Is It Perimenopause or Something Else?
Why perimenopause might just be part of the story.
If you a woman in your 40’s chances are you have been hearing the word “perimenopause” bandied around a lot. In fact, in recent years there has been so much more awareness around perimenopause and what it means for women. This is a really good thing because for far too long anything to do with women, their hormones and ageing has been treated like a dirty little secret, one that we need to move through alone and suffer in silence. Which is so messed up.
Now, before we dive into the article, I want to invite you to pause for a moment. Take a breath, settle into your body, and cast your eyes over the list of symptoms below. Don’t overthink it — just notice which ones feel familiar. Which ones spark a quiet “yes, that’s me.”
Either way, let it be information — not judgement. We always approach health and healing from a place of love. You can’t heal a body you hate and a body you are constantly judging for not performing.
Do any of these sound like you?
You wake up tired. But not the kind of tired a good sleep can fix. It’s a deeper fatigue. An ache. A dragging. A sense that something inside you has dimmed.
You used to be sharp — fast-thinking, fast-moving, in control. Now you forget why you walked into a room. You stare at the screen, willing yourself to focus. You snap at your kids, then cry in the car.
The weight is creeping on. Your cycle has changed. You’re craving sugar you used to walk past without a second thought. And at night, even though you’re exhausted… you lie awake.
You feel anxious for no reason. While feelings of anxiety aren’t new for you, this feels different. You cant put your finger on exactly why you feel this way. Its sitting in your chest. It feels like a lot
When you finally go to your doctor, you’re met with the phrase: “Sounds like perimenopause. ”It lands like a dull thud. Not because it might be wrong — but because it feels like a dismissal. What does it even mean? What exactly are you supposed to do with this word? This “diagnosis”? Aren’t you too young for perimenopause? You’re still getting your periods. You don’t feel like this is your time for the big M. Besides, you’re not here for a label. You’re here for answers. You want to understand what’s happening in your body — because right now, it feels like a stranger.
You want to feel like you again. And that’s what this article is about. Because perimenopause might be part of the story — but it’s not the whole story
Perimenopause is real. It’s the phase that precedes menopause, often beginning in your late 30s or early 40s — marked by fluctuating oestrogen and declining progesterone.
But here’s the problem:
We’ve turned it into a diagnosis instead of what it really is — a transition. And more problematic is… we’ve started to use it as a blanket explanation for symptoms that deserve a deeper look.
Your body isn’t just randomly rebelling. It’s responding — to years of subtle depletion, to modern life, to unmet needs, to a nervous system that’s been running on empty. This is why it is always worth uncovering what might really be going on — and why “perimenopause” may be masking a much bigger opportunity to heal.
We’ve been taught to view hormonal changes as signs of decline — to interpret every shift as a problem to solve, a malfunction to correct, a symptom to suppress. The narrative is persistent and pervasive: your body is unpredictable, inconvenient, untrustworthy, and ultimately, in need of management. And so we’re handed pills, patches, prescriptions, and platitudes. We’re told to fix it, fix ourselves, quiet it down, push through, carry on. This happens throughout a womans life.
But here’s what no one explains — not when you’re handed that word, and not when you’re sent home still feeling uncertain: perimenopause might be part of the picture, yes — but it doesn’t explain everything. It might be bringing things to the surface.
Your hormones aren’t simply “going wild” or “shutting down.” They’re shifting within a body that might also need a little TLC. A body that has likely been under pressure for years. A body that’s had to adapt to chronic stress, interrupted sleep, poor nutrition, emotional load, constant multitasking — often without the space to recover.
This isn’t about blame. What you’re experiencing is something many women go through — not because you’ve done anything wrong, but because your body is incredibly wise. What I’m suggesting is that it may not just be “your hormones behaving badly.” It may be your whole system — your metabolism, your nervous system, your gut, your mind — calling out for a different kind of support. And for many women, it’s during perimenopause that these signals become too loud to ignore.
Yes, hormonal shifts are real — and perimenopause is a biologically normal, deeply valid transition. But so often, the way we talk about this season reduces it to a list of symptoms or a diagnosis to manage, rather than a nuanced, whole body experience shaped by far more than just your age.
Your body is smart. It is responding, wisely and intelligently, to everything your body has carried until now. You are a human. You have lived your life and it’s likely you’ve spent years — even decades — juggling responsibilities, suppressing stress, skipping meals, adapting to pressure, performing at work, showing up for others, and holding everything together.
And now, your body is asking to be heard because your hormones are changing and it can’t continue with the heavy lifting anymore.
The brain fog, the fatigue, the cravings, the mood swings, the weight changes — these aren’t signs of failure. They’re signals. Signs that your body might be responding to chronic stress, nutrient depletion, blood sugar dysregulation, inflammation, and a nervous system that’s been running in survival mode for far too long.
