The Forties Formula | Perimenopause, Lifestyle & Health for Women Over 40

Why You Snap at the People You Love — and How to Stop, With Anna Mathur

The Forties Formula | Perimenopause, Lifestyle & Health for Women Over 40

Show Notes

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x Have you ever completely lost your temper… and then immediately wondered, "What's wrong with me?" If you're finding yourself more irritable, more reactive, or snapping at the people you love in your 40s, you're not alone… and it may have far less to do with your personality than you think. This week, we're joined by psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of The Therapy Edit podcast, Anna Mathur, to unpack why so many women experience anger, overwhelm and rage during midlife. Together, we explore the hidden emotional load women carry, how perimenopause changes our stress response, why guilt keeps us stuck, and the small shifts that can help us feel like ourselves again. From learning the difference between anger and rage, to spotting the warning signs before you explode, repairing relationships after you've snapped, and finally giving yourself permission to rest without guilt… this conversation is filled with compassionate, practical tools every woman needs. If you've ever thought, "I don't recognise myself anymore," this episode is for you.

Chapters 00:00 | Why are we snapping at the people we love? 02:08 | Anna's breaking point after motherhood & the pandemic 05:48 | The shame every woman feels after losing her temper 06:54 | Anger vs. rage: why they're not the same thing 09:10 | The "boiling pot" analogy every woman needs 10:42 | Amanda's shocking anger management story 14:22 | The warning signs you're about to snap 16:50 | Good girl conditioning & why women can't rest 19:20 | Why rest feels so uncomfortable (and even selfish) 23:56 | How perimenopause changes your brain's stress response 26:21 | "I can't even be sick." The invisible mental load of motherhood 28:35 | Why you have to stop waiting for permission to take care of yourself 32:03 | Sleep, cortisol & why everything feels harder when you're exhausted 35:04 | Your phone isn't helping you rest 37:20 | What to do after you've snapped at someone you love 41:34 | The repair technique every parent should know 43:43 | When the problem isn't really about the dishes 46:37 | Why burnout happens—and why some women can't stop until they crash 49:36 | Two simple practices to start changing this week 52:06 | Stop asking "What's wrong with me?" 54:05 | Anna's new book: How to Stop Snapping at the People You Love

About your hosts: Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda Support the podcast: If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this. You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula Thank you to our sponsors: Love Indus: Use code TFF for 21% off https://loveindus.com

More from The Forties Formula | Perimenopause, Lifestyle & Health for Women Over 40

Oct 21, 2026

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x Do collagen supplements work for skin in your 40s? UK consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto busts the skincare myths women over 40 still believe, from retinoids and Botox to Profhilo and Ozempic face. Spending a fortune on skincare and your skin still looks tired? Your skin has changed since your twenties, and most of us were given the wrong advice. Jasmin and Amanda ask Dr Anjali why skincare stops working in your 40s, what collagen, retinoids, Botox and Profhilo really do, and what belongs in your routine. She also shares her heart story at 43 and why women must advocate for themselves. Not being heard by your doctor? Get our free script: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/script Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 05:45 The Biggest Skincare Lie Women Over 40 Believe 06:39 Choosing a Cleanser for Your Skin Type 08:01 Are Scrubs and Acids Safe for Your Skin? 10:13 Retinoids Explained and How to Start Safely 12:58 What Do Botox and Profhilo Do? 17:19 Why Does Your Skin Change in Your 40s? 18:06 Hormones, Oestrogen and Adult Acne 19:24 The Essential Skincare Routine 20:46 Is Vitamin C Worth It? 22:04 What Is Ozempic Face? 24:16 Polynucleotides Explained 27:23 Dark Circles and Under Eye Treatments 28:40 Building a Routine on a Budget 31:18 Diet, Vitamin D and Iron for Skin 33:50 Are Facials Worth It? 35:16 Do Collagen Supplements Work? 38:50 Strength Training, Sleep and Skin Health 40:03 Heart Disease in Women: Dr Anjali's Story 42:11 How to Advocate for Yourself 46:06 Genetics, Melanin and Ageing Well 49:14 Skincare for Multiracial Skin 53:32 Hot or Hype: Beef Tallow, Double Cleansing and More 58:23 What's Your Forties Formula? About Dr Anjali Mahto One of the UK's leading consultant dermatologists and author of The Skincare Bible. About your hosts Jasmin Dhillon, Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach: https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/ Amanda Lim, Metabolic Health Coach: https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/ Support the podcast Buy us a coffee: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/products/buy-us-a-coffee Thank you to our sponsors For Youth: Use code FORTY for up to 35% off storewide. https://www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system Love Indus: Use code TFF for 21% off. https://loveindus.com Cozy Earth: Use code TFF for up to 21% off. https://cozyearth.com/ This episode is for education only and is not medical advice. Tags: dr anjali mahto, dermatologist, skincare in your 40s, skincare over 40, skincare routine, do collagen supplements work, collagen for skin, ozempic face, menopause skin problems, perimenopause skin, anti aging skincare, mature skin, adult acne, retinoids, profhilo, botox, polynucleotides, women over 40, heart disease in women, the forties formula

