Stress. It’s that familiar tightness in your chest, the knot in your stomach, the racing thoughts that keep you up at night.
Last week, I found myself trying to record a podcast while contractors hammered away at my house, my dog channeled his inner pitbull at the mailman, my task app screamed neglect with endless notifications, and my son blew up my phone with a cat-sitting crisis.
I felt the weight of a thousand responsibilities crushing down on me. It was all too much!
I know you know the feeling I’m talking about. And if you’ve been feeling more stressed than usual, it’s probably not your imagination. Perimenopause alters your stress response, making you more reactive to everyday pressures. And to make it worse, this increased stress can actually cause a cascade of intensified perimenopause symptoms:
- Sleepless nights become the norm, amplifying all your other symptoms,
- Stubborn belly fat? Blame stress-induced cortisol,
- Brain fog thickens as stress clouds your memory and focus,
- Anxiety and depression spiral out of control,
- Mood swings intensify, leaving your family shell-shocked,
- Your heart races, setting the stage for potential cardiac issues, and
- Migraines and PMS can intensify.
It’s a vicious cycle that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, and exhausted.
But don’t panic (that’ll just stress you out more!). We’ve pulled together a few great resources to help you better understand and manage your stress during perimenopause. Check it out…
LISTEN to this:
Our episode, Fight, Flight, or Fat with Kerri Hallman, unravels the mystery of mid-life weight gain. Kerri Hallman, is a Stress Reduced Fat Loss Practitioner, here to explain why your body’s cortisol levels could be sabotaging your waistline. Plus she’s got some great strategies to help you slash stress and shed pounds. This could be the weight-loss puzzle piece you’ve been missing. Listen Today!
LEARN about this:
Stress isn’t just expanding your waistline – it could be threatening your heart. Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of menopausal women, and this article exposes how stress impacts your heart health. Discover often-missed warning signs, and arm yourself with strategies to reduce your stress and safeguard your heart. This article just might save your life. Read Now!
LAUGH out loud:
Feeling a little stressed out? Take a cue from Bridesmaids‘ Annie and her epic ‘Cookie Scene’ meltdown. It’s the ultimate temper tantrum we’ve all dreamed of throwing. 🤣😆 Throw that tantrum!
we really LOVE:
Meet Four Sigmatic Balance Organic Coffee. Truth: It doesn’