65. The Missing Piece Behind Anxiety, Fatigue & Weight Gain: Your Nervous System
Release Date: 05/28/2025
Perimenopause Simplified
As another year comes to a close, many women in midlife silently judge themselves for what they didn’t achieve. In this powerful year-end episode, Claudia dismantles the toxic belief that your worth is tied to timelines, milestones, or other people’s expectations. If you’ve ever felt behind - in your career, relationships, finances, health, or life - this episode will shift your perspective and help you walk into 2026 with confidence. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why so many women over 40 feel “behind” despite working harder than ever and where those expectations really come...
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If you’ve been snapping at people you love, feeling angry for no reason, or like you’re becoming someone you barely recognize, this episode explains why. Perimenopause rage is a physiological response to shifting hormones, mineral depletion, and decades of over-functioning. In this episode, Claudia breaks down what’s driving the emotional volatility, why traditional advice doesn’t help, and what it actually takes to feel calm and grounded again. In this episode, you’ll learn: The surprising hormonal shifts that trigger sudden rage in perimenopause Why low progesterone and...
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In this episode, Claudia sits down with Tonya Romano, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and co-coach inside The Perimenopause Method, to talk about her personal journey into menopause - a few years earlier than expected. From losing her period in her 40s to discovering the power of functional testing, nutrition, weight training, and hormone therapy, Tonya’s story will resonate with any woman wondering if what she’s feeling is “normal.” We covered: The early signs Tonya experienced that hinted something was off What it was like going through menopause in her 40s How her...
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Tired, bloated, moody, or not like yourself? Before you assume it’s mold, Lyme, or some complicated “root cause”, it might be time to get back to the basics. In this episode, Claudia shares what women in perimenopause truly need to focus on first to start feeling better. She breaks down why functional medicine sometimes leads to fear and confusion, and how to simplify your approach, so your body can finally heal and thrive in your 40s and beyond. What You’ll Learn: The truth about why women over 40 overcomplicate their health (and what to do instead) The key foundations your body...
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Feeling stuck or craving change lately? In this episode, Claudia shares how a simple impulsive hair-dye moment became a reminder that midlife is the perfect season to reinvent yourself. Whether it’s changing careers, reconnecting with your partner, starting a new workout routine, or simply saying yes to what you’ve been putting off - this episode helps you rediscover who you are beyond the roles you’ve played. Learn how to build self-trust, embrace change without fear, and find confidence after 40 - one bold move at a time. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why midlife is the...
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If your doctor told you your labs are “normal” but you still feel tired, bloated, anxious, or off in your body, this episode is for you. Claudia explains the difference between conventional lab ranges and optimal ones, the patterns most doctors overlook, and how functional blood work can finally give you the clarity and answers you've been missing in perimenopause. You’ll learn: Why “normal” lab results don’t mean your body is functioning optimally The difference between conventional and functional lab interpretation Common markers that get dismissed - and why they matter What...
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If you’ve noticed more chin hair, nipple hair, or thicker pubic hair in your 40s…you’re not imagining it. In this episode, Claudia breaks down what’s really behind the sudden hair growth and how your midlife hormones and metabolism are connected. You’ll learn: Why androgen hormones can spike during perimenopause and trigger hair growth How declining estrogen and progesterone make androgens more dominant The link between insulin resistance and excess hair - and why how you eat matters Key labs to assess metabolic and hormone health The role of inflammation, gut health, and stress in...
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In this powerful and heart-opening conversation, I joined my good friend Jennifer Ragazzo, a Soul Aligned Wellness Coach, on her podcast, The Daily Surrender, to explore the sacred intersection of hormones, healing and higher purpose. Together we unpack: Hormonal shifts that shape midlife and why your changing body is not betraying you - it’s inviting you to listen deeper How pushing, striving, and over-controlling can sabotage your hormones, creativity, and peace Why redefining success in this season means aligning with your biology and your soul Spiritual and emotional freedom that...
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Are you always thinking about food, feeling hungry, or never fully satisfied in perimenopause? You’re not alone. In this episode, Claudia breaks down why food noise gets louder in midlife, the role of fluctuating hormones, and how nutrition, movement, and even how GLP-1s can help you finally feel in control. You’ll learn: How estrogen fluctuations and blood sugar dips drive constant hunger Why under-eating over 40 backfires The impact of activity level and strength training on fueling needs The role of progesterone and testosterone in appetite How GLP-1 medications...
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Many women start hormone therapy expecting relief from hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings - only to be frustrated when the scale starts creeping up. While providers often dismiss it, weight gain on HRT is a real experience for many. In this episode, Claudia explains why it happens, which hormones play a role, and what you can do to support your metabolism in midlife. What you’ll learn in this episode: How progesterone can sometimes trigger water retention (even though it’s a diuretic) Why estrogen balance matters for fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, and fluid shifts The risks...
info_outlineIf you’re feeling anxious, exhausted, gaining weight, and like nothing is working anymore, this episode is for you. These symptoms aren’t just about hormones; they’re often signs of a dysregulated nervous system. In this episode, Functional Health & Integrative Nutrition Coach Claudia Petrilli, breaks down how your nervous system impacts hormones, metabolism, sleep, mood, and more during perimenopause.
You’ll learn why so many women over 40 feel stuck in survival mode and what you can start doing right now to calm your nervous system, reclaim your energy, and feel like yourself again.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why your nervous system matters more than ever in midlife
- How chronic stress affects cortisol, thyroid, estrogen, and progesterone
- Why feeling “tired but wired” is a sign your body is stuck in fight-or-flight
- How trauma wires your system for stress
- What a healthy cortisol rhythm should look like (and how to support it)
- 5 simple ways to regulate your nervous system today
💗Learn about Perimenopause Intensive, Claudia’s 8-week private coaching package for women ready to take action HERE. Limited spots available.
To connect with Claudia Petrilli:
FREE GIFT: Peri-What?! The Must-Have Guide for Women 40+ Navigating Hormone Changes
FREE GIFT: Perimenopause Daily Checklist
WORK WITH US: The Perimenopause Method
BOOK A CLARITY SESSION: Perimenopause Clarity Session
HRT COURSE: Perimenopause HRT Roadmap
QUESTIONS? EMAIL: claudia@claudiapetrilli.com
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