Oct 18, 2026

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x In this deeply honest conversation, Amanda Lim and Jasmin Dhillon sit down with registered psychotherapist and integrative sex & relationship therapist Cheryl Kennedy McDonald to unpack the invisible process of identity loss in long-term relationships. From self-concept erosion and trauma bonds to gaslighting, narcissistic abuse and the emotional reality of divorce, this episode explores why so many women stay, how toxic relationship patterns develop, and what it truly takes to rebuild your sense of self. Cheryl explains why leaving isn't simply about willpower, how childhood experiences shape the relationships we accept, and why healing requires far more than just moving on. Whether you're navigating divorce, questioning your relationship, supporting a loved one, or simply wanting to understand the psychology behind these patterns, this conversation offers practical insights with compassion and clarity. In this episode, we discuss: * What "self-concept erosion" really looks like * The subtle signs you've lost your identity in a relationship * Trauma bonds and why leaving can feel impossible * The difference between lying and gaslighting * Understanding narcissistic personality disorder vs narcissistic traits * Why women often struggle after leaving toxic relationships * The importance of female friendships during healing * How to rebuild confidence, identity and self-worth after divorce * Why self-compassion is essential for recovery About your hosts: Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach and Director at The Lift Clinic in Singapore, focused on helping women build strength and long-term metabolic health. Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist helping women in their 40s manage health through lifestyle interventions across gut health, hormones and nutrition. Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/](https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/) Thank you to our sponsors: For Youth | Use code TF35 for up to 35% off storewide → (http://www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system) Cozy Earth | Use code TFF for up to 31% off → (https://cozyearth.com) Love Indus | Use code TFF for 21% off → https://loveindus.com(https://loveindus.com) --- If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who may be questioning their relationship, navigating divorce, rebuilding their identity, or supporting a loved one through a difficult chapter. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Want more? Join our mailing list for weekly updates on research, finds and gossip: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/ Buy us a coffee: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/products/buy-us-a-coffee Podcasting is hardwork, help us clear the brain fog with a bit of caffeine!

Oct 14, 2026

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x Holly Matthews on grief, ADHD and being your weirdest self: actress Holly Matthews lost her husband Ross to brain cancer at 32. She shares how she rebuilt her life, talked to her daughters about death and turned grief into The Happy Me Project. What happens when your career is playing other people, and real life takes away the script? In this episode of The Forties Formula podcast, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim talk to Holly Matthews, a UK actress on screen since age 11, bestselling author, TEDx speaker and founder of The Happy Me Project. In 2017, her husband Ross died of brain cancer at 32, leaving her with two daughters aged four and six. Holly shares Ross's diagnosis, explaining death honestly to young children, grieving in the public eye and why creating helped her more than therapy. She explains how a course recorded on her phone became a Bloomsbury book deal, how a late ADHD diagnosis changed her life, and why being your weirdest self matters more in the age of AI. QUICK ANSWERS How do you explain death to a young child? Be honest and keep talking. Children fill silence with their own stories and sometimes blame themselves. Does grief look the same for everyone? No. Holly says grief comes in waves, and milestones are often the hardest moments. What does "be your weirdest self" mean? Being your most authentic self, including the parts you were told were too much. What is Holly's Forties Formula? Be your weirdest self, and joy is non-negotiable. CHAPTERS 0:00 How do you cope when your husband has brain cancer? 1:00 Who was Holly Matthews before The Happy Me Project? 5:30 How did Holly meet Ross? 9:30 What were the early signs of Ross's brain tumour? 12:00 How do you face a terminal diagnosis together? 16:00 How do you explain death to young children? 20:00 How do you grieve in the public eye? 22:30 Does therapy help with grief? 25:00 How did The Happy Me Project start? 28:00 How did Holly get a book deal with Bloomsbury? 32:00 What is adult ADHD diagnosis like for women? 37:00 What does it mean to be your weirdest self? 40:00 Why does authenticity matter in the age of AI? 42:00 What is Holly Matthews' Forties Formula? SPONSORED BY COZY EARTH Rest is part of healing. Cozy Earth makes sleepwear, bedding and loungewear built for comfort: https://cozyearth.com

