The Hidden Signs of Perimenopause You Might Be Ignoring
Perimenopause doesn’t always announce itself with hot flushes or skipped periods. More often, it sneaks in quietly, showing up as changes in your mood, sleep, energy, or even how you feel in your own skin.
You might still be cycling regularly, but something just feels off.
If you’ve been thinking “I’m not myself lately,” your hormones could be shifting behind the scenes. Here are five common (but often overlooked) signs of perimenopause and what they actually mean.
1. Brain Fog and Word Mix-Ups
One of the earliest and most frustrating signs of perimenopause is the sense that your brain isn’t firing like it used to.
You may find yourself:
Struggling to find the right word mid-sentence
Forgetting why you walked into a room
Losing your train of thought or rereading the same paragraph
Mixing up names or saying things like “TV” when you meant “phone”
It can feel like your memory or focus is slipping, which is unsettling for many women who are used to being sharp and efficient.
The cause is fluctuating oestrogen. This hormone supports brain function, including memory, concentration, and verbal recall. When it starts to dip, your cognitive clarity can take a hit.
The good news is you’re not losing your mind. You’re navigating a hormonal recalibration.
2. Irritability and Sudden Rage
You were once pretty patient. But now? The way your partner breathes, the sound of someone chewing, or a minor mess in the kitchen can feel like too much.
Perimenopausal irritability often feels disproportionate and can appear suddenly:
You snap at your partner over a small comment
You lose it with your kids, then feel awful five minutes later
You cry over something you’d normally brush off
You feel like you're walking around with a short fuse
Oestrogen and progesterone play key roles in mood regulation. As they fluctuate, especially as calming progesterone declines, your threshold for stress shrinks and your nervous system becomes more reactive.
You're not turning into an angry person. Your brain is responding to shifting chemistry. The first step is recognising this pattern and giving yourself some grace while you adjust.
3. Anxiety That Feels New or Comes Out of Nowhere
Even if you’ve never felt anxious before, perimenopause can bring on anxiety in new, confusing ways.
It might show up as:
Racing thoughts that hijack your sleep
A sense of internal restlessness or dread
Overthinking texts, plans, or interactions
Avoiding commitments that never used to phase you
A tight chest or inability to take a deep breath
Feeling wired but tired, especially in the evenings
These changes are hormonal. Oestrogen and progesterone affect serotonin, cortisol, and your brain’s stress response. As levels fluctuate, your resilience drops and you may feel more sensitive to everyday life.
Understanding the hormonal root of anxiety is empowering and the first step to managing it without self-blame.
4. Middle-of-the-Night Wake-Ups
You fall asleep fine, but then it’s 2.47am and you’re wide awake.
Sound familiar?
One of the most common and exhausting signs of perimenopause is disrupted sleep, especially early morning wakefulness. Even if you’re bone-tired, your body can feel wired or anxious, making it hard to drift back off.
Common culprits include:
Declining progesterone, which normally promotes deep, restful sleep
Blood sugar dips that trigger cortisol spikes overnight
Changes in melatonin production due to fluctuating oestrogen
Poor sleep isn’t just frustrating. It affects mood, memory, energy, and weight. Supporting your nervous system, balancing blood sugar, and optimising evening routines can make a big difference.
5. Aching Joints and Morning Stiffness
If you’ve started waking up sore, stiff, or creaky, even without a heavy workout the day before, it could be your hormones.
Oestrogen has anti-inflammatory properties and helps maintain joint lubrication. As it declines, you may notice:
Stiffness in your knees, hips, or lower back in the morning
Aches that come on more easily or take longer to resolve
Feeling sore after exercise that used to feel fine
An increase in old injuries or flare-ups
This symptom often gets brushed off as just getting older, but hormonal changes are a major contributor. The right combination of nutrition, movement, and recovery can help you feel more fluid and resilient again.
What to Take Away
These symptoms are common signs that your body is shifting into a new hormonal phase. While they can feel disorienting or frustrating, they’re also signals that your body is changing and needs support.
With the right strategies in place, it is absolutely possible to feel clearer, calmer, stronger, and more in control again.
Want Expert Guidance Through This Transition?
If you’re noticing these shifts and wondering how to navigate them with more clarity and confidence, now is the time to take action. You don’t have to keep second-guessing your symptoms or trying to figure it all out on your own.
Understanding what’s happening in your body is powerful, but knowing what to do about it is where real transformation happens.
The Menopause Mastery Program is an 8-week online journey designed to help you reconnect with your body, stabilise your hormones, and feel like yourself again.
This is not about pushing through or putting up with it. It’s about taking back control with science-backed tools and compassionate guidance.
