In this episode of Wellness Reimagined, host Shreya sits down with Registered Nurse and holistic women’s wellness coach Sharon Neilson to unpack what most women keep dismissing as “normal stress”. Sharon explains how insulin resistance develops quietly in the background while women juggle careers, caregiving and complex relationships. She connects the dots between chronic stress, perimenopause, blood sugar, weight gain, poor sleep, hot flushes and that constant feeling of running on empty.
This is a grounded conversation about women’s bodies, nervous systems and hormones, not a quick fix. Sharon shares her own story of burnout, divorce and “holding it all together” until her body forced a reset. Listeners will learn why the nervous system sits at the root of so many symptoms and how gentle practices like restorative yoga, boundaries and nervous system care can help women move from survival mode to genuine energy and emotional stability.
About The Guest :
Sharon Neilson is a Registered Nurse with over three decades of acute hospital experience and a holistic women’s wellness coach. Drawing on her clinical background and her own journey through a difficult marriage, divorce and burnout, she helps women understand the link between stress, hormones, insulin resistance and emotional wellbeing. Through her brand Eternal Her and her program Awaken Her Sharon blends science, stress recovery, feminine energy and nervous system healing so women can feel at home in their bodies again.
Key Takeaways :
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Insulin is a hormone “key” that unlocks cell doors so glucose can enter and fuel energy. When cells become less sensitive to insulin, more sugar stays in the bloodstream and the body stores it as fat.
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Perimenopause lowers estrogen and progesterone which also reduces insulin sensitivity, so the same way of eating can suddenly lead to weight gain, energy crashes and mood swings in midlife.
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The body does not know the difference between running from danger and answering a hundred emails. Chronic low grade stress keeps women’s nervous systems in fight or flight so insulin and blood sugar stay dysregulated.
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Many women carry stress like a backpack, taking on more responsibility without boundaries until they hit a “cliff” of burnout, poor sleep, hot flushes, brain fog and emotional disconnection.
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The nervous system sits at the root of physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms. Tight muscles, headaches, irritability, self doubt and constant comparison are all signs the system is overloaded.
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Restorative practices like yoga, slowing down and nervous system “deactivation” can crack the protective shell women build around themselves, helping them feel their bodies again and reconnect with their true desires.
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Healing is not overnight. It often reflects ten to fifteen years of accumulated stress and survival strategies, so women need realistic expectations rather than aiming for unrealistic body ideals.
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Learning your own patterns of stress, emotion and energy gives you a personal blueprint to manage insulin resistance risk, hormone shifts and life demands over the long term.
How To Connect With The Guest :
You can connect with Sharon and explore her work through:
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Her brand and community: Eternal Her and The Eternal Her Collective on Instagram and Facebook
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Her Facebook group for women who want deeper support and updates on new offerings
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Her website where she shares blogs and details about her eight week program Awaken Her
Listeners can join her community, read her writing and reach out if they want specific topics explored or support around stress, perimenopause, insulin resistance and nervous system based self care.
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