I Choose Me with Dr. Stacia Alexander Artwork

Circling the Drain

A podcast about the period BEFORE you stop getting your period. The concept of a woman "circling the drain" conjures up negative imagery for some, but the origin of this as the name of the podcast has a story. A friend, in her 30's at the time, was listing her ailments to a male physician who clearly had a terrible bedside manner, because he responded to her complaints by shrugging his shoulders in a dismissive fashion and saying something like, "I don't know what to tell you. From now on, you're basically just circling the drain!" Co-hosts Ellie and Julia have been laughing at the audacity of this tone-deaf interaction ever since, and when they decided to start this podcast about the plight of the aging woman, they chose to reclaim and repurpose the phrase in the spirit of humor. Every human on the planet is circling the drain from the moment we are born. The question is, how slowly and gracefully can we spiral? And can we minimize the discomfort while we whirl? Perimenopausal co-hosts Ellie and Julia take a deep dive into the sometimes embarrassing, often hilarious, and always bewildering issues of the hormonal changes that take place in midlife. Through honest accounts, thoughtful interviews, and group panel discussions, their mission is to make you chuckle, make you nod your head in recognition, and hopefully make some scientific progress.

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Circling the Drain

I Choose Me with Dr. Stacia Alexander

June 07, 2023 • Ellie Dvorkin Dunn & Julia Granacki with Dr. Stacia Alexander • Season 3 • Episode 51

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When we met Dr. Stacia Alexander at a menopause symposium, we were instantly drawn to her energy, magnetism, and hot-pink-suit-wearing confidence. A seasoned psychotherapist, she has worked with professional women helping them understand that the journey to success does not make them immune to emotional and cognitive changes. Her most recent work focuses on the importance of accessing mental health care early, and she has even written a book that we wish we had read almost 30 (!!!) years ago: 10 + Things I Wish I Knew About Mental Health in College. We loved talking to Dr. Alexander about her use of testosterone as part of her menopause hormone therapy, her decision to become "sugar sober", and when it's time to press the Emergency Stop Button and take stock of your life. Get ready for lots of inspirational phrases that won't make you roll your eyes, but WILL make you want to get up and go dancing. What's the opposite of an energy vampire? Dr. Stacia Alexander, that's what.

Topics and timestamps
12:08 - Responsible use of testosterone as part of a hormone therapy regimen
20:06 - The benefits of becoming "sugar sober"
30:20 - The Emotionality of Success
33:25 - Pushing the "emergency stop button" and assessing what your really want for your life
40:13 - Tips for access to mental health care
46:25 - The importance of goal-setting

Handles and sites
Dr. Alexander's website
Dr. Alexander's Insta
Dr. Alexander's facebook
Dr. Alexander's book 10+ Things I Wish I Knew About Mental Health in College

List of Resources Mentioned
Why Annual Pap Smears Are History – But Routine Ob-Gyn Visits Are Not
First testosterone patch for menopausal women to begin clinical trials this year

Your To Do List of FUN
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Other Links
Erin's Faces Affiliate Link
Julia G Wellness
https://circlingthedrainpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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People on this episode

Ellie Dvorkin Dunn

Co-host

Julia Granacki

Co-host