The Real Reason Women Fall Apart in Perimenopause

Midlife health, perimenopause symptoms, anxiety, sleep issues, burnout and hormone imbalance — why women in their 40s feel “off” even when tests are normal.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with Dr Olivia Lesslar to unpack why so many women in their 40s feel like something has shifted in their body — yet struggle to get clear answers.

If you’ve experienced lighter sleep, rising anxiety, unpredictable energy, weight changes, or a sense that your body isn’t responding the way it used to, this conversation connects the dots.

Dr Olivia Lesslar is an Australian medical doctor and an expert in psychoneuroimmunology and longevity medicine. Her work focuses on understanding how stress, hormones, the nervous system, and the immune system interact — particularly when symptoms don’t fit neatly into one diagnosis.

Together, we explore:

• Why “normal” test results don’t always reflect how you feel

• The symptoms women dismiss but shouldn’t

• How perimenopause amplifies stress and reduces resilience • Why your body may be trying to protect you, not work against you

• The impact of modern life on an already overloaded system

• GLP-1 medications, wearables, and the confusion around health trends

• Why self-compassion becomes essential in midlife

Chapters

0:00 Introduction — Why women feel “off” in their 40s

2:00 Why women are under-researched

4:30 When tests are “normal” but symptoms aren’t

8:30 Losing connection to your body and identity

13:00 Your body is trying to protect you 16:00 Ancient biology vs modern life

22:00 GLP-1 medications explained

27:30 Wearables and health anxiety

40:00 HRT and perimenopause conversation

44:00 Why women “fall off” in perimenopause

46:45 Self-compassion and the real shift in midlife

About your hosts

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach specialising in gut health, hormone balance and nutrition for women in midlife.

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health coach passionate about helping women build strength, resilience and confidence in their 40s and beyond.

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Tags: perimenopause, midlife health, hormone imbalance, womens health 40s, anxiety in women, burnout, fatigue, sleep issues, gut health, longevity, psychoneuroimmunology, stress, nervous system, GLP1, HRT, fitness trackers, muscle health