Hormones and Mental Health: Why Perimenopause Can Rewire Your Brain

Are you struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or mood swings and wondering if it’s “just stress” or something more? Hormone changes in perimenopause and menopause don’t just affect your body—they rewire your brain and can disrupt neurotransmitters that regulate mood, sleep, and energy. This episode dives deep into how hormone balance impacts mental health and what you can do to support your mind and body during this transition.

In this episode, I unpack the surprising ways estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence your brain chemistry and how their decline during perimenopause can create a ripple effect on serotonin, dopamine, and GABA—the neurotransmitters responsible for happiness, focus, and calm.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• The startling link between dropping progesterone and rising anxiety—and how this hormone acts as nature’s calming agent.

• Why estrogen is critical for serotonin and dopamine production, and what happens when levels plummet in your 40s and 50s.

• How testosterone loss affects motivation, confidence, and libido (yes, it matters for women too!).

• Practical steps to stabilize mood, improve sleep, and regain mental clarity without overhauling your entire routine.

This episode is packed with actionable strategies—from tracking your symptoms to creating a hormone-friendly sleep and nutrition plan. I also share quick nervous system resets and explain how small shifts in diet, movement, and stress management can rebalance your mood and metabolism.

Listen now to get the clarity (and strategy) you’ve been missing.

Connect with Dr. Meg:

WellPower is a free health magazine by Dr. Meg Mill, packed with expert insights, in-depth articles, and practical tips on hormone balance, gut health, and metabolic wellness for women in perimenopause and beyond. Get your free copy at https://go.megmill.com/wellpower and start optimizing your health today!

Get clarity on your hormones with The Hormone Fixer—a free checklist to help you identify imbalances and take the first steps toward better health. Download now at https://go.megmill.com/hormonefixer.

Let’s connect on Instagram for daily health tips at @drmegmill.

Learn more about how Dr. Meg can help you uplevel your health at www.megmill.com

This content is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet or exercise program.

This podcast is for women entering perimenopause and beyond who are struggling with fatigue, brain fog, bloating, weight loss resistance, and unpredictable hormones. If you’re dealing with exhaustion, low energy, brain fog, bloating, IBS, constipation, digestive discomfort, histamine issues, migraines, anxiety or hormone imbalances, this show is for you. You’ll learn how to support your metabolism, balance hormones naturally, beat IBS and bloating, and finally break through stubborn weight gain. Discover science-backed strategies to optimize digestion, improve gut health, and manage perimenopause symptoms and other hormonal imbalances—without restrictive diets or endless supplements. Whether it’s addressing estrogen dominance, blood sugar balance, or adrenal fatigue, this podcast gives you the tools to take control of your health and feel vibrant again.

If you are enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review or share it with a friend.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too!

Ever feel like no matter how clean you eat, how many supplements you take, or how well you manage your stress—you’re still dealing with fatigue, brain fog, hormone imbalance, or weight loss resistance?

I’ve been there too—and in this episode, we’re talking about a game-changing factor that’s often completely overlooked: your nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve.

This conversation with Dr. Tony Ebel dives deep into why so many of us are stuck in chronic exhaustion and low energy despite doing “everything right.” If you’ve been navigating perimenopause, digestive issues like bloating or IBS, hormone swings, or stubborn metabolism challenges, this one’s for you. You’ll learn how nervous system dysregulation affects hormone balance, gut health, and even how your body handles stress and detoxification.

We’ll explore how the HPATG axis, adrenal fatigue, cortisol, and inflammation are all downstream of a major system most of us don’t prioritize enough.

• A surprising root cause of brain fog and weight loss resistance that has nothing to do with your diet or workout.
• The overlooked connection between your gut health and vagus nerve—and how it affects bloating, constipation, and IBS.
• A subtle shift in your exercise routine that could totally transform your energy, metabolism, and hormone regulation.

Whether you're struggling with hormonal imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, or just feel like you’re running on empty, what Dr. Tony shares here is essential listening. You’ll leave with a new understanding of why your body’s “fight or flight” mode is working against your healing—and what you can start doing to shift into rest, regulation, and healing.

And here’s the best part: you don’t have to overhaul everything. Just learning how to regulate your nervous system could change how your hormones, energy, and gut function—permanently.

Tap play and let’s talk about what’s really holding you back from feeling better.

Struggling with bloating, IBS, constipation, fatigue, brain fog, or hormone imbalance? Get expert guidance on gut health, hormone balance, detox, nervous system regulation, weight loss resistance, and upleveling your health.

Recharge your body and reclaim your energy with the Fatigue to Fabulous Ultimate Energy Boosting Handbook—your go-to guide for beating exhaustion and feeling your best. Download now at https://go.megmill.com/energy.

Let’s connect on Instagram for daily health tips at @drmegmill.

Learn more about how Dr. Meg can help you uplevel your health at www.megmill.com

This content is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet or exercise program.

This podcast is for women in perimenopause and beyond who are struggling with fatigue, brain fog, bloating, weight loss resistance, and unpredictable hormones. If you’re dealing with exhaustion, low energy, digestive discomfort, or hormone imbalances, you’ll learn how to support your metabolism, balance hormones naturally, beat IBS and bloating, and finally break through stubborn weight gain. Discover science-backed strategies to optimize digestion, improve gut health, and manage perimenopause symptoms—without restrictive diets or endless supplements. Whether it’s addressing estrogen dominance, blood sugar balance, or adrenal fatigue, this podcast gives you the tools to take control of your health and feel vibrant again. If you are enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review or share it with a friend.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too!

Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow, Just Ingredients Podcast, Longevity with Nathalie Niddam, Wellness Mama, The Dr. Josh Axe Show, Ancient Health Podcast, The Model Health Show, Grounded Wellness By Primally Pure, Be Well By Kelly Leveque, The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel, The Dr. Hyman Show, The Thyroid Fixer with Dr. Amie Hornaman, Treated with Dr. Sara, Well Beyond 40 with JJ Virgin, Better! with Dr. Stephanie, Energized with Dr. Mariza