Is It Burnout or Perimenopause? Why It Might Be Both with Jennifer Gularson

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things, yet you’re still running on empty, snapping over small stuff, and wondering if your body is betraying you? In this episode, functional medicine expert Jennifer Gularson breaks down the confusing overlap between stress, burnout, and perimenopause so you can finally figure out what’s really going on with your health.

Jennifer Gularson, PA-C, IFMCP, is an expert in women’s midlife health and functional medicine. She practices at the Osteopathic Center for Healing, where she helps women navigate perimenopause, menopause, and complex health concerns.

In this episode:

• Jennifer shares how working at a med spa in 2008 inspired her to help women navigate hormone health and understand what is happening inside their bodies.
• Jennifer shares that perimenopause can start in your 30s or 40s, lasting up to ten years while causing subtle mood shifts and sudden rage that affect your overall hormone health.
• Jennifer explains how burnout and hormone shifts work together like a three-legged stool, so high stress directly impacts your sex hormones, adrenals, and thyroid.
• She talks about simple first steps to support your hormone health, such as tracking your monthly cycle symptoms, prioritizing quality sleep, and trying adaptogen supplements.
• She emphasizes that busy women need to stop equating being busy with being valuable and give themselves permission to rest without feeling any guilt.
• She shares why middle-aged women should swap intense daily cardio for heavy weight lifting and gentle practices like yoga or massage to protect their long-term hormone health.
• She explains what to do when your doctor says your lab tests are completely normal, showing how optimal lab ranges matter much more for your daily wellness.
• She talks about how stress and perimenopause affect intimacy, explaining responsive desire and why scheduling date nights protects your connection and hormone health.
• She shares important advice on keeping your body feeling great as you age, including using preventative care to maintain your overall comfort and hormone health.