All About You With Dr Shauna Watts

• Perimenopause Stole Her Confidence! How Shelly Fought Back

  What happens when a woman whose career depends on confidence and words suddenly loses both? For journalist Shelly Horton, perimenopause didn’t arrive with hot flushes at first. It showed up as anxiety, heart palpitations, crushing self-doubt, and moments of forgetting simple words at work.In this deeply honest episode, Dr Shauna Watts speaks with Shelly about her journey through perimenopause-related depression, being dismissed by doctors, and the quiet suffering of high-functioning women in midlife. Shelly shares how the right diagnosis, support, and hormone treatment helped her find herself again and why she’s now using her voice to make sure other women don’t feel invisible.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Understand how perimenopause can present as anxiety and depression• Recognise why high-functioning women are often missed or dismissed• Learn how hormonal changes affect confidence, cognition, and mood• Understand the role of HRT in perimenopausal depression• Recognise warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored• Learn why advocacy, for yourself and others, matters• Understand how shame and silence keep women unwellThis episode is for women who feel dismissed, disconnected, or quietly struggling in the midlife yearss. Shelly’s story sheds light on how hormonal change affects mental health and how proper support can help.For more resources from Shelly Horton:Follow her on Instagram or purchase her book ‘I’m Your Peri-Godmother’.Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00 – When Perimenopause Steals Your Confidence00:08 – Shelly Horton’s Perimenopause Wake-Up Call00:53 – Welcome to All About You with Dr Shauna Watts01:10 – “I Didn’t Recognise Myself”: Losing Confidence in Midlife02:24 – Early Perimenopause Symptoms Doctors Miss07:46 – Perimenopause, Anxiety & Depression10:56 – Getting the Right Diagnosis Changed Everything14:32 – What Depression Really Feels Like15:20 – Tracking Symptoms & Withdrawing from Life16:29 – High-Functioning Depression at Work17:28 – Why Women Hide Mental Health Struggles19:24 – Fear, Myths & Starting HRT20:45 – Dark Thoughts & Breakthrough Depression23:26 – Finding a Psychiatrist Who Understands Hormones26:32 – Extreme Heavy Bleeding in Perimenopause28:37 – A Health Crisis That Forced Change30:34 – Strength Training & Rebuilding Her Body31:50 – Body Image, Aging & Self-Trust35:46 – Going Public with Her Perimenopause Story40:13 – Vaginal Dryness & Intimate Symptoms42:17 – Invisibility, Anger & Female Empowerment48:04 – Writing a Book to Change the Conversation01:01:38 – A Message for Women Who Feel Lost* perimenopause depression* perimenopause mental health* Shelly Horton menopause* high functioning depression women* menopause anxiety and mood* hormonal depression in midlife* HRT and mental health* perimenopause symptoms women* being dismissed by doctors women* menopause advocacy Australia* women’s mental health midlife* hormone replacement therapy HRT* menopause stigma* losing confidence in perimenopause

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• Vaginal Estrogen, HRT and Cancer: The Facts You Need to Know

  Many women are left navigating menopause with fear, confusion or very little support, especially when cancer or early menopause is part of their story. This episode brings clarity to some of the most misunderstood areas of midlife health, from surgical menopause and abrupt hormone loss to the challenges older women face when they were never offered HRT in the first place.Dr Corinne Menn, OB-GYN, menopause specialist and breast cancer survivor, joins me to explain what the evidence really shows about hormones, why vaginal estrogen is safe for almost everyone, how polypharmacy affects women as they age, and what has finally changed in the way hormone therapy is being discussed.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Understand why early and surgical menopause cause more abrupt, severe symptoms and mental health effects• Learn how lack of pre-operative counselling leads to preventable suffering• Recognise why vaginal estrogen is safe for almost everyone, including cancer survivors• Explore why women in their 60s–70s are returning to discuss HRT after decades of missed care• Understand the role of shared decision-making for late-starters• Learn how polypharmacy, SSRIs, and sedatives impact bone, brain, and sexual health• Explore how HRT affects cholesterol, cardiovascular risk, and bone density• Understand the implications of the FDA’s removal of the estrogen black-box warningIf you’ve ever been told to “just cope,” felt dismissed because of your cancer history, or wondered whether hormones were still an option for you, this episode brings clarity, nuance, and evidence-based reassurance.For more resources from Dr Corinne Menn:Visit her website: https://www.drmenn.com/Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmennobgyn/?hl=enFollow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00:00 – Why Hormone Safety Is Being Re-Examined00:01:14 – Meet Dr Corinne Menn00:01:54 – What Makes Early Menopause Different00:04:06 – HRT for Women in Their 60s and 70s00:10:00 – Understanding HRT Risks and Benefits00:11:03 – Polypharmacy vs Hormone Therapy00:14:10 – Menopause, Cholesterol & Heart Health00:16:36 – Rediscover You Program (Sponsor)00:17:21 – FDA Removes Estrogen Black Box Warning00:24:51 – How FDA Changes Impact Doctors00:25:40 – What the New Label Actually Means00:27:17 – Key Updates to Estrogen Labeling00:29:13 – How Women on HRT Should Be Monitored00:30:07 – Do You Need Hormone Level Testing?00:34:33 – Managing Symptoms & Side Effects00:35:14 – Testosterone Use After Breast Cancer00:37:19 – Evidence on HRT After Breast Cancer00:40:40 – Why Menopause Advocacy Matters00:42:03 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways* vaginal estrogen safety* FDA black box estrogen* menopause after cancer* surgical menopause symptoms* early menopause risks* hormone therapy after breast cancer* HRT for women over 60* polypharmacy in menopause* SSRI risks bone health* cholesterol changes menopause* HRT cardiovascular benefits* osteoporosis prevention estrogen* Dr Corinne Menn interview* menopause specialist podcast* All About You Dr Shauna Watts

