The Hidden Struggle Behind Perimenopause and Your Mental Health
- Brainz Magazine
- May 12
- 4 min read
Written by Charlotte Cheetham, Gut Health Coach
Charlotte Cheetham is an expert coach in Gut Health for menopausal women. She is the founder of Lifeinsghts and aims to help all menopausal women one by one to heal their symptoms, which are preventing them from living a normal life. She has also written articles for Healthieyoo magazine about gut health, menopause and psychobiotics.
Perimenopause isn’t just hot flushes and skipped periods. It’s the emotional rollercoaster no one talks about. From unexplained anxiety to brain fog and burnout, here’s what’s really going on inside your body, and how to take back control naturally.
Why perimenopause feels like you’re “losing it”
If you’ve ever found yourself crying over nothing, snapping at your partner, or lying awake at 3 a.m. with racing thoughts, you’re not imagining things. For women entering their late 30s and 40s, perimenopause can feel like an emotional ambush.
The culprit? Hormonal shifts that not only affect your reproductive system but profoundly impact your brain, mood, and nervous system.
The hormone-mood connection: What’s really going on?
During perimenopause, your body enters a state of hormonal flux:
Oestrogen: Starts to drop erratically, creating mood highs and lows
Progesterone: Steadily declines, often first – removing your natural "calm"
Testosterone: Slowly falls, impacting motivation and libido
Cortisol & insulin: Easily disrupted by stress and diet
These hormones influence far more than your cycle. They affect serotonin, dopamine, sleep quality, and even how your brain processes stress. The result? You feel unsteady, unlike yourself, and often misunderstood.
Symptoms you didn’t know were hormonal
Many women are misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety, handed prescriptions, and sent on their way. But here’s what’s often missed:
Sudden mood swings or unexplained rage
Anxiety or panic attacks – without warning
Depressive lows, hopelessness, or numbness
Brain fog – forgetfulness, fuzzy thinking, mental fatigue
Sleep issues, especially waking at 2–3 a.m.
Overwhelm – even small tasks feel impossible
These symptoms are real. And they often begin before any obvious cycle changes appear.
The missing link: your gut, your hormones, and your brain
Did you know your gut produces up to 95% of your serotonin and nearly 50% of your dopamine?
A disrupted gut microbiome can make perimenopausal symptoms worse, impacting your mood, mental clarity, and hormone detox. Things like antibiotics, poor diet, stress, or inflammation can wreak havoc.
The gut even helps metabolize oestrogen through a collection of bacteria called the oestrobolome. When this system isn’t working, old hormones stay in circulation, causing everything from bloating to emotional volatility.
How stress hijacks your hormones
Perimenopause makes your body more sensitive to stress than ever before. Chronic stress raises cortisol, which steals resources from progesterone, worsens insulin resistance, and interferes with sleep and mood regulation.
In short: high stress = low resilience.
Over time, this leads to a “wired but tired” state – where your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight and recovery feels out of reach.
The natural reset: how to feel like you again
You don’t need to suffer through this. Here's a holistic roadmap to reclaim your calm, clarity, and confidence.
1. Stabilise blood sugar to soothe mood swings
Unstable blood sugar means cortisol spikes, and with it, anxiety and cravings. Start here:
Protein + healthy fat breakfast (e.g., eggs + avocado)
Eat regularly – don’t skip meals
Minimise sugar and refined carbs
Try apple cider vinegar before meals
Stick to whole foods: veg, quality proteins, slow carbs
2. Feed your gut for better mood and hormone detox
A healthy gut = fewer mood dips and smoother hormone metabolism.
Eat 5+ servings of diverse veg daily
Add fermented foods: kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi
Cut out processed foods and inflammatory oils
Include prebiotics: leeks, garlic, green bananas
Consider a good-quality probiotic
3. Balance hormones naturally with food & lifestyle
Ditch endocrine disruptors and nourish your body:
Avoid alcohol, plastic containers, and synthetic fragrances
Try seed cycling: flax + pumpkin (follicular), sesame + sunflower (luteal
Add magnesium, B-vitamins, omega-3s
Support your liver: cruciferous veg, dandelion tea, lemon water
4. Train your nervous system to feel safe again
You can’t logic your way out of anxiety, but you can calm your body.
Breathwork: 4-7-8 or box breathing
Vagus nerve hacks: humming, gargling, cold splashes
Journaling or tapping (EFT)
Nature walks or barefoot grounding
Yoga nidra or guided sleep meditations
5. Make sleep sacred
Sleep is when healing happens. Try this routine:
Power down screens 1 hour before bed
Magnesium or calming tea
Cool, dark, quiet room
No alcohol or heavy meals late
Try a relaxing audio to ease your thoughts
6. Supplement wisely (with guidance)
Some natural supplements that may help:
Magnesium glycinate – for calming and sleep
Ashwagandha or Rhodiola – stress support
Vitamin D3 + K2 – mood + hormone health
Omega-3s (EPA/DHA) – brain and inflammation
5-HTP or L-tryptophan – serotonin support (caution if on antidepressants)
Always consult a qualified practitioner before starting new supplements.
7. Embrace the emotional shift
Perimenopause can stir up deep identity questions:
Who am I becoming?
What am I ready to let go of?
Where do I need more support or better boundaries?
Use this time for reflection and renewal. Journal, seek support, and know: this isn’t a breakdown – it’s a breakthrough.
When to seek professional help
Consider working with a practitioner if:
Symptoms impact work, relationships, or daily life
You want a holistic plan before considering HRT
You’re trying things but not seeing results
You feel stuck or emotionally overwhelmed
A program like the 90-Day Perimenopause Reset can guide you through root-cause healing, not just symptom management.
You’re not broken – You’re becoming
Perimenopause is not the end –it’s an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and evolve. With the right tools and support, you can move through this season more resilient, wise, and grounded than ever before.
Take a deep breath. This is temporary. You are healing. And you are not alone.
Feeling called to make a change? Start small: one nourishing meal, one walk, one deep breath at a time. You’ve got this.
Charlotte Cheetham, Gut Health Coach
Charlotte Cheetham is an expert Gut Coach for menopausal women. After suffering from an acute gut infection, she had to learn how to manage her gut health to prevent another massive flare-up. She has learnt how to manage her nutritional needs to become healthy and happy during menopause. Her mission is to help as many women as possible to manage their diet and lifestyle so. too, can learn how to become healthy and happy again.
