Ep. 240 - Tired but Wired: Nervous System Regulation for Women with Natalie Rivans

In this conversation, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes Natalie Rivans, Co-CEO of re-origin and a Certified Somatic Practitioner and Menopause Coach, to explore the nervous system's profound role in the menopause transition. Natalie spent years as a police officer in London, living in a constant state of high alert that eventually manifested as chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Her recovery led her into the fields of neuroplasticity and somatic work, and she now helps women understand why symptoms can persist long after the original stressor has passed.

Natalie explains that many women in perimenopause find their nervous systems becoming far more reactive than they used to be, and that this is not simply hormones—it's the added layer of alarm the brain brings to every sensation. She shares the outcomes of a pilot trial for Renew, a program adapting nervous system tools specifically for menopausal symptoms, where participants reported improvements in sleep, anxiety, mood, brain fog, and overall wellbeing. The conversation also addresses why so many women are discovering neurodivergence at midlife, as estrogen interacts with neurotransmitters like dopamine, and coping strategies that once worked no longer suffice. Natalie offers practical, gentle tools listeners can use immediately—orientation, shaking, breath, and movement—emphasizing that healing does not require force, perfection, or revisiting trauma. This episode is a compassionate reminder that small, curious experiments can restore a sense of safety in the body.

Episode Highlights:

- Why women in midlife experience heightened nervous system reactivity

- The link between estrogen, dopamine, and the rise of ADHD diagnoses in perimenopause

- How the body learns to anticipate and brace for symptoms

- Why forcing calm backfires—and what to do instead

- Simple somatic tools: orienting, shaking, breathwork, and movement

- How the Renew program adapted neuroplasticity tools specifically for menopause

Tune in to learn why the answer is not to try harder, but to build a more trusting relationship with your body.

Connect with Natalie: IG/Tiktok: @reorigin_brainretraining/

Website: re-origin.com

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