If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when you desperately wanted to say “no,” you’re not alone—especially if you’re a woman living with ADHD. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with ADHD coach and author Meredith Carder to uncover why chronic people pleasing in ADHD women is so common, how it connects to masking, guilt, …
Sjögren’s (often searched as sjogrens) is a systemic autoimmune disease that most often affects women (about ~90% of cases). In the U.S., an estimated 1–4 million people are affected and roughly half are undiagnosed. Classic sjogrens symptoms include multi-site dryness—eyes, mouth, nose/sinuses, skin, and vagina—plus fatigue, body/joint pain, and frequent dental issues; neuro and GI symptoms (brain fog, headaches, neuropathy, …
If your midlife metabolism suddenly stopped playing by the old rules, you’re not imagining it. In this episode, Dr. Brighten breaks down how perimenopause and menopause shift insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, appetite, and recovery and where glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (think semaglutide/Ozempic, Wegovy, liraglutide, tirzepatide as a related incretin therapy) can fit safely alongside hormone therapy, lifting, protein, and …
Does endometriosis go away after menopause? Many women hope so, but the reality is more complex. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with Dr. Melissa McHale to unpack the latest science, surgical risks, and what women truly need to know about navigating endometriosis during perimenopause and menopause. 🎧 Don’t miss this conversation — hit play …
So you finally got your progesterone prescription to help you sleep better, feel calmer, and support your hormones, but instead of feeling better, you’re more anxious, moody, and wide awake at night. You might have progesterone intolerance. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I uncover why some women experience the opposite of the “calming” benefits they’re promised, and …
Are you unknowingly feeding your kids foods that sabotage their gut health, disrupt hormones, and even affect brain performance? In this eye‑opening conversation, I sit down with pediatric functional medicine expert Dr. Elisa Song to uncover the hidden ingredients and environmental exposures shaping your child’s mood, focus, immune health, and long‑term development. From sugar and brain function to delayed puberty …
We’ve all been told to moisturize, use sunscreen, and maybe add a serum or two. But what if some of the trends you see on Instagram are actually accelerating skin aging? In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, board-certified dermatologist and laser expert Dr. Sara Cherem reveals what really works for aging skin and what’s just hype. From the …
Better sleep means better hormones—and in part two of our sleep series, we’re tackling three sneaky, overlooked culprits that could be wrecking your nights: blood sugar crashes, histamine surges, and the unique sleep struggles of women with ADHD. If you’ve already tried balancing estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol (covered in Part One here), yet you’re still waking up in the middle …
Struggling to fall asleep… stay asleep… or waking up at 2 AM with your heart racing and your sheets soaked? These sleep disturbances are not in your head and they’re not something you just have to live with. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we dive deep into what’s really going on when women can’t sleep during perimenopause. …