LLN Episode #203: Amanda Laden - Using Your VOICE to Advocate for Yourself In Outdated Systems

About Amanda Laden: Amanda Laden is the Founder and CEO of Period to Pause, the leading platform for elevating people's voices in their own health, healthcare treatment, and well-being. Amanda started Period to Pause to equip people to advocate for their needs, change a system that was not set up to support womxn and gender non-conforming folks, and to help people to rise, vocalize, and mobilize to change the healthcare system. She is also a Growth Strategist and the CEO of The Firebrand Institute and works with organizations to create strategies to support diverse populations and create cultures of inclusion and belonging. In her spare time she hosts events over food and wine to create community, connection, and change. She currently resides in San Diego with her Bulldog/poodle rescue, Bernie. Fun facts - Amanda has traveled to over 50 countries and loves eating and drinking her way around the world. What We Discuss In this Episode: Amanda shares what brought her into this area of work, and her own personal story of going through the medical system being undiagnosed with a disease for about 20 years. Finally, after being heard by one of her doctors, the "tide began to turn" in her life. Amanda shares her thoughts on a small piece of this system issue: societally, we're taught to be quiet and not to make a noise or cause any issues; and we have to realize it's well within our rights to ask questions. Amanda recommends before you go into an appointment, write down every single question you have, ask for clarification, demand that they spend more than seven minutes with you in the. Our bodies are miraculous "machines." We often know when something doesn't feel right. If you feel you don't know how to convey to your healthcare provider what you feel is going on with your body, take someone with you to the appointment who can advocate for you. Let's face it, it's daunting going into your doctor, or your health practitioner - they're using language you don't understand unless you've been to medical school, and if you're seeing an OB/GYN or other female doctors who focus on female health issues, they use a lot of language that we just don't know and we're not taught. Amanda discussed how some are fortunate enough to go outside of the system and find naturopaths and other doctors that can treat us in different ways. She also advocates finding somebody who's more of an Eastern medicine style practitioner, such as an acupuncturist, under certain circumstances. But it really, unfortunately, is incumbent on us to continue advocating for yourselves, even to the point of saying, "I'm not accepting this because I know my body, and I know how it feels." We discuss that nowadays people are staying alive longer. So why wouldn't we want to address health and keeping people well rather what we often hear – "No, we're not going to cover this unless you're really showcasing you have something wrong." Amanda shares an example of if you're looking for doctor that can treat menopause or help you to find the right treatment plan for you, make sure that you have one that specifically states on their website or wherever their office is set up, that they specialize in menopause, perimenopause, or in Amanda's case, it was very important that she found a doctor that understood adenomyosis and endometriosis. Do your research ahead of time. Amanda stresses that we all have the ability to make choices that are right for us - intuitively we often know what our bodies are doing. So Amanda challenges those who are listening, to use your voice when you feel that you need to, to advocate for yourself. Connect With Amanda Laden: Website: https://www.periodtopause.com Socials @periodtopause Website: https://www.vinokarma.com Socials @vinokarma_project Connect with Lynne: If you're looking for a community of like-minded women on a journey - just like you are - to improved health and wellness, overall balance, and increased confidence, check out Lynne's private community in The Energized Healthy Women's Club. It's a supportive and collaborative community where the women in this group share tips and solutions for a healthy and holistic lifestyle. (Discussions include things like weight management, eliminating belly bloat, balancing hormones, wrangling sugar gremlins, overcoming fatigue, recipes, strategies, and much more so women can feel energized, healthy, confident, and joyful each day. Website: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthandwellnessllc The Energized Healthy Women's Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/energized.healthy.women Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnewadsworth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewadsworth Free Resources from Lynne Wadsworth: How to Thrive in Menopause: MENOPAUSE Messing Up your life? Maybe you're seeing the number on the scale creep higher and higher and you're noticing your usual efforts to lose weight aren't working. Then there's the hot blazes, night sweats, and sleeping fitfully, not to mention that you're fighting tears one moment, raging the next, and then, the shameful guilt sets in because you've just blasted your partner – for nothing…again! Learn how to successfully and holistically navigate perimenopause and full-blown menopause, and even reconcile all the hormonal changes and challenges that go along with it. You'll be feeling energized, healthier, and more in control so you can take on your day confidently and live life joyfully – even in menopause. I've got this FREE solution tool for you. Download my guide here: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/thrive-through-menopause/ 5 Simple Steps to Gain Energy, Feel Great & Uplevel Your Health: Are you ready to create a Healthier Lifestyle? Would you like to feel lighter, more energized, and even add joy to your life? If it's time to find more balance of mind~body~soul, then I've got the perfect FREE resource to help. In this guide, you'll find my most impactful strategies and I've made applying them in your life as simple as 1-2-3 (plus a couple more) to help you create a healthier, holistic lifestyle. Uplevel your holistic health and wellness and download the 5 Simple Steps to Health here: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/5-simple-steps-to-a-healthier-you/ Did You Enjoy The Podcast? If you enjoyed this episode please let us know! 5-star reviews for the Living Life Naturally podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or Stitcher are greatly appreciated. This helps us reach more women struggling to live through midlife and beyond. Thank you. Together, we make a difference!