Perimenopause: The Rollercoaster You Didn’t Buy a Ticket For
One day, you’re feeling great—full of energy, ready to tackle your to-do list. The next? You’re crying because you ran out of butter, forgetting everything, waking up drenched in sweat in the middle of the night, hot flashes at the most inconvenient of times and going ape $*&t at your family over absolutely nothing. Sound familiar? Welcome to perimenopause, the phase before menopause where your hormones decide to throw a party… and you’re not invited.
What is Perimenopause, and Why is it So Crazy?
Perimenopause typically begins in your 40s (but sometimes even earlier) and can last anywhere from a few years to over a decade. During this time, your hormones will wildly fluctuate, making you feel like Dr Jekle / Mr Hyde – aka: a completely different person from one day to the next.
Here’s what’s actually happening::
👉 Your Estrogen is on a rollercoaster. Some days, it’s high—making you feel great. Other days, it totally plummets, leading to major mood swings, headaches, breast tenderness, and brain fog.
👉 Your Progesterone is disappearing. This hormone helps keep you calm and helps you to get good sleep. As it declines, you might experience anxiety, insomnia, bloating, and irregular cycles.
👉 Your Cortisol (the stress hormone) is now the ringmaster running the circus. Your body is already dealing with hormonal chaos, and stress makes it worse. If you’re feeling wired but exhausted, irritable, or emotionally drained, cortisol overload could be to blame.
👉 Your Testosterone is going buh-bye. While we usually associate testosterone with men, women need it too—for motivation, confidence, and libido. When it drops, you may notice lower energy, decreased sex drive, and less muscle tone.
The Most Common (and Frustrating) Symptoms
Perimenopause doesn’t show up the same way for everyone, but common symptoms tend to include:
Irregular periods (shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter—anything goes!)
Hot flashes and night sweats
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Mood swings, anxiety, or feeling unexplainably emotional
Weight gain (especially around the belly)
Fatigue and poor sleep
Bloating and digestive issues
Low libido and vaginal dryness
If you’re experiencing any of these, you’re not going crazy. Your hormones are just taking you on an unexpected adventure you don’t want to go on.
How to Stay Sane and Feel Like Yourself Again
The good news? You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through this season. Here are some ways to bring your hormones back into balance and feel more like yourself again:
1. Balance Your Blood Sugar
When your blood sugar is out of whack, your hormones are too. Avoid skipping meals, limit processed sugars, and focus on protein, healthy fats, and fiber at every meal to keep your energy steady.
2. Prioritize Sleep (Even When It Feels Impossible)
Poor sleep makes everything worse (esp your mood). Try magnesium, herbal teas, reducing evening screen time, and stress management techniques to improve sleep quality. If you wake up at 3 AM, your cortisol might be to blame.
3. Reduce Stress (Seriously, It Matters)
Your hormones are already working overtime. High stress levels make symptoms worse. Try deep breathing, being outside in nature, going for a walk, journaling, or talking to a friend. Also….say “no” more often (even if it pisses other people off – you’re the one who suffers most when you overcommit.)
4. Support Your Gut Health
Your gut plays a massive role in hormone balance. Eat more fermented foods, fiber, take probiotics, and limit inflammatory foods like processed carbs and excessive alcohol.
5. Consider Targeted Supplements
Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, maca, and rhodiola can help with stress and energy levels. Magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3s are also great for hormone support.
6. Move Your Body
Exercise is great for hormones, but too much high-intensity exercise can actually make things worse so be mindful of the kind of day you’re having. Focus on strength training, walking, yoga, and moderate cardio.I personally foil fence – sword fighting is a GREAT stress reliever too!
7. Get On BioIdentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
If your symptoms are disruptive, don’t hesitate to get support. Functional medicine doctors, naturopaths, or hormone specialists can help with testing, personalized plans, and bioidentical hormone therapy if needed. (Speaking from experience - BHRT has helped me tremendously!)
You’re Not Alone—And You Don’t Have to “Just Deal With It”
Perimenopause is a transition. While it can feel like a cruel punishment and very overwhelming, it’s also an opportunity to get to know your body on a deeper level and start prioritizing your health in a way you may not have before.
If your hormones are making you feel like a stranger in your own body remember that there are real, actionable steps you can take to feel better and regain *some* sense of control.
Have you been riding the perimenopause rollercoaster? Drop a 🎢 in the comments!