Hey guys! I am over the moon excited to share this talk with you that I had with my dear friend Sue. Long ago, Sue and I shared kick-butt workout sessions at 5 AM in my garage before I moved to California. I miss her so much and am so happy to share her knowledge with you today.
Sue is a nurse practitioner who has been treating women for over 20 years. She’s worked in family practice, the ER/ICU, oncology, cardiopulmonary, and OB/GYN. I think one of the things that really sets her apart from other health care providers is that she really listens to patients and pieces together a total wellness picture based on lifestyle along with science.
I thought it would be interesting to find out what are the top three concerns that women bring to her from a physician’s point of view. Then I’d like to share the top three I’ve observed as a mental health professional.
Top 3 Concerns Women Bring to Their Physician
Hello, Sue here. When I told Shannon the top three concerns I hear from women, it was no surprise to her. These are things we hear in our girlfriend circles all the time. Without a doubt I’d say:
- Fatigue
- Weight
- Sex
All three are related, and it seems like one trickles down to the next.
It’s no surprise that fatigue tops the list. We are all so over-scheduled, overtasked, and overextended. We keep too many checklists and keep trying to achieve more. Life is so much more than that.
When you’re tired, it’s harder to eat right and exercise. Then cortisol levels rise with stress, and suddenly weight is an issue. All this just adds to your fatigue.
And then with the extra weight, a stressed-out mind, and an exhausted body, who can even think about sex?
When women come to me for help in these areas, I first do a basic bloodwork lab draw . Other bloodwork tests can be done to learn more, but most times, insurance only pays for basic, if that. I do these tests to rule out medical conditions that cause fatigue, such as anemia, thyroid issues, or an autoimmune disease. If something comes up here, that’s a no brainer. We have things we can do to fix that.
If everything checks out there, I start to look at other behavioral things. I believe that most people have an innate sense to be happy or not. Those who aren’t happy are having the nutrients sucked out of them, they’re not exercising, they aren’t producing enough dopamine. And it’s a downward spiral.
It usually isn’t just one thing. So if you can get support from a life coach or a health coach, you can begin to improve each area one by one and gradually feel so much better. More energy, controlled weight, and then more interest in the bedroom. It’s saved many marriages!
Another thing that makes a significant impact on these issues is hormone replacement therapy. Everything is affected by your hormone levels. It’s challenging to maintain weight, and sex drive is lower when hormone levels are off. I recommend getting evaluated to see where your levels are.
Testosterone in pellet format for females is not approved by the FDA, however some affordable modalities can help. One that I administer is BioTE ®, a particular brand of hormone pellets. It contains a quality marker, meaning it is the same every time you get it. A BioTE ® provider must take a 3-day course, so they receive additional and thorough training on the product.
The benefit of pellets over a cream is that it starts working right away. I mean in 3 days compared to 3 or 6 months! Dosage is based on your metabolic rate, and its safer than other methods. There can be side effects of taking too much too fast, but careful dosing and other things can help with that.
Shannon shared that she’s been a BioTE ® patient for 8 or 9 years and says it was a life changer! She’s got so much energy now and can tell when her treatments are too far in between.
Top 3 Concerns Women Bring to Their Mental Health Provider
Hi guys, Shannon here. The top three concerns I heard when I was a clinician were:
- Feeling less than or not worthy, self-confidence issues
- Not dealing with past issues and traumas
- Chemical Imbalances, genetics, environment leading to severe depression and anxiety
When it comes to traumas, I like to point out that trauma doesn’t have to mean going to war (although that is trauma) or being a victim of rape (although that is trauma too). Trauma refers to any disruption in your everyday, normal thinking. That stuff gets stored in the body, and if not dealt with, leads to all kinds of disease.
There are lifestyle choices that can affect all of those things I mentioned. Sue says she’d rather the treatment be natural versus medication. It’s harder to work through it, but it feels so much better when you do! (Not to say that medication is never the answer and I do believe it is an important option to consider).
I recently received a treatment that was so amazing: brain scans. There was so much involved in this comprehensive process. They scanned my brain while active and at rest, along with bloodwork and online testing. Then a psychiatrist reviewed my results.
Can you believe they discovered a severe brain injury that I had when I was in a motorcycle accident at age 14 that I had forgotten about? It was unbelievable!
This led to learning that an area of my brain misfires when it should be at rest, which is why I have trouble sleeping.
So you take all this and put it together with lifestyle, exercise, and supplements that are specific to what your brain needs.
The Relationship Between Mind and Body
I love that we’re having this discussion because I really believe that mental and physical health is totally connected. When you’re experiencing depression, sadness, overwhelm, and burnout that 100 percent affects your hormone and energy levels.
There are many treatments and modalities available to us today, and not one thing is absolutely right for everyone. It’s essential to listen to your body and work with trusted professionals to find the best treatments for your whole body wellness.
That’s my goal here with the Happy Hour Podcast. To help you find what’s right for you by sharing all the great stuff that I’m trying and learning. Thanks for being a part of our tribe!
