Train Your Brain To Thrive Through Menopause
6/23/20261 hr 34 min
In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Sue Varma, a board certified psychiatrist, distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and author of Practical Optimism. They open by taking on a question that sits at the intersection of psychiatry and menopause medicine: why do some women thrive through the most difficult biological transition of their lives, and what can the rest of us learn from them?
Early in the conversation, Dr. Varma shares a finding that reframes everything: only 25% of people are born optimistic, and there is actually a gene for it. The other 75% have to learn it. Dr. Varma explains why optimism is not toxic positivity, what practical optimism actually means, and why both extreme optimists and extreme pessimists end up paralyzed into inaction in different ways. She also addresses what happens when depression, anxiety, and brain fog layer on top of the hormonal changes of menopause and perimenopause, and why so many women are being undertreated as a result.
Guest links:
Dr. Sue Varma (Instagram)
Dr. Sue Varma (Facebook)
Dr. Sue Varma (LinkedIn)
Books:
“Practical Optimism,” by Dr. Sue Varma
“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
“The New Menopause" by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
“Joyspan,” by Dr. Kerry Burnight
“The Relaxation Response,” by Dr. Herbert Benson
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSue Varma· Guest0:00
I wanna be clear that what optimism is not. Telling someone, "Just look on the bright side," right? That's what we often associate with optimism.
Mary Claire Haver· Host0:08
Yeah.
Sue Varma· Guest0:08
"Nah, everything will work itself out."
Mary Claire Haver· Host0:10
That seems toxic to me.
Sue Varma· Guest0:11
100%, right? That is toxic positivity. Telling someone to look on the bright side without first understanding the depths and the gravity of what they have been through, right? Like, that to me is dismissive at best- Mm-hmm ... or toxic positivity at worst. Optimism simply says that there is the potential for good things to happen, right? And we- and practical optimism says, let's turn those positive outlooks into positive outcomes through action.
Mary Claire Haver· Host0:39
[upbeat music] The views and opinions expressed on Unpaused are those of the talent and guests alone, and are provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. No part of this podcast or any related materials are intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. My guest today is Dr. Sue Varma, one of the foremost mental health authorities in the country, and I have been wanting to have this conversation for a long time. Dr. Varma is a board-certified psychiatrist, cognitive behavioral therapist, couples therapist, and psychopharmacologist in private practice in Manhattan, and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone. She is