When hormones feel out of control, they’re often not the cause of the problem — they’re the outcome. They’re part of a wider, intelligent conversation happening between your metabolism, your gut, your liver, your stress response, your past experiences, and your unmet needs.
And when that conversation gets too loud, symptoms surface. The women I work with — women like you — are often experiencing a lot in their 40’s:
A persistent sense of anxiety or overwhelm
A feeling of being unrecognisable to themselves
Afternoon energy crashes and nighttime restlessness
Emotional reactivity and reduced tolerance to stress
An inability to shift weight even with effort
And when we look at the bigger picture and beneath the surface, we often find some very clear, very addressable patterns.
Here are five of the most common root causes I see:
Blood Sugar Imbalance
Even with healthy eating, women in their 40s often experience unstable blood sugar from irregular meal timing, stress, caffeine reliance, or insufficient protein. This drives cravings, fatigue, mood swings, and hormonal disruption.Nervous System Dysregulation
Long-term stress, people-pleasing, overworking, and emotional suppression activate fight-or-flight physiology. Over time, this depletes progesterone, disrupts sleep, and creates an ongoing sense of being wired but exhausted.Liver Overload
Your liver processes hormones, but also medications, alcohol, and environmental toxins. When it’s burdened, oestrogen can build up, leading to heavy periods, breast tenderness, irritability, and weight gain.Gut Imbalance
The gut is central to hormone balance. If you're bloated, constipated, or dealing with IBS-type symptoms, your gut may be reabsorbing hormones your body is trying to eliminate. This increases inflammation and dysregulates hormonal rhythm.Micronutrient Depletion
Stress, poor sleep, past restrictive dieting, hormonal contraception, and pregnancy can all contribute to key nutrient deficiencies. Without adequate magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, iodine, and omega-3s, your body simply doesn’t have the raw materials it needs to regulate itself.
This is the part of the conversation so often missing.
When we reduce women’s midlife experience to “just perimenopause,” we rob them of understanding — and we miss the chance to support them in a way that’s personalised, respectful, and truly effective.
Because your symptoms are not random. They’re not proof you’re broken. And they’re not just “part of being a woman.”
They’re your body’s request for attention.
So rather than asking, “How do I fix my hormones?” — I invite you to ask:
What is my body asking for right now?
Where have I been silencing its needs?
What might change if I truly supported it — with nourishment, not restriction; with rest, not punishment; with care, not control?
I am a naturopath and I care deeply about all of the women I work with. It makes me sad when women feel like “it’s all down hill from here'“. I believe there is so much we can do to support your health in your 40s, 50s 60s and beyond. Naturopathy and Metabolic Balance are powerful tools. In my clinic, I combine personalised nutrition, functional testing, herbal medicine, and nervous system support to help women reconnect with their health in a way that’s respectful and sustainable.
You don’t need to push harder. You don’t need to override your symptoms. You don’t need to “just get through it.” You deserve to heal and to know there are so many sparkly years left in you. You deserve to feel like yourself again — clear, grounded, nourished, and strong. This isn’t the end of anything. It’s a turning point and it’s important to meet it with compassion and clarity.
If you would like to have a chat to about seeing a naturopath, my Gut Love program metabolic balance, yoga, reiki or EFT you are very welcome to book in a free discovery call with me. I know it can feel very confusing working out what the right thing to do is and I am here to support you. You can book a free call HERE or if you know its right for you, book an Initial Naturopathic Consultation and we can jump right into getting your health on track and have you feeling amazing in no time.
I see all clients ONLINE so it makes it very easy for you to book in and see me.
You might also like to download my FREE Holistic Guide to perimenopause. This is a FREE ebook designed to empower you with practical strategies and natural solutions for this pivotal phase of life.
This is for you if you're feeling overwhelmed with things like irregular cycles, fatigue, brain fog, or mood swings. Or if you're wondering how to regain balance and vitality? This guide helps to demystify perimenopause, offering clear, actionable insights to help you thrive.
Rooted in both traditional practices and the latest research, this guide delivers:
A breakdown of perimenopause phases and their effects on your body.
Holistic approaches to manage symptoms through diet, lifestyle, and natural therapies.
Insightful recommendations for optimal blood testing and interpreting results.
Practical strategies for hormonal balance, energy restoration, and enhanced well-being.
Here’s what you’ll gain from this guide:
A deeper understanding of the changes in your body.
Personalised tools for building a balanced, nutrient-rich lifestyle.
Guidance on reducing stress, improving sleep, and supporting mental clarity.
Supportive steps to approach perimenopause with grace and strength.
Take charge of your health and embrace this new chapter with confidence. Download your FREE Perimenopause Ebook today and start your journey towards vibrant, balanced living!