Is It My Hormones?
What you’ll get
A gentle, easy-to-read guide designed to help you understand what your body may be communicating — without fear, overwhelm, or pressure.
It’s a starting point for clarity, reassurance, and informed next steps.
Inside this free guide
• A clear overview of common and often overlooked hormone-related symptoms
• Insight into why these changes happen, especially during perimenopause and hormonal shifts
• Simple, supportive ways to begin restoring balance naturally
>>>> Download Is it My Hormones? FREE PDF
An opening letter
If you’ve been feeling unlike yourself — more tired, more reactive, more foggy, more sensitive in your body or mind — you are not imagining it.
For many women, perimenopause doesn’t arrive with a clear announcement. It shows up quietly. Sleep changes. Your cycle shifts. Your nervous system feels stretched. Your body no longer responds the way it used to, even though nothing looks “wrong” on the surface.
And because there’s so little clear, everyday conversation about this phase of life, it’s often dismissed — by doctors, by family, and by women themselves.
This guide exists because your experience matters.
Perimenopause is not a sudden breakdown. It is a period of hormonal fluctuation that can begin years before menopause itself. Oestrogen and progesterone don’t decline in a neat, predictable line — they rise and fall, sometimes dramatically, and the body has to constantly adapt. That adaptation can feel unsettling, especially in a world that expects you to carry on as normal.
You are not weak for finding this hard.
You are not failing at coping.
And your body is not broken.
This stage of life asks for a different kind of attention — one that is slower, more observant, and more compassionate. Understanding what is changing allows you to respond with care instead of frustration, and with curiosity instead of fear.
This is not a medical textbook, and it is not a list of quick fixes. It is a steady explanation of what may be happening in your body, why it can feel confusing, and how to begin supporting yourself more gently through this transition.
You don’t need to “push through” this season.
You don’t need to minimise it.
And you don’t need to go through it alone.
Let this be a starting point — a way to make sense of what your body has been trying to tell you.
What Perimenopause Actually Is
Perimenopause is the transitional phase that leads up to menopause. It can begin years before your periods stop — often in your late 30s or early 40s — and it doesn’t follow a neat or predictable pattern.
This is where many women are caught off guard.
Menopause is defined as the point when you have gone twelve consecutive months without a menstrual period. Perimenopause is everything that happens before that point — the gradual, fluctuating shift in hormones that prepares the body for change.
During this phase, the ovaries don’t simply slow down in a straight line. Instead, hormone levels — particularly oestrogen and progesterone — rise and fall unevenly. Some months may feel completely normal. Others may feel unfamiliar or unsettling. This variability is what makes perimenopause confusing and often difficult to identify.
Progesterone is usually the first hormone to decline. Because progesterone plays a calming role in the body, changes here can affect sleep, mood, and your ability to feel settled. Oestrogen, on the other hand, may spike and dip unpredictably, influencing energy, temperature regulation, focus, and stress response.
These shifts don’t happen in isolation. Hormones interact closely with the nervous system, the gut, blood sugar regulation, and sleep cycles. When one area becomes strained, the effects are often felt throughout the body.
Perimenopause is not an illness.
It is not a failure of your body.
It is a natural biological transition — one that modern life doesn’t always support well.
Recognising this phase for what it is creates context. It allows observation instead of self-blame, and care instead of confusion.
>>>> Download Is it My Hormones? FREE PDF
Common Perimenopausal Symptoms
Perimenopause does not look the same for every woman. Some experience clear physical changes, while others notice more subtle shifts in mood, sleep, or resilience. Many experience a combination that changes from month to month.
You may recognise several of the experiences below — or only one or two. Both are normal.
Body & Energy
- Fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest
- Changes in weight or how your body responds to food and exercise
- Hot flushes or feeling warmer than usual
- Night sweats
- Headaches or migraines
- Joint or muscle discomfort
Sleep
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking during the night, especially between 2–4am
- Lighter, less restorative sleep
- Feeling tired despite adequate time in bed
Mood & Emotional Regulation
- Increased anxiety or unease
- Lower tolerance for stress
- Irritability or sudden emotional shifts
- Feeling flat, overwhelmed, or unlike yourself
- Reduced emotional resilience
Focus & Memory
- Brain fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Struggling to hold onto words or thoughts
Cycle Changes
- Shorter or longer cycles
- Heavier or lighter bleeding
- Missed periods
- New or intensified PMS symptoms
Skin, Hair & Sensory Changes
- Dry or sensitive skin
- Changes in hair texture or shedding
- Increased sensitivity to noise, light, or touch
- Changes in body odour
Less Commonly Discussed Experiences
Some women also notice changes that are rarely spoken about, even though they are not uncommon during hormonal transition.
These can include:
- A sense of internal restlessness or vibration
- Sudden anxiety without a clear trigger
- Heart palpitations despite normal test results
- Heightened sensitivity to sound, light, or stimulation
- Feeling emotionally detached or “not quite themselves”
- Skin sensations such as itching, tingling, or crawling
- Brief surges of anger or emotional intensity that feel unfamiliar
Experiencing these does not mean something is wrong with you.
Not every woman will experience these changes. Naming them creates understanding — not expectation.
>>>> Download Is it My Hormones? FREE PDF
Why Perimenopause Can Feel So Destabilising
For many women, perimenopause doesn’t just change the body — it changes how the world is experienced.
Hormones play a central role in how the nervous system regulates stress, emotion, energy, and recovery. As oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate, this regulation can become less predictable. The nervous system may shift more easily into alertness, even when no obvious threat is present.
At the same time, many women entering this phase are carrying years of responsibility, emotional labour, and long-term depletion. When hormonal support begins to change, the body has fewer reserves to buffer stress in the way it once did.
This combination can create a sense of being constantly “on edge,” emotionally reactive, or unable to recover as you used to. Strategies that once worked may suddenly feel ineffective.
Because these changes are internal, women are often told to be more disciplined, more organised, or more resilient. In reality, the body is asking for something different.
Pushing harder during perimenopause often increases strain rather than resolving it.
What helps instead is restoring a sense of safety, rhythm, and steadiness — allowing the nervous system to settle rather than forcing it to perform.
Perimenopause is not asking you to become stronger.
It is asking you to become more attuned.
Gentle Support — Not Fixes
Perimenopause does not require you to overhaul your life or repair your body. In many cases, the most supportive changes are small, consistent, and compassionate.
Rest Without Guilt
Rest is physiological support. Sleep disruption, nervous system strain, and fluctuating hormones all increase the body’s need for recovery. Rest may look like earlier nights, fewer commitments, or quieter days.
Nourishment for Stability
Regular, grounding meals can help support energy and blood sugar balance. The aim is steadiness, not restriction or perfection.
Rhythm Over Routine
Flexible rhythms — rather than rigid routines — allow you to respond to daily changes in energy and mood while creating a sense of safety and predictability.
Plant Allies as Gentle Support
Many women find comfort in working with plants during this phase, whether through teas, topical botanicals, or other gentle preparations. These are traditionally used to support balance and resilience over time, not to override the body.
When Medical Support Is Needed
Persistent heavy bleeding, severe pain, sudden mental health changes, or symptoms that significantly affect daily life should always be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Moving Forward With Clarity and Self-Trust
Perimenopause is not a problem to solve.
It is a transition to understand.
When you have language for what your body is doing, uncertainty softens. Confusion gives way to context. And self-doubt loosens its grip.
Nothing in this guide is meant to tell you what you should feel or how your experience ought to look. Perimenopause unfolds differently for every woman.
What matters most is learning to recognise your own patterns and responding with patience rather than pressure.
Your body is not failing you.
It is adjusting.
Moving forward does not require urgency or perfection. Small, steady choices — made with awareness — are often enough to restore a sense of groundedness.
You are allowed to move through this season at your own pace.
A gentle note
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace personalised medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional if symptoms feel concerning or overwhelming.