32: Taming the Havoc Hormones Have on Your Mental Health with Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich
Clear the airShow Notes
Hormonal fluctuations are a normal part of a woman’s life—but for many, they can wreak havoc on our mood, cognition, and overall mental wellbeing. Despite the profound impact hormones can have on our psychological state, the conversation is often overlooked or misunderstood in the workplace.
In this episode, we're joined by Caroline Gurvich to explore the powerful connection between hormones and mental health across the lifespan. From PMS to menopause, Caroline will unpack how our biology affects our brain function, emotional regulation, and mental resilience.
Caroline’s biography:
Caroline Gurvich is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at Monash University. She is also the Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia, Head of the “Cognition and Hormones Group" and Chair of the Victorian College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. Caroline has over 120 publications that have contributed to a better understanding of cognition in mental health and mental illness.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
0:00 - Intro 02:45 - Caroline’s journey to become a clinical neuropsychologist 03:45 - What are hormones and how do they affect the brain 05:30 - What happened when hormones cause havoc on our bodies 10:20 - Are the symptoms of hormone fluctuations the same in normal physiology and when things go wrong 12:00 - The impact of contraceptive pills on our mental health 14:30 - Do men experience similar effects from hormone fluctuations 16:00 - How does menopause impact women in the workplace 19:00 - What can women do to navigate the menopause transition more easily 25:00 - what can workplace do to support the employee 26:00 - how can a male manager support female employees 28:32 - how does hormones impact pregnant employees or new mum. 33:15 - what is the role of hormone replacement therapy 36:45 - what is the role of diet and supplements to improve brain health 38:45 - The evidence behind mindfulness and therapy to improve cognition 46:00 - Can Menopause have a positive impact on women 48:30 - Does hormone fluctuations impact neurodiverse individual differently 53:30 - Are individuals with mental illness more vulnerable to menopause 55:40 - What is the first step if you are concerned about hormones impacting your mental health 58:10 - What is Caroline’s one wellbeing practice
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