast on Instagram: @bogandkate Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotterMore info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/00:00 – Meet Kate Lawler00:43 – Winning Big Brother02:33 – Postnatal depression and motherhood 03:28 – Why Kate hid perimenopause (stigma, work, ageism)04:45 – “I don’t feel like me”: perimenopause symptoms 06:59 – Mood swings, heavy periods, anxiety & brain fog09:03 – The blood test that changed everything 10:35 – Early menopause warning at the fertility clinic12:15 – Fear of HRT13:31 – HRT and breast tenderness16:24 – Health anxiety in perimenopause18:10 – Real HRT risks19:11 – Personalising HRT: oestrogen, progesterone & testosterone22:13 – Can extra progesterone help with sleep and anxiety?23:55 – Testosterone on the NHS27:04 – Bone health in early menopause28:57 – Balancing risks: breast cancer headlines vs heart & brain health31:11 – Kate Lawler breaks down about perimenopause35:44 – HRT patches vs gel39:29 – Vaginal oestrogen 44:47 – Setting rest boundaries in midlife51:02 – Why midlife women feel overwhelmed56:05 – “Textbook perimenopause” vs depression57:45 – Listener Questions1:01:00 – Closing thoughts and next steps for Kate Lawler#hrt #menopause #katelawler
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Why Is My Body Changing In Menopause? Dr Naomi Potter Explains (hair, skin, weight gain)
Feel like you've lost yourself during menopause? Dr Naomi Potter runs through the key body changes you can expect – and what can be done about them.From hair and skin shifts to muscle loss, fat redistribution, and that stubborn midlife weight gain, Naomi reveals why these changes occur (hello, hormone science). She also sheds light on what we can all do to protect your health, confidence, and longevity as your body evolves. Expect clear, practical, myth-busting advice from one of the UK’s leading menopause doctors.💬 Topics include:• The hormonal science behind midlife body changes• Why metabolism slows — and what to do about it• How menopause affects hair and skin • The truth about muscle loss and fat gain• Doctor-approved tips for rebuilding strength, energy, and confidenceFollow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – What happens to your body in menopause?00:28 – Hair changes in menopause: thinning, breakage & growth01:24 – Blood tests & nutrition for hair health01:46 – Do hair products work? What you should (and shouldn’t) buy03:09 – Skin changes in menopause: dryness, acne & sensitivity04:29 – Simple skin fixes that work (and what doesn’t)04:56 – Weight gain in menopause: why it happens05:46 – Why fat moves to the belly (and what to do about it)06:33 – Doctor’s tips to manage midlife weight gain08:16 – Face & body changes: bone, fat & muscle loss09:02 – Why it’s not ‘just vanity’ to care about your appearanceMore info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter
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'Mad Girl' Bryony Gordon On Thriving In Her 40s Despite OCD, Alcoholism And Hormone Sensitivity
What happens when hormones collide with mental health?In this week’s episode, journalist and author Bryony Gordon joins Dr Naomi Potter to talk candidly about navigating perimenopause while managing OCD, addiction recovery, and hormone sensitivity.Bryony shares how the progesterone pill left her suicidal, why sobriety has been her superpower, and how she’s rebuilding her sense of self in midlife — proving that reinvention is always possible, no matter what stage you’re in.Expect honesty, hope, and practical advice on how to protect your mental health through hormonal change.💬 Topics include:• How hormones can affect OCD, anxiety, and mood• Why sobriety can make perimenopause easier (and harder)• Understanding progesterone sensitivity• How to spot when hormones are driving mental health issues• Tips for self-care, support and midlife reinventionBryony's Instagram: @bryonygordonBryony's YouTube: @thelifeofbryonyBryony's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-life-of-bryony/id1763828544Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – Arrival by running!01:38 – How a royal chat led Bryony to run the London Marathon06:52 – Getting sober: rehab, 12-step & building a life without booze10:00 – Alcohol cravings, socialising sober & what actually helps17:35 – OCD explained: intrusive thoughts & the perimenopause trigger22:25 – Anxiety or hormones? Speaking to Dr Naomi & trying HRT23:19 – Oestrogen gel: relief within days (mood, energy, clarity)24:39 – Progesterone crash: severe mood dip & finding a safer option33:26 – The Mirena coil: why it worked when pills didn’t41:59 – Midlife reframe: no periods, more power, new identity48:20 – Brain fog & burnout: stress load, simple resets that work55:55 – Q&A: sobriety, early menopause & pill-sensitivity worries1:01:33 – Tools for hormone days, mindset shifts & sharks 🦈#bryonygordon #ocd #menopause
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An Honest Guide To HRT Options – Your HRT Guide In 20 Mins
Enter our giveaway for a free consultation with Menopause Care: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/menopause-awareness-month-giveaway Which Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) option is best?In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter breaks down the 6 most key types of HRT — including the oral pill, gels, sprays, patches, the marina coil, and testosterone. Naomi breaks down how each method works, as well as some handy life hacks to make each product easier.Expect no jargon, no confusion – just clear, expert advice from one of the UK’s leading menopause doctors.💬 Topics include: • How each HRT option works • Which forms are easiest to use • What you need to know about side effects • Smart doctor tips you won’t hear elsewhereFollow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – Intro00:26 – What is Utrogestan and why do we need progesterone?00:45 – How to take it: perimenopause vs menopause01:37 – Smart tip: how to remember your HRT schedule02:02 – The scary leaflet: should you actually read it?03:04 – Side effects explained (and what’s not true)04:08 – Oral vs transdermal oestrogen: what’s the difference?05:01 – Oestrogen gel: how to apply it properly05:56 – Half doses, cold legs & quick hacks for better absorption06:51 – When to apply: before or after swimming/showering?07:09 – Oestrogen spray (Lenzetto): how to use it07:53 – How to space out sprays & track your doses09:02 – Disposing safely & avoiding environmental harm09:52 – Testosterone for women: what it is and how to apply it10:31 – Common mistakes when dosing AndroFem or Testogel11:32 – How to reduce waste and avoid overdosing12:25 – Male vs female testosterone products: key differences13:04 – Oestrogen patches: how they work and how to apply them14:28 – Tips for swimmers & making patches stick longer15:26 – Removing sticky marks safely (and avoiding irritation)16:40 – The Mirena coil: what it really is and how it works17:44 – Fitting process explained (and what to expect)19:23 – Adjusting your HRT safely: one change at a time19:45 – Final advice & where to find menopause supportLearn about the important role of hormone therapy and hormones in women's health during menopause and perimenopause. #hrt #hormonereplacement #hormonereplacementtherapy
Part open-clinic, part talk show, this is the podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health.
Each week, menopause Doctor Naomi Potter is joined by a new guest to explore the real-life impact of their hormonal changes. From hot flushes and anxiety, to brain fog and sleep problems, no topic is off limits.
Whether you’re wondering if HRT is right for you, want to restore your libido, or need a help managing menopause symptoms, this is a safe space for women to face their midlife insecurities. So settle in, embrace the hormones, and enjoy the laughs along the way.
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