Is Brooke Shields the next big thing in midlife empowerment?
Plus: Adrenal dysfunction sounds a lot like perimenopause. Here's how to know the difference.
Brooke Shields was my favorite part about SXSW
Twas the eve of the economic crash, and I was a wee 30 years old the last time I set foot in Austin for SXSW — in 2007.
I loaded up on cheap booze and shows ranging from indies at bars to Public Enemy on the main stage. Twitter won the SXSW Interactive Web Awards, and I promoted my music magazine, Venus, at the tradeshow and a few label showcases.
I fluttered about as the single, scrappy music journo-turned-entrepreneur I was, smoking a pack a day (ugh, Gen X–dom). My biggest problem at the time was using my shitty flip phone to stay in touch with Venus teammates as we moved from event to event.
Things have changed a bit since then. SXSW is now entering its 38th year — on its way to the modern midlife experience, right?
Fast-forward to March 2024, and now at age 47, I was ecstatic to flee from my Grown-Ass Lady responsibilities (day job + The Midst + kids). The “Let’s see where the day takes me” chapter behind me, I flew to Austin with an inspired Grown-Ass Lady agenda. For me, some of the highlights of SXSW 2024 included Meghan Markle on “How Women Lead On and Off the Screen,” Selena Gomez on Mindfulness Over Perfection, and Janelle Monae. I’d be in bed, sans alcohol, by 10 pm every night.
With a whirlwind 1.5 days to see as much as possible without burning myself out, my main focus was SHE Media’s Co-Lab — a total of three days of programming about the science and stories of women’s whole life health featuring thought leaders on the latest innovations in health and wellness. Just some of the many speakers included Tamsen Fadal, Kara Swisher, Katie Couric, and Dr. Jessica Shepherd.
Will Brooke Shields become a leading voice in the Menopause Awareness Movement?
It certainly seems so after hearing her speak at the SHE Media–hosted event at SXSW on March 9. Shields, 58, positioned menopause as the start of the most empowered phase of a woman’s life.
“At this phase, we’re not just in menopause — yeah, my eggs need a chisel, I don’t know if they’re there anymore,” she joked. “But there are all these things happening and they’re terrifying and embarrassing, but why not talk about it and say, ‘OK, this is a part of being this age’ but it’s not the only thing about us.”
Adrenal fatigue is real, and it peaks in midlife
Adrenal dysfunction sounds a lot like perimenopause, thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, depression, trauma response, and many other conditions. Here’s how to know the difference.
By DR. THARA VAYALI, ND, Chief Medical Officer of hey freya
Middle age is commonly the season in which our social roles and responsibilities peak, our caregiving responsibilities surge, our careers ramp up, and we hold important roles in social dynamics.
It’s often called “working the triple shift”: life, work, and community. Add this to the 35–40 or so years of life challenges we’ve waded through to get here, and you can see that each of the words “chronic” and “stress” have distinct meanings for us.
While there is controversy around the term “adrenal fatigue”, it’s crystal clear in all healthcare professions that chronic stress severely impacts a person’s functioning. The question is, “What should I acknowledge and treat?” Mind or body?” Mostly because I think this is how consumers, women, physicians, healers all are truly asking this question about their exhaustion.
I take a firm stand against separating mind and body. Mental health is not all in your head. Whatever your practitioner calls it — adrenal fatigue or burnout syndrome — it’s important to understand that chronic stress exerts very real and specific hormonal effects on the body, as well negatively affecting mental health.
Nouveau Burnout Syndrome: The new battle between “burnout” and “adrenal fatigue”
Burnout used to be a non-medical term, one that was associated with the outcome of chronic and extreme stress, and the very real loss of function. With the 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledgment that work can be stressful (eye roll), the medical establishment has conceded to using the term “burnout”, but ONLY in the context of work environments and ONLY related to one’s mental fortitude through stressful work environments. Occupational burnout is the inability to pull your boots up and keep going. And if you feel sad or anxious about that, there’s a prescription medication for that.
As a naturopathic physician, I consider the new definition of burnout — which is occupational burnout and primarily about mental strength and mental health — nouveau burnout syndrome.
High five, Leah Remini
From Leah Marie Remini-Pagan’s Twitter…
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