Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia

Feeling disconnected from your partner, or like your friendships are fading? A psychiatrist explains why connection is essential to your mental health, and your sex life.

Episode 42. Female Friendships, Emotional Intimacy & Navigating Disconnection with Dr. Alaa Ahmed Have you ever felt like you were drifting apart from your partner but couldn't quite explain why? Or noticed that when your friendships start to fade, everything else feels a little harder too? In this episode, I'm sitting down with psychiatrist Dr. Alaa Ahmed for a conversation that honestly felt like therapy — in the best way possible. We're getting into the stuff that doesn't always get talked about openly: why female friendships and community are so essential to our mental health, what happens when we start to feel disconnected from our romantic partners, and the very real link between emotional intimacy and sex. Because here's the thing — so many of us are navigating these exact feelings, and yet we're doing it in silence. In this episode, we cover: • Why female friendships are so much more than just "having people to hang out with" — and what we lose when we neglect them • The importance of community and how isolation quietly affects our wellbeing • How emotional disconnection in relationships shows up before we even realize it • The connection between emotional intimacy and a healthy sex life — and why you can't really have one without the other • Practical insights from a psychiatrist on how to start rebuilding connection, with yourself and others Whether you're in a relationship, healing from one, or just trying to show up better for the people you love — this one is for you. Follow her on IG: dralaa_ahmedmd

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ciCn5hWwa8

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🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Waking up at 3am, gaining weight, and told everything looks fine? It's not fine, and it's not in your head.

You're sleeping. You're working out. You haven't changed a thing. And somehow you're still waking up at 3am, gaining weight, and feeling like a stranger in your own body. Your doctor says everything looks fine. It's not fine. And it's not in your head. 🤍 I recorded this episode because I have been her.

And because every single week I sit across from women who are brilliant, capable, and completely let down by a medical system that handed them an antidepressant and sent them home.

In this episode I'm breaking down: → Why estrogen, progesterone AND testosterone all matter (and what happens when they drop) → The silent thief stealing from your hormones every single day → Why what you do RIGHT NOW shapes the woman you'll be in your 70s and 80s → What the data actually says about hormones and cancer risk — because the fear is keeping women suffering in silence.

This is the conversation your doctor should have had with you years ago.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia

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💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Leaking, pelvic pain or pressure are common, but they're not normal. And pelvic floor therapy is so much more than Kegels.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Aryn Delaney, Doctor of Physical Therapy with advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation, to demystify pelvic floor therapy and why it’s such a missing piece in women’s health.

We break down what the pelvic floor actually is, how it impacts bladder control, organ support, sexual function, and even core stability, and how stress and trauma can show up physically in these muscles. Most importantly, we address a common fear: pelvic floor therapy does not have to mean invasive internal work.

This conversation is all about education, empowerment, and helping women understand that symptoms like leaking, pain, or pelvic pressure are common — but not normal.

Find her on her website: https://www.warriorpelvicpt.com/about-us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrior_physical_therapy/

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMKsCd6po9Y

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

When a diagnosis feels overwhelming or conventional care hasn't been enough: inside the care of cancer, chronic disease, Lyme and viral reactivation.

In this episode, I sit down with my colleague Angela Jordan, who specializes in treating some of the most complex cases in medicine — including cancer, chronic disease, tickborne illness, and viral reactivation.

This episode is especially helpful if you or someone you love is dealing with a diagnosis that feels overwhelming, confusing, or hasn’t responded to conventional care alone — or if you’re curious how functional and integrative medicine can support the body through serious and chronic conditions.

Find her on Instagram @dr.angela.jordan.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22xXVRwUQ0I

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Chronic pain that never fully goes away? Why treating just one spot often isn't enough, and what whole-body care looks like.

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and colleague Sandy Arthur, founder of Well Co. Chiropractic and Active Release. Sandy is a chiropractor who also practices acupuncture and Active Release Technique (ART), which gives her a truly whole-body approach to pain, tension, and movement. We talk about what integrative care really looks like, why focusing on just one area of the body often isn’t enough, and who benefits most from combining these modalities. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, tight muscles, stress, or just want to understand more holistic options for healing, this episode is for you.

Website: https://www.wellcochiropractic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellcochiro/

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H6XBvbuwxQ

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

The mic gets turned on me. My sister asks why I became a doctor, what almost made me quit, and how it shaped the way I practice today.

This week the mic gets turned on me — literally. My sister, Christa, joins the show and asks me the questions. From why I chose to go to medical school, to the moments that almost made me quit, to how my personal life shaped the way I practice today… nothing was off limits. If you’ve ever wondered who I am beyond the doctor titles and hormone protocols — this is the one to listen to.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6xWrwW6w6g

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Afraid of hormone therapy because of what you've heard? Let's bring the conversation back to nuance, evidence and clarity.

In this solo episode, I talk through some of the most common misconceptions I continue to hear from women.

This isn’t about pushing hormone therapy or dismissing concerns.

It’s about helping you understand: Why hormones became such a charged topic in women’s health and how to approach hormone conversations with less fear and more clarity.

If hormones feel overwhelming or confusing, this episode is meant to bring the conversation back to nuance, education, and empowerment.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkfW64ElbyE

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Pregnancy expectations vs. reality, and how motherhood changes who you are. An honest conversation with my two best friends.

This week’s episode is a heart-to-heart with two of my best friends—one pregnant with her first baby and the other already navigating life as a mom of two. We talk about what they expected versus what actually happened, the physical and emotional changes, identity shifts, asking for help, and how to stay connected to yourself through it all. It’s honest, funny at times, and incredibly real. Whether you're trying to conceive, pregnant, in postpartum, or reflecting on your journey into motherhood, this one will remind you that you're not alone.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQQ0TC0q0M

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Hot flashes, poor sleep, mood swings: everything you need to know to navigate perimenopause and menopause, from a menopause-certified physician.

If you missed my recent webinar, here’s your chance to catch the replay!

In this episode, we dive into everything you need to know about navigating the transition through perimenopause and menopause — from understanding symptoms and hormone shifts to exploring treatment options and lifestyle strategies that actually make a difference.

Whether you’re starting to notice changes or are already in the thick of it, this conversation will help you feel informed, empowered, and supported through every stage.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.

Vaginal dryness, pain with sex and bone loss are some of the most common changes of menopause, and the least talked about. Here's what actually helps.

Menopause brings big changes — and two of the most common (but least talked about) are bone health and pain with sex. In this episode, Dr. Victoria Andarcia breaks down why bone density matters, what’s happening with estrogen during this stage of life, and why vaginal dryness and discomfort are so common. Most importantly, you’ll learn practical, empowering ways to protect your bones, ease intimacy challenges, and feel more like yourself again.

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🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow Conversations with Dr. Victoria Andarcia on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave a quick rating. It helps other women find these conversations.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtdhFlt-RnI

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drvandarcia?sub_confirmation=1

💌 Get Dr. Andarcia's newsletter: https://drvictoriaandarcia.riverside.com/

🩺 Work with Dr. Andarcia at Reveal Vitality (Sarasota, FL): https://revealvitality.com/get-started/

📸 Instagram: @drvictoriaandarcia

Dr. Victoria Andarcia, MD is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner practicing integrative medicine in Sarasota, Florida.

Educational content only, not medical advice. Please talk with your own healthcare provider about your care.