Intro to Perimenopause: Why It Feels Overwhelming

Perimenopause isn’t “just hormones.” It’s a whole-body shift that touches your energy, sleep, mood, immune system, and even your sense of self. Here’s what’s really going on—and why you don’t have to go through it alone.

What Is Perimenopause, Really?

Perimenopause is the transition before menopause when your hormones—especially estrogen and progesterone—begin to fluctuate. For some women it starts in the late 30s, for others in their 40s. Cycles become less predictable, and symptoms can feel like a moving target: one month it’s heavy bleeding, another it’s insomnia or joint pain.

This isn’t “in your head.” It’s your body navigating a major hormonal recalibration.

Why It Feels Different If You Have Autoimmunity

If you’re managing Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune challenges, perimenopause can feel like turning up the volume on an already sensitive system.

Hormone fluctuations can trigger immune flares.
Estrogen detox pathways rely on the liver and gut, which may already be stressed.
Blood sugar, stress, and inflammation create feedback loops that magnify fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes.

Beyond Hormones: A Whole-Body Transition

Perimenopause is not just about ovaries winding down. It’s a whole-body shift involving:

Brain chemistry → mood swings, brain fog
Adrenals & thyroid → energy crashes, “wired but tired”
Gut & detox pathways → bloating, histamine flares, food sensitivities
Bones & connective tissue → joint pain, injury risk

This is why conventional advice—“just take HRT” or “it’s normal, deal with it”—often falls flat.

The Good News: This Can Be a Healing Window

Yes, it’s messy. But it can also be a reset point. With the right foundations—nutrition, minerals, stress regulation, nervous system support—you can move through perimenopause with more stability, fewer flares, and even renewed vitality.

What This Series Will Cover

Over the next 18 weeks, we’ll walk through the key foundations and hidden stressors that make perimenopause so overwhelming—especially if you’re navigating autoimmunity.

Together, we’ll look at:

Blood sugar, sleep, and energy
Stress, cortisol, and nervous system regulation
Gut health, detox pathways, and inflammation
Weight shifts, body composition, and metabolism
Minerals, hydration, and electrolytes
Bone, brain, and nervous system health
Libido, connection, and vitality
Movement and mitochondria
The overlap with Long COVID
Faith, resilience, and identity in this transition

Each week, I’ll share both my story and practical tools you can use right away. By the end, you’ll have a clearer roadmap for navigating perimenopause with more stability, less overwhelm, and renewed vitality.

Perimenopause isn’t the beginning of the end. It’s the beginning of a powerful shift in your body’s story. When you support the whole terrain—not just one hormone—you open the door to healing, stability, and even joy in this new chapter.

Want personalized support now? Apply to work with me.

Curious about the clean mineral + electrolyte stack I use with clients? Order here.

🌿 Brenna May, NTP

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.

Next up: Signs Perimenopause Has Started (And Why You’re Not Crazy)