Oct 11, 2026

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x This episode might be the most personal conversation we've had on The Forties Formula. Dr. Christle Gueverra is a sports medicine physician who has been on GLP1 for weight loss herself for four years. She brings both the clinical picture and the personal one, and what she shares here is unlike anything we've heard from a doctor on this topic. Together we get into why so many women experience weight gain in their 40s suddenly hit a wall with weight despite training hard and eating well, what GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are actually doing inside the body, and why the food noise piece is the part almost nobody talks about. We also cover who is actually a good candidate (it's not as straightforward as your BMI), how to protect your muscle while losing fat, what to do if you want to come off the medication, and why obesity should be treated as a chronic disease rather than a willpower problem. Link to full episode here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dRlUJDdtXK7DgXK9XoGHE Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/this-is-the-biggest-mistake-women-make-with-glp-1/id1724267923?i=1000777943969&l=pa In this episode: Why weight gain in 40s is not simply about eating less and moving more How GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound help with appetite control What food noise actually feels like and why silencing it changes everything Dr. Christle's personal GLP-1 journey as an obesity medicine physician Who is and isn't a good candidate, including Asian BMI considerations Side effects, safety data and what your doctor should be monitoring How to protect muscle mass and metabolic health on a GLP-1 Protein, resistance training and nutrition strategies that support fat loss Whether you can come off GLP-1 medication without regaining weight Why obesity is a chronic neurobiological disease, not a personal failure About your hosts: Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach and Director at The Lift Clinic in Singapore, focused on helping women build strength and long-term metabolic health. Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist helping women in their 40s manage health through lifestyle interventions across gut health, hormones and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/ Thank you to our sponsors: For Youth | Use code FORTY for up to 35% off storewide → www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system Cozy Earth | Use code TFF for up to 31% off → https://cozyearth.com Love Indus | Use code TFF for 21% off → https://loveindus.com Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Oct 7, 2026

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x Breast cancer signs and symptoms every woman should know. Breast surgeon and breast cancer survivor Dr Liz O'Riordan explains how to check your breasts, mammograms and how to lower your risk. What happens when a breast surgeon finds a lump in her own breast? In this Breast Cancer Awareness Month episode of The Forties Formula podcast, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by Dr Liz O'Riordan, a UK breast surgeon diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at 40, which has since come back twice. Liz shares what it was like to go from surgeon to patient overnight, the fear of recurrence, and losing her mum to cancer. Then she walks us through a breast self-exam, the warning signs that are not a lump, whether mammograms are safe, why breast cancer is rising in younger women, and the lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk. KEY TAKEAWAYS One in seven women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, and risk rises with age. Breast cancer is not just a lump. Look for skin colour changes, dimpling, a nipple that has pulled in, a rash, and clear or bloody discharge. Check your breasts and armpits every month. If a change is still there after a week or two, see your doctor. Breast pain on its own is very rarely a sign of breast cancer. Mammograms can find cancers before you can feel them. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of several cancers by 30 to 40%. If you are young and worried, say it clearly: "I'm worried I could have breast cancer." CHAPTERS 0:00 Breast Cancer Awareness Month 0:28 A breast surgeon's breast cancer diagnosis 2:04 Going from surgeon to patient 3:03 The psychological impact of cancer 4:34 How cancer affects your family 5:14 When the cancer came back 7:08 Was it my fault? 7:41 Alcohol, lifestyle and breast cancer risk 9:05 Losing her mum to bone cancer 12:18 One in seven women: breast cancer statistics 13:14 How to check your breasts 14:16 Warning signs to look for in the mirror 15:50 Nipple changes, rashes and discharge 17:22 Is breast pain a sign of breast cancer? 18:27 How to examine your breasts and armpits 20:22 Are mammograms safe? 21:42 Breast cancer in younger women 22:58 Why is breast cancer rising? 25:50 Metabolic health and diet 27:25 Lifestyle changes after a cancer diagnosis 28:38 Exercise and reducing the risk of recurrence ABOUT THE GUEST Dr Liz O'Riordan is a UK breast surgeon, author and breast cancer survivor. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Jasmin Dhillon, Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach. Instagram: @eat.with.jasmin Amanda Lim, Metabolic Health Coach. Instagram: @coachamanda When did you last check your breasts? Tell us in the comments and subscribe to The Forties Formula. This episode is general information, not medical advice. If you notice a change in your breasts, see your doctor. #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancer #BreastCancerSymptoms #BreastSelfExam #WomenOver40 #TheFortiesFormula

See all episodes →