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• HRT and Breast Cancer Risk: What Every Woman Should Know

  Have you ever been told, “You can never have hormones again” because of a breast cancer diagnosis, and felt terrified to even ask a follow-up question? This episode is for every woman who’s been left in limbo between cancer care and menopause care, wondering what’s actually safe and what’s fear and old data talking.In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Corinne Menn, a board-certified OB/GYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and breast cancer survivor who went through treatment-induced menopause in her early 20s. Drawing on both her clinical expertise and lived experience, Corinne unpacks how breast cancer became so tightly (and often inaccurately) linked to HRT, what “estrogen receptor positive” really means, and why so many survivors are excluded from nuanced conversations about hormones and long-term health.In this episode, you’ll learn:• How one study and its miscommunication sparked decades of fear around HRT and breast cancer• What “estrogen receptor positive” actually means, and why it doesn’t prove estrogen caused your cancer• Why short-term HRT cannot biologically create a breast cancer that develops over the years• The difference between baseline breast cancer risk, family history, and what HRT truly changes• How synthetic progestins, body-identical progesterone, and estrogen-only therapy differ in safety data• Practical steps to prepare for appointments, track symptoms, and advocate for vaginal or systemic hormonesIf you’ve ever felt scared, confused, or dismissed when asking about hormones after breast cancer, this episode offers clarity, comfort, and evidence you can trust, helping you understand real risk, navigate safer options, and feel more empowered in your care.For more resources from Dr Corinne Menn:Visit her website: https://www.drmenn.com/Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmennobgyn/?hl=en
Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00 – Introduction & Why Hormones Feel Confusing00:37 – How HRT Became Fear-Based01:10 – Meet Dr Corinne Menn02:10 – Corinne’s Cancer & Early Menopause04:15 – How HRT Got Linked to Breast Cancer07:09 – What ER+ Really Means10:44 – Family History & True Risk11:22 – How HRT Affects Risk15:12 – What WHI Actually Showed16:32 – Why Balanced Risk Matters17:26 – Modifiable vs Fixed Risk Factors20:55 – Synthetic vs Body-Identical Hormones23:44 – Hormone Absorption Explained25:39 – Transdermal vs Oral Hormones30:17 – Benefits & Limits of Progesterone32:54 – Early Menopause & HRT Needs38:16 – Challenges for Survivors41:52 – Local vs Systemic Hormones45:24 – Vaginal Estrogen Safety48:56 – Advocating for Yourself* HRT after breast cancer* estrogen receptor positive explained* vaginal estrogen breast cancer survivors* Dr Corinne Menn interview* menopause after chemotherapy* surgical menopause HRT dosing* premature menopause health risks* bioidentical vs synthetic hormones* breast cancer family history risk* modifiable breast cancer risk factors* menopause and cancer support* hormone therapy WHI study* progesterone and breast density* advocating for vaginal estrogen* women’s health podcast midlife

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• How Quitting Alcohol Changes Your Brain & Body!

