Stress vs Perimenopause: What’s Really Going On
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m just tired. It’s just stress. I’ll push through”?
Then weeks - or months - pass, and nothing seems to shift. You’re still running on empty, your moods are unpredictable, sleep feels broken, and your body doesn’t quite feel like your own.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many women in their late 30s through 50s wonder whether what they’re experiencing is burnout - or if something deeper is happening. The answer? It could be both.
Why Stress and Perimenopause Feel So Similar
The symptoms of chronic stress and perimenopause often overlap:
Fatigue
Mood swings or low motivation
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Poor sleep
Increased anxiety or irritability
This makes sense when we look at the brain. Chronic stress elevates cortisol, disrupting the body’s natural rhythms of sleep, energy, and mood. At the same time, fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone in perimenopause directly influence neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA - the very chemicals that help regulate calmness, focus, and emotional stability.
In other words, your brain is trying to recalibrate under two powerful forces at once. No wonder it feels confusing.
Signs It Might Be More Than Stress
While only a health professional can confirm what’s happening for you, here are some clues that perimenopause might be playing a role:
Your cycle has become irregular or unpredictable
You’re waking at 3am consistently without obvious stressors
Hot flashes or night sweats have crept in
You notice changes in skin, hair, or body composition alongside emotional shifts
If these sound familiar, it’s worth exploring perimenopause as more than just a background “maybe.”
The Midlife Crossroads
Women often hit this stage while juggling careers, family, and community responsibilities. Add to that the cultural expectation of “keeping it all together,” and it’s no surprise many of us chalk up symptoms to stress.
But here’s the reframe: this isn’t the beginning of decline. It’s a natural transition - a biological reset - offering you the chance to re-evaluate how you want to live, love, and take care of yourself moving forward. It’s potentially the start of something wonderful…
Support for Both Stress and Perimenopause
Whether your challenges are stress, hormones, or (most likely) both, the good news is that the same mind-body practices can support you in feeling more grounded:
✨ Somatic check-ins – Place your hand on your chest or belly. Pause, breathe, and ask, “What does my body need right now?” Trust the answer that arises.
✨ Movement for regulation – Gentle yoga, walking, or dance improve blood flow, release tension, and balance brain chemistry.
✨ Sleep rituals – A dark, cool bedroom, consistent bedtime, and reduced screen time help restore natural rhythms.
✨ Nourishment for your nervous system – Protein-rich meals, magnesium, and omega-3s support brain health and mood stability.
✨ Community and conversation – Sharing your experience with other women can be profoundly healing. You realise you are not broken—you are in transition.
From Surviving to Blooming
If you’ve been blaming yourself for being “too stressed” or “not coping well enough,” pause and take a breath. This is not about weakness. It’s about biology, life stage, and the incredible complexity of the female nervous system.
With knowledge, compassionate practices, and support, you don’t just have to survive this stage - you can truly bloom into it, whatever it turns out to be.
Because no stage is the end of something. It’s the beginning of a deeper, wiser, more embodied you.