Perimenopause: the phase where your body does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and your brain has thoughts about it. So what happens when hot flashes hit, anxiety creeps in, and suddenly you're questioning everything from your wardrobe to your worth? And more importantly…what if the problem isn't just the symptom, but the story you've been told about it?
In this episode of OvaryActive, Julia Weitlauf joins the Docs to talk all about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for menopause—because apparently, we can't control the hot flashes, but we can control how much they ruin our day.
They are covering what CBT is, how it's been used for decades to treat things like anxiety and insomnia, and how it's now being adapted to help women manage menopause symptoms, specifically the distress around hot flashes.
Listeners will also hear why the CBT approach doesn't eliminate symptoms, but can significantly reduce their impact, improve quality of life, and help women get back to doing the things they love.
Bottom line: menopause may still be a buzzkill… but it doesn't have to run the show.
What you'll hear in this episode:
[3:00] What is CBT?
[4:53] How CBT is used for anxiety, depression, & imsomnia
[6:23] CBT with menopause and perimenopause
[15:08] CBT session-by-session breakdown
[24:47] When menopause overlaps with anxiety and depression
[26:58] CBT improves sleep, mood, and quality of life…why?
[28:08] DIY options
[32:26] Who should use CBT?
[33:41] How to find a therapist trained in CBT?
[35:19] Final takeaway
Resources:
Julia Weitlauf on LinkedIn
Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats by Myra Hunter
psychologytoday.com/us
Ireland