What this episode is about
Your emotional changes during menopause aren't random - they're guideposts to deeper wisdom. Learn how to decode their messages and use them for powerful personal growth.
Key takeaways
- Gabriella says anger, anxiety and low mood can be invitations for deeper healing. Seeing them that way can change the story we tell about menopause.
- Psychotherapist Ashley Turner says to get curious about irritability, anxiety or rage. Ask what the feeling is trying to teach you.
- Ashley says your hormones affect your neurotransmitters, and those shape your thoughts and mood. When hormones drop, you may have less emotional resilience than before.
Moments from this episode
Word for word from the recording. Tap a time to hear it.
Hormones shape our thoughts
“Often when hormones decline we don't have the same kind of resilience energetically or emotionally, and our hormones play a direct role in our thoughts, in our mood, because hormones affect our neurotransmitters which are really shaping our thoughts.”
Menopause is a time to rest and heal
“If we just take, take a step back and see it, this is a time of rest, this is a time of healing.”
Middle-aged women are a great resource
“I firmly believe that the greatest resource on this planet is the wisdom and power and lived experience of middle age and elder women.”
Lighter, freer, connected
“Making peace with their past and really laying down that baggage and letting it go, and feeling free and feeling lighter and feeling more clear.”
“We all deserve a conversation with our doctors. Whether or not to take hormones is an individual choice, but we deserve that information, and we deserve to allow all women to make those choices.”
Gabriella Espinosaat 8:15
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Show notes
Most discussions about menopause focus on managing physical symptoms.
But what if your emotional and psychological changes point to something much more meaningful?
In my recent conversation with Ashley Turner, licensed psychotherapist and yoga/meditation expert, we explored how menopause serves as a powerful gateway to personal transformation and deeper self-discovery.
Read the full show notesShow less
The Truth About Mental Health in Menopause
"For me, it was really interesting because so many of my symptoms were mental and emotional," Ashley shares. "I erroneously thought to just look for hot flashes. There was no conversation around anxiety, depression, loss of confidence, lack of agency, lack of sex drive – these things that were dramatically impacting the quality of my life."
Despite being a mental health professional herself, Ashley found limited support for the psychological aspects of menopause. This gap in care highlights a crucial need for understanding menopause beyond its physical symptoms.
Key Mental Health Insights:
- 68-70% of midlife women report changes to their libido
- Depression and anxiety can signal deeper needs for change
- Emotional symptoms deserve as much attention as physical ones
- Standard medical care often overlooks psychological support needs
Your Emotions Point to Deeper Wisdom
Ashley emphasizes viewing emotional challenges as messengers rather than problems to fix. "Depression is repression," she notes. "There's some aspect of ourselves that we're repressing - a part that needs attention and wants to be expressed."
Common emotional experiences during menopause:
- Increased irritability
- Anger or rage
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of confidence
- Questioning roles or identities
These feelings often signal areas of life requiring attention or change. Rather than seeing them as symptoms to suppress, they can guide you toward greater authenticity.
The Six Dimensions of Menopause Transformation
Ashley outlines her holistic approach to menopause through six key areas:
- Physical: Hormonal balance, nutrition, and fitness optimization
- Mental: Understanding hormone-mood connections and mindset work
- Emotional: Processing unresolved trauma and grief
- Energetic: Nervous system regulation and sexual identity
- Spiritual: Connecting with wisdom and purpose
- Integration: Creating a vision for your next chapter
Why Rest Becomes Essential
"One of the biggest tools is for people to implement space and rest and really claim and create structures in their life that will support their deep rest," Ashley explains. This isn't just about sleeping more – it's about creating genuine alone time for reflection and renewal.
Practical ways to prioritize rest:
- Minimize commitments
- Create quiet time without devices
- Allow yourself to do less
- Listen to your body's needs
- Give yourself permission to pause
The Power of Redefining Identity
"We've gone through our life, and we've had several decades... we've arrived at some place," Ashley reflects. "And now we get here, and we're reckoning with the achievements or material things that we've acquired... we realize the satisfaction that they bring are futile."
This realization opens the door to asking deeper questions:
- Who am I beyond my roles?
- What brings me true fulfillment?
- How do I want to spend my energy?
- What needs to change in my relationships?
Moving Forward with Grace
The journey through menopause offers an invitation to reconnect with yourself at a soul level. As Ashley reminds us, "We are souls having a human experience." This perspective helps reframe menopause from a time of loss to one of profound awakening.
Action Steps for Your Journey:
- Create regular time for self-reflection
- Listen to your body's signals
- Question old patterns and beliefs
- Seek support from understanding professionals
- Allow yourself to evolve and change
Remember that this transformation doesn't happen overnight. Give yourself time to process, heal, and discover who you're becoming.
Take Your Next Step
If you're ready to explore the deeper meaning of your symptoms and transform this transition into a journey of profound self-discovery, I'm excited to share Ashley's powerful program with you.
Introducing: Metamorphosis
This unique 6-month program guides you through the six dimensions of menopause transformation:
- Physical wellbeing and hormone balance
- Mental and emotional healing
- Energetic and sexual wellness
- Spiritual growth and wisdom
- Creating your vision for what's next
The next cohort begins in November, but you can join anytime. Connect with Ashley on Instagram or visit yoga-psychology.co/metamorphosis to learn more.
Remember, this journey isn't just about managing symptoms - it's about becoming who you're meant to be.
About Our Guest:
Ashley Turner is a licensed Marriage and Family psychotherapist, renowned yoga and meditation expert, and the creator of Yoga.Psyche.Soul. She leads international retreats, works with individuals and couples, consults for companies, and lectures in academic settings.
→ Instagram: instagram.com/ashleyturner1 → Website: yoga-psychology.co → LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleyturner
About the guest
Ashley TurnerLicensed marriage and family psychotherapist, yoga and meditation teacher, and founder of Yoga Psyche Soul2 episodes with Ashley Turner on Pleasure in the Pause.See all their episodes