  What if taking a break from alcohol was not about losing something, but finally feeling like yourself again? For many midlife women, the nightly glass feels comforting, yet the anxiety, poor sleep and low mood often reveal a different story.In this episode, Sarah Rusbatch shares the science and lived experience behind reducing or removing alcohol. From better sleep and calmer moods to clearer thinking and stronger relationships, she explains the changes thousands of women notice when they step out of gray area drinking.In this episode, you will learn:• Why 30 days can completely shift your sleep, mood and energy• How dopamine and GABA rebalance after drinking stops• Why alcohol often intensifies perimenopause symptoms• Tools for managing cravings and avoiding cross addictions• How to navigate social pressure without losing confidence• What loved ones can do that truly helps• How gut health and serotonin change when alcohol is removed• Why life often becomes calmer, brighter and more connectedIf you have ever wondered whether alcohol affects your mood, hormones, energy or sense of self, this episode offers compassion, clarity and real hope for change.Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.appFor more resources from Sarah Rusbatch:Follow Sarah on Instagram, visit her website and download her free guide “100 Things To Do Instead of Drinking” here.Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00:00 – Why Women Reevaluate Drinking00:01:25 – Sarah Rusbatch and Her Work00:02:03 – How to Cut Back on Alcohol00:04:16 – Alcohol Free Socialising Tips00:05:44 – Handling Slips and Setbacks00:06:44 – The Truth About Moderate Drinking00:09:33 – Supporting Someone Cutting Back00:11:01 – Barriers to Drinking Less00:12:08 – Alcohol and Relationship Dynamics00:13:15 – When to Seek Professional Help00:15:31 – First Weeks Alcohol Free00:19:33 – Alcohol Hormones and Menopause00:20:22 – Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk00:26:01 – Alcohol or Perimenopause00:27:21 – Alcohol and Dopamine Changes00:29:40 – Cross Addiction Strategies00:30:19 – Filling the Space Alcohol Leaves00:31:24 – Navigating Unsupportive Friends00:32:23 – Friendship Shifts When You Drink Less00:33:50 – Alcohol and True Calm00:34:46 – How Alcohol Affects Sleep00:36:08 – Life Satisfaction After Drinking Less00:40:15 – Managing Social Anxiety Without Alcohol00:42:30 – Rebuilding Identity Beyond Drinking* Gray area drinking* Stop drinking midlife* Alcohol and perimenopause* Alcohol anxiety women* Dopamine reset alcohol* Alcohol and sleep problems* Quit drinking support* Sarah Rusbatch* Dr Shauna Watts* Alcohol free lifestyle* Midlife health* Gut health and alcohol* Perimenopause symptoms* HRT and alcohol* Women and alcohol use

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• The Secret to Staying Connected With Your Adult Child

  Once your child turns 18, control disappears but the fear, guilt and 3am “what ifs” don’t, especially when they’re gaming all night, drinking too much, not working or shutting you out. In this episode, parent coach Kim Muench joins me to unpack how to support young adults who are “lost in place”, stuck on the sofa, stuck in anxiety or stuck in risky behaviour and what actually helps: clear boundaries, honest conversations and doing your own emotional work so you’re leading, not pleading.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why control ends at 18 but your influence doesn’t and how to use it well• How to understand and support a “lost in place” young adult who won’t launch• The 4 Cs (clarity, calm, confidence, consistency) that shift stuck family patterns• Ways to talk about money, gaming, alcohol and drugs without screaming… or enabling• How to stop helicopter parenting your 20-something and become a safe place to land• Practical boundaries when you’re scared they’ll end up homeless or worse• Why emotional blackmail (“after everything I’ve done for you…”) destroys connection• How to live with estrangement, work on yourself, and leave the door open to repairIf you’re facing a young adult who won’t launch, keeps circling home, or has cut you off, this episode gives you clear language, practical tools and the “4 Cs” to shift stuck dynamics plus validation for the grief and hope that come with this stage of parenting. Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.appFor more from Kim Muench:Website: Parent Coach for Parents of Emerging Adult and Adult ChildrenFacebook: Real Life Parent GuideInstagram: Kim Muench (@kimmuenchparentcoach) • Instagram profileTikTok: Kim Muench on TikTokFollow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00:00 – Introduction: Parenting After 1800:00:25 – What Parenting Young Adults Really Looks Like00:00:41 – Meet Parent Coach Kim Muench00:02:09 – Understanding “Failure to Launch”00:03:09 – Helping a Young Adult Who’s “Lost in Place”00:05:21 – The Four Cs for Stuck Young Adults00:07:58 – Mental Health Red Flags in Young Adults00:09:25 – How Parental Anxiety Impacts Adult Children00:11:30 – Helicopter Parenting Fallout in the 20s00:12:14 – Shifting from Fixer to Supportive Guide00:13:10 – Respecting Differences Between Your Children00:16:20 – Emotional Blackmail and Broken Connection00:19:43 – Setting Financial Boundaries with Adult Children00:21:54 – Technology, Screens and Young Adult Behaviour00:24:24 – Partnering with Young Adults on Solutions00:25:15 – Today’s Pressures on 18–30-Year-Olds00:26:52 – Handling Aggression and Safety Concerns00:28:52 – Alcohol and Risky Behaviour Conversations00:32:03 – Young Adult Brain Development Explained00:33:15 – Estrangement: Coping and Leaving the Door Open00:40:58 – How to Connect with Kim Muench00:41:36 – Key Takeaways for Parenting Young Adults* parenting young adults* failure to launch adult child* adult child living at home* boundaries with adult children* parents enabling addiction* gaming addiction young adults* estranged from adult child* helicopter parenting 20 somethings* mental health and parenting* multigenerational living boundaries* setting financial boundaries kids* influence not control parenting* Kim Muench parent coach* All About You podcast* Dr Shauna Watts parenting

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