When most of us think about menopause, we probably think about hot flashes and night sweats. But for many women, the mental and emotional changes that can happen during perimenopause are just as noticeable, and sometimes much more disruptive.
During the perimenopause transition, you might notice changes in your mood, anxiety, sleep, energy, concentration or ability to regulate your emotions. You might find yourself feeling more irritable than usual, crying more easily, feeling overwhelmed by things that normally wouldn’t bother you, or wondering where your motivation and concentration went.
Sometimes these changes can be surprising, particularly if you haven't connected them with perimenopause. And it isn't simply about hormones.
Physical symptoms can have a significant effect on how we feel and function. Poor sleep, night sweats, hot flashes, heart palpitations or joint pain can leave you feeling exhausted, distracted or more emotionally stretched. When you're already running on empty, things that might normally feel manageable can become much harder.
Then there’s everything else that may be happening in your life at the same time.
Perimenopause often overlaps with a period of significant life transition. Children may be becoming more independent or leaving home. You might be supporting aging parents, navigating changes in a relationship, reconsidering your career, or dealing with new health concerns. You may also be thinking differently about your identity, your priorities or what you want the next stage of your life to look like.
So when your mental health changes during perimenopause, there may not be one simple explanation.
Hormonal changes, physical symptoms, sleep, emotional wellbeing and life circumstances can all interact. Looking at the bigger picture can be more helpful than trying to separate each piece.
This is one of the reasons I'm particularly interested in supporting women through perimenopause and menopause in my counselling practice. Understanding what you're experiencing in the context of your whole life can help make sense of changes that may otherwise feel confusing or frustrating.
It also means that counselling doesn't have to be about assuming everything you're experiencing is ‘just hormones’. Sometimes it can be helpful to look at what has changed, what you're carrying, how you're responding to it, and what might help you feel more grounded and capable as you move through this transition.
And, as someone experiencing many of these changes myself, I have a personal interest in the topic too, which is probably why I was willing to spend far too long making the graphic that inspired this post, that made me want to throw my laptop out the window. Case in point. 🫠
If you're noticing changes in your mood, anxiety, sleep, motivation or ability to cope during perimenopause or menopause, counselling can be one place to explore what's going on and how you'd like to navigate it. I offer counselling in Port Moody and virtually across BC, including a free 15-minute consultation if you'd like to see whether counselling might be a good fit.