Over the past two years, I have had many Family Brain listeners (including me) ask for a guest who can talk about how to better understand/manage/embrace/enjoy? the process of perimenopause and menopause. I was thrilled to come across Dr. Kaisa Coppola as a resource. Dr. Coppola is the founder of Harmony Wellness Clinic in California, and she engages with clients from all over the US through her telemedicine practice. In talking with Dr. Coppola, I felt like I was talking with an old friend who has more information about the female body and its dynamic nature. One of the things I was most curious about was what the number one issue keeping women from healthy balance and health. Her answer… STRESS. What I loved about our conversation is that she does not just acknowledge the impact of stress, but also talks about how to become more in tune with your body and your intentions, to reduce stress in your life. If you have not listened to Episode 83 with guest Nancy Levin, check that out too! I know that setting healthy boundaries has so much impact on stress reduction. In addition to stress reduction, we talk about self-care practices like meditation and keeping a gratitude journal. Dr. Coppola is also a huge proponent of morning routines that set you up for success during your day. My biggest question for myself is why do I know that these practices help me both mentally and physically, and yet I do not implement the strategies on a regular basis. One thing I have found is that when I am under higher levels of stress for sustained periods of time, I do pull out these practices to help dig me out of my stress hole. I know that if I kept up with these techniques I might be able to avoid the stress hole all together. I am going to recognize that I am a work in progress and going to keep working on making these healthy habits a more regular part of my life. I love that Dr. Coppola acknowledges that she gets off track at times too…we are human. There is comfort in knowing that we are all working on ourselves. Find out more about Dr. Kaisa Coppola at www.harmonywc.com and on Instagram @drkaisacopploa

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