What's going on in our brains when we can't sleep? What if you find it easy to drop off, but wake up a few hours later? How does the perimenopause play a part? Joining us to answer all these questions is the brilliant Lorna MacDonald.

Lorna is a neuroscience-based hypnotherapist and coach who's been helping Ellie get a bit more shut-eye. She explains why so many middle-aged women struggle with sleep, and gives us lots of practical ideas for improving things.

We talk about the stress bucket, and the difference between slutty and classy dopamine. There's some chat about alcohol and hormonal change. Lorna tells us the story of how she came back from burnout, and we talk about what it is, how to recognise the first signs, and what we can do to manage it.

Plus: why it's OK to be selfish, and how it can actually make you happier.

For more from Lorna, including how to get in touch with her and pricing, thehypnotherapynook.com or follow her on Instagram @thehypnotherapynook.

Helen's book "How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger" is now out and all about how women rebuild their lives after big shitty life things, it is uplifting, funny and brutally honest. You can buy a copy here. https://lnk.to/howtofacebigchange

We are on tour! See you soon Newbury, Cambridge, Stratford and South Norwood! Then we're visiting all sorts of venues all over the country right up till 2027. Yes, INCLUDING MANCHESTER AND NORWICH! Visit scummymummies.com for dates and tickets.

WE HAVE A SHOP! Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, and sweatshirts. FREE UK DELIVERY!

We're on X, Instagram, and Facebook @scummymummies. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thank you for listening!

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IT'S HERE! Well, almost. Helen's brand new book, How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger, is out on 2nd April! So we sat down for a chat about it.

Listen in to find out why Helen wanted to write the book, and what she learned during the writing process. Ellie discusses what it's like to support a friend through hard times, and there's some chat about healthy and not-so-healthy ways of coping. Plus, discover what makes Helen laugh more than anything else, and why Ellie is now really into oil rigs.

We are on tour, just for a change. But also - Helen is doing a book tour! And Ellie is joining her for a couple of the dates!

Bath 27 March, Chorleywood 7 April, Nottingham 9 April, Leeds 10 April, Mold 11 April. Tickets from tix.to/helenthorn

Helen's book is out next week but you can pre-order now! Go go go!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this episode is the brilliant comedian Cariad Lloyd!

We talk about her award-winning podcast, Griefcast, and why she decided to stop making it after seven years. We discuss helping a friend through grief - is it ever too late to offer support? What's the best way to handle tricky times like Mother's Day? And why is death sometimes so bloody funny?

Cariad shares what it was like to have a baby four days into the first lockdown, and why she's moved into writing children's books. We talk about her fantastic picture book, Where Did She Go?, and festive adventure Lydia Marmalade and the Christmas Wish. They're both out now.

There's also some chat about Austentatious, the Jane Austen improv show Cariad appears in. And Helen tells us a thing about audiobooks that blows our minds.

As always we finish with Scummy Mummy Confessions - this time involving an unrelaxing bath, a feral child, and Ellie's husband's worst birthday ever.

For more from Cariad visit cariadlloyd.com and follow her on Instagram @cariadlloyd. Dates and tickets for Austentatious are available via austentatiousimpro.com.

We are now on tour! See you soon Kent, Manchester, Newbury, Cambridge, Stratford and South Norwood! Then we're visiting all sorts of venues all over the country right up till 2027. Yes, INCLUDING NORWICH! Visit scummymummies.com for dates and tickets.

WE HAVE A SHOP! Visit scummymummiesshop.com for our ace t-shirts, mugs, and sweatshirts. FREE UK DELIVERY!

We're on X, Instagram, and Facebook @scummymummies. If you like the podcast, please rate, review and subscribe.

Thank you for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.