Anxiety, Perimenopause, and Nervous System Renewal: Reframing Women’s Wellness with Sharon Neilson

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September 1, 2025 • 31 mins

In this powerful conversation on Healing Horizons, host Pragya sits down with Sharon Neilson, a seasoned nurse and holistic women’s wellness advocate, to explore how anxiety, overwhelm, and perimenopause can be reframed as opportunities for self-discovery and renewal. Sharon shares her personal experiences and professional insights on nervous system regulation, emotional labor, boundaries, and the cultural pressures women face. Instead of viewing midlife transitions as decline, she invites women to see them as gateways to deeper connection with themselves. This episode is a grounding reminder that healing doesn’t always come through big breakthroughs—it often starts with small pauses and honest self-reflection.

About the Guest

Sharon Neilson is a registered nurse with over 30 years of acute care experience and a strong focus on holistic feminine wellness. Through her work, she helps women navigate stress, anxiety, and midlife transitions by reconnecting with their body’s natural intelligence. Sharon combines medical expertise with a passion for nervous system regulation and women’s empowerment.

Key Takeaways

Anxiety and overwhelm are not weaknesses—they can be signals pointing toward unmet needs and boundaries.
Women often normalize stress and busyness, wearing it as a “badge of honor,” but true wellness requires conscious nervous system reset.
Perimenopause and menopause, often seen as decline, can instead be reframed as powerful turning points for renewal and self-focus.
Emotional labor remains disproportionately carried by women, but reclaiming boundaries is essential to restoring balance.
Small grounding practices—like mindful breathing at traffic lights, turning showers into rituals, walking barefoot on grass, or setting time limits on work—can powerfully reset the nervous system.
Healing doesn’t always demand big breakthroughs; it often begins with simple, intentional pauses and daily moments of self-care.