A Personal Observation
I have begun noticing changes in myself that I could not immediately explain for the past 4-5 years, but they have intensified since last year.
My sleep feels different. I couldn't fall asleep fast enough. I need a moment longer to recall a word. Situations that I would normally handle without much thought feel a little more draining than before. My brain feels like it's in the drain. Lots of things could trigger an onslaught of emotions. I feel challenged in many ways, and I dislike the feeling of not being in control.
At first, I assumed it was simply the result of a busy season of life. Like many women in their forties, I am balancing work, studies, family, and the usual responsibilities that come with adulthood.
But as I started paying closer attention, I realised these changes were not random. They seemed to follow a pattern that many women eventually encounter: the stage of perimenopause, which is the hormonal transition before menopause.
Perimenopause can begin several years before menopause itself, and hormonal fluctuations during this time can affect sleep, mood, metabolism, and cognitive function. Ouch!
Five Signs You May Be Entering Perimenopause
Here are five signs that are often mistaken for burnout but may actually be related to perimenopause.
1. You Notice More "Brain Fog" Than Before
Many women begin to notice changes in memory or concentration during perimenopause. You might take longer to recall certain words, forget why you entered a room, or feel that your thinking is slightly slower than before. For women like me who rely heavily on mental sharpness at work or in daily life, this can feel worrying.
Research shows that cognitive symptoms such as brain fog, slower recall, and reduced focus are common during perimenopause and are linked to hormonal fluctuations affecting brain function. The brain contains many receptors for oestrogen, and fluctuations in this hormone can influence memory and processing speed.
2. Your Tolerance for Stress Feels Lower
Another common experience during perimenopause is a change in how the body responds to stress. Hormonal fluctuations can affect the body's stress-response system, including how the nervous system regulates cortisol and emotional responses.
Situations that once felt manageable may now feel more draining. You may find yourself feeling overwhelmed more easily, especially when juggling multiple responsibilities at work or at home. This is so true.
3. You Have Difficulty Falling Asleep
Sleep disruption is one of the earliest and most overlooked signs of perimenopause. As Dr. Mary Claire Haver highlights, many women experience a "hidden sleep crisis" during this stage, often mistaking it for stress rather than a hormonal shift.
Some women find that they feel tired but have difficulty falling asleep. Others may notice that their sleep schedule shifts or that they wake earlier than usual. For me, I couldn't fall asleep as fast as I wanted it to be. Sometimes I could lie in bed for two hours before being able to fall asleep. One reason for this is that progesterone, a hormone that has calming and sleep-supporting effects, may fluctuate or decline during this stage of life.
4. Your Body Stores Weight Differently
Many women are surprised to notice weight changes during their forties, even when their diet and activity levels remain the same. Experts note that visceral fat increases even without lifestyle changes due to hormonal shifts.
Hormonal decline can lead to weight changes and fat redistribution, particularly abdominal fat. Oestrogen plays a role in how the body distributes fat. Changes in oestrogen levels can influence how the body stores fat, which is why many women notice increased weight around the abdomen during the perimenopause stage. Clothes may fit differently even if overall weight has not changed dramatically.
5. Your Emotions Feel More Sensitive at Times
Many women report feeling "not quite themselves" emotionally during early stages. Mood swings, irritability, and emotional changes are common symptoms of perimenopause. You might feel more irritable than usual or react more strongly to situations that previously felt minor.
These emotional shifts can come and go as hormone levels fluctuate throughout the cycle. This fluctuation affects the brain chemicals that regulate mood, including serotonin and GABA. When hormone levels fluctuate, mood regulation can become more sensitive.
Why High-Performing Women Often Notice These Changes More
Interestingly, many women who notice these changes most clearly are those who are used to functioning at a high mental and emotional capacity.
Women in their forties are often balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities, and multiple commitments. They are accustomed to being organised, efficient, and mentally sharp. Because of this, even small shifts in sleep, memory, stress tolerance, or energy can become noticeable.
When these changes appear, it's easy to assume that something is wrong or that burnout is setting in. However, hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can affect several systems in the body at the same time, including sleep regulation, cognitive processing, mood stability, and metabolism.
For women who have spent years managing complex schedules and responsibilities, these subtle changes may feel especially surprising.
To be very honest, I was taken aback by these changes, particularly the feeling that they were no longer entirely within my control.
Taking Action
Because of that, I began reading and researching to better understand what was happening in my body. I needed this knowledge not just for information, but to reduce unnecessary self-criticism and self-doubt.
I'm not labelling myself or limiting what I can do. I'm creating awareness. And with awareness, we can begin to adapt our routines, priorities, and self-care in ways that support our well-being more sustainably.
It also made me reflect on something else. For many years, women's health experiences were not openly discussed. Conversations around hormonal changes were often minimised or simply not prioritised.
But times are changing. More women today are beginning to speak, share, and seek understanding, not just for themselves but for those who come after them. In many ways, we are part of a generation that is learning to listen to our bodies more closely and to give language to experiences that were once kept quiet.
That realisation led me to take the next step: to speak with a menopause specialist and better understand what my body needs.
In this next post, I share what that consultation was like and why it made me feel more supported than I expected.
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