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Episode summary: Destiny Davis speaks with Kara Cruz, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in women's mental health, particularly perinatal mental health and perimenopause. They discuss the importance of women trusting themselves when advocating for their health needs, as many experience being dismissed or unheard by healthcare providers. Kara shares strategies for self-advocacy, including practical approaches like symptom tracking and preparing questions, as well as emotional regulation techniques to help clients recognize bodily sensations and navigate nervous system responses during difficult healthcare interactions. They explore how past trauma and people-pleasing behaviors can interfere with self-advocacy, emphasizing that learning to trust yourself is foundational to health advocacy. Kara also highlights the importance of community support through her Women's Support Circle and discusses the need for comprehensive screening for the seven distinct perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

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Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.