If you’re forgetting appointments, snapping at people you love, or lying in bed awake wondering what happened to your motivation — you’re not alone. And you’re not lazy.
You’re likely in perimenopause — a biological transition that affects your brain, body and identity, often years before your periods stop.
What This Stage Can Feel Like
- You start strong but lose steam quickly
- Everything feels “a bit too much”
- You’re more emotional, more irritable, more tired
- You can’t remember what you were doing five minutes ago
- You feel flat, dull, or disconnected — like someone unplugged your power source
It doesn’t show up in dramatic ways for everyone. Sometimes, it’s just the quiet erosion of your sense of self.
Why It’s Not Just in Your Head
Oestrogen plays a role in memory, emotional regulation, sleep, and stress resilience. As your hormone levels shift, the way you experience the world can change, too.
For many women, this stage leads to a crisis of identity:
“I used to be sharp. Focused. Driven.”
“I used to be able to hold it all together.”
“I don’t recognise myself anymore.”
You’re Not Alone — and You’re Not Broken
This transition affects more than just your cycle. It touches every part of your life: your relationships, your work, your energy, your clarity.
And just like adolescence or postpartum, it’s a valid and impactful life stage — not a weakness.
What Helps
- Naming it: “This might be perimenopause” is powerful
- Getting support: emotionally and, if needed, medically
- Rebuilding slowly: energy, confidence, connection
- Letting go of old benchmarks of performance
- Talking about it — even if you’ve never had the words before
Final Thought
You’re not failing. You’re evolving.
The woman you were before menopause isn’t gone — she’s adapting. And with the right information and support, you can feel steady again.
Not perfect. Not “like you used to be.”
Just you — in a new chapter.
