Routine might feel safe, but for your brain, it can become a prison. This week, Dr. Yalda Safai joins Tamsen to talk about the science of novelty and why trying something new is the most powerful way to spark dopamine, reboot your mindset, and shift out of midlife stagnation. Tamsen and Dr Safai share dating experience and the benefits of meeting a partner later in life. Plus why women are staying single longer and why we should avoid subpar relationships at all costs! We dive deep into what high-functioning depression really looks like in successful women. From the quiet symptoms of anhedonia and mood disorders to undiagnosed thyroid issues and the hormonal shifts of perimenopause. Dr. Safai breaks down the medical, emotional, and social blind spots that keep so many of us suffering in silence.
What you’ll learn:
- Why novel experiences are a natural antidepressant
- The mental health cost of playing it safe and sticking to routine
- Chronic unhappiness and the silent pain of high-functioning women
- Anhedonia: the medical term for when nothing feels good anymore
- How thyroid issues and perimenopause are often misdiagnosed as mood swings
- Why your second act isn’t about accumulation, it’s about experience
- The pressure to partner up and how it leads to compromising your worth
- Why you should never date to fill a void
- What ghosting really says about emotional maturity
- How to build self-worth before dating again
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guest appearing in this episode
Dr. Yalda Safai
Learn the science of novelty and why trying something new is the most powerful way to spark dopamine, reboot your mindset, and shift out of midlife stagnation
- Website: yaldasafaimd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaldasafaimd
Resources
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.
03:09 – How to break out of routines
06:12 – The need for mental health care for women
10:14 – The ideas we have of the relationships in our lives vs. what is good for us
16:01 - Deprioritze subpar relationships
17:56 - What can you control about dating?
18:00 – PTSD, trauma, and how we misuse the language
21:25 – Understanding why past relationships didn’t work out
22:02- Getting out of toxic relationships
25:36 – Perimenopause, menopause, and mood change
30:56 - What is anhedonia?
32:13 - Thyroid, hormones, and mood disorders
34:00 – Being stuck in the funk of perimenopause and getting out of it
35:01 - Finding novel pieces of happiness






