The Tamsen Show

Why do some of us experience rejection, criticism, and disappointment so intensely—and what we can we actually do about it?

Dr. Sasha Hamdani is a board-certified psychiatrist, ADHD specialist, and author of Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply. In this episode, she explains rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD)—the intense emotional pain triggered by perceived rejection or criticism that affects the majority of people with ADHD, especially women.

Dr. Hamdani breaks down why dropping estrogen during perimenopause makes emotional sensitivity worse, what's actually happening in your brain when one comment sends you into a spiral, and the three tools she uses herself to stop it. She also explains why women who've been on antidepressants for years with no relief may have been misdiagnosed—and what high-achieving women look like from the outside vs. what's really going on inside.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-What rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) is and why it's so common in ADHD

-How RSD shows up in friendships, relationships, and the workplace

-Why perimenopause can make emotions and ADHD symptoms feel harder to manage

-Why high-achieving women may hide rejection sensitivity behind perfectionism, overpreparing, and people-pleasing

-How to tell the difference between what actually happened and the story your brain created about it

-Tools for helping your brain catch up before you react or start spiraling

-Why some women treated for anxiety and depression for years may actually need to be evaluated for ADHD

-How to start tracking your own patterns before you talk to a professional

If you've ever lost an entire night replaying one conversation, convinced yourself someone is upset with you, or felt a wave of shame hit your body before you could even think it through, this episode will help you understand what’s happening between the feeling and the reaction, so your first emotional response doesn’t get to make the decision for you.

If you liked this conversation, check this out: The ADHD Psychiatrist: How to Get Your Focus Back After 40

If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out ⁠this form

Stay connected with Tamsen:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone

Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ from Tamsen

Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Dr. Hamdani on Instagram

Get Dr. Hamdani's book, Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply

Sponsors:

Learn more about your ad choices, click here

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re dealing with menopause weight gain, perimenopause symptoms that are taking over your life, bloating after meals you’ve eaten for years, or just trying to figure out what to eat to support your health and nutrition in midlife, this episode is for you.

Andrea Donsky is a nutritionist, seven-time published menopause researcher, and bestselling author of Nourishing Menopause, and she has surveyed more than 5,300 women to find out exactly what is happening to our bodies in perimenopause and menopause, and what nutrition can actually do about it.

In this episode, Tamsen and Andrea cover:

- Why your body feels like it changed overnight and what is actually happening hormonally

- The gut microbiome shift that happens in menopause

- Why you’re bloated after meals you’ve loved your whole life

- The simple framework you can use today to build the ideal menopause plate

- How much protein you actually need

- Why fiber is just as important as protein (and how much you actually need per day)

- The foods that help with brain fog, including the specific omega-3 sources that support cognition

- Foods that trigger hot flashes

- The one food group that research now shows can actually reduce vasomotor symptoms

- The minerals most women in midlife are deficient in

- The non-negotiable supplements Andrea recommends for every woman in perimenopause and menopause

- Phantom smells: what they are and why they happen

Plus, Andrea shares her own perimenopause story and what she did to address phantom smells and weight gain.

If you liked this episode, then you’ll like: The Gut Doctor: How to Boost Energy and Lose Belly Fat

For everything mentioned in this episode, click this link

If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out ⁠this form

Stay connected with Tamsen:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone

Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ from Tamsen

Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Andrea on Instagram

Get Andrea's book, Nourishing Menopause: Powerful Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies to Feel Your Best

Sponsors:

For a limited time, try OneSkin with 15% off using code TAMSEN at oneskin.co/TAMSEN

Learn more about your ad choices, click here

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever looked back at a relationship and wondered, How did I not see the red flags sooner? Narcissism and gaslighting aren’t always obvious, and some of the most damaging behaviors can be the easiest to explain away.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula, one of the world’s leading experts on narcissism and toxic relationships, joins Tamsen Fadal to break down how narcissistic behavior actually shows up in relationships, why it can be so difficult to recognize, and how repeated manipulation can slowly make someone stop trusting their own instincts.

One of the most listened-to conversations on The Tamsen Show, this episode goes deep on the subtle red flags of narcissism, gaslighting, emotional manipulation, dating after divorce, and why even smart, successful, independent women can find themselves trapped in unhealthy relationships. It also explores how perimenopause, menopause, aging, sex, and changes in confidence can be weaponized by a narcissistic partner.

In this episode:

- The narcissistic red flags that are easiest to miss

- What gaslighting actually looks and feels like

- Why narcissistic relationships can be so difficult to leave

- The warning signs to watch for when dating

- How menopause and aging can be weaponized in relationships

- Why couples therapy can sometimes make a narcissistic dynamic even more confusing

For anyone who has ever been made to feel too sensitive, too emotional, too difficult, or unsure of their own reality, this is a conversation worth hearing.

If you liked this conversation, check this out: The 5 Signs You're Dating a Narcissist (I Missed Every One)

If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out ⁠this form

Stay connected with Tamsen:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone

Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ from Tamsen

Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Dr. Ramani on Instagram

Get Dr. Ramani's book, It's Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People

Sponsors:

Book your first virtual visit today at joinmidi.com/TAMSEN!

Learn more about your ad choices, click here

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Making friends as an adult can feel surprisingly hard—especially after divorce, a move, a career change, or any major life transition. In this solo episode of The Tamsen Show, Tamsen shares her personal experience with adult friendship, loneliness, starting over, and how she rebuilt a smaller but much deeper circle of female friendships.

In this episode, Tamsen shares 4 practical ways to:

- Recognize which friendships are feeding you and which are draining you

- Become the kind of friend you want to have

- Make new friends as an adult, even when it feels awkward

- Build and maintain meaningful friendships when life gets busy

Plus, Tamsen shares what the decades-long Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals about the connection between friendship, happiness, health, and longevity, and why finding your people may be one of the most important things you do for yourself.

Whether you’re starting over, feeling lonely, or simply realizing your friendships have changed, this episode will help you build the community you want in your next chapter.

Want to put what you learned in this episode into action? Download Tamsen's FREE Belly Fat Reset Guide here

If you liked this conversation, check this out: If You’re Going Through a Friendship Breakup You Need To Hear This

If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out ⁠this form

Stay connected with Tamsen:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone

Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ from Tamsen

Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsors:

Get 15% off your first order at Blueland.com/TAMSEN!

Learn more about your ad choices, click here

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Belly fat in perimenopause and menopause can feel impossible to lose, even when you’re eating well and exercising. So what actually works? In this special episode, Tamsen brings together the best advice from some of The Tamsen Show’s top experts on midlife weight gain, visceral fat, metabolism, hormones, insulin resistance, and GLP-1 medications.

From the best exercises for building muscle and losing fat to how much protein and fiber you really need, these experts break down what’s happening to your body in midlife and the changes that can actually make a difference.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why belly fat increases during perimenopause and menopause

- The difference between belly fat and dangerous visceral fat

- The best exercises for changing your body composition

- How protein, fiber, sleep, stress, and insulin resistance affect weight

- Why eating less may actually be working against you

- What women should know about GLP-1 medications in midlife

Featuring:
Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen — Endocrinologist & Obesity Medicine Expert, author of Weightless

Dr. Shannon Ritchey, PT, DPT — Physical Therapist & Founder of Evlo Fitness

Dr. Amy Shah, MD — Nutrition Expert & bestselling author of Hormone Havoc

Dr. Alexandra Sowa, MD — Dual board-certified Internal & Obesity Medicine physician, author of The Ozempic Revolution

Everything you’ve been wondering about stubborn belly fat in midlife, all in one episode.

If you liked this conversation, check this out: Belly Fat 101: The 5 Simple Habits That Changed Everything

If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out ⁠this form

Stay connected with Tamsen:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone

Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ from Tamsen

Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Dr. Salas-Whalen on Instagram

Get Dr. Salas-Whalen's book, Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve

Dr. Ritchey on Instagram

Check out Evlo Fitness

Follow Dr. Shah on Instagram

Get Dr. Shah's book, Hormone Havoc: A Science-Backed Protocol for Perimenopause and Menopause

Follow Dr. Sowa on Instagram

Get Dr. Sowa's book, The Ozempic Revolution: A Doctor’s Proven Plan for Success to Help You Reverse Obesity, End Yo-Yo Dieting, and Protect Yourself from Disease

Sponsors:

Get 15% off your first order at Blueland.com/TAMSEN!

Learn more about your ad choices, click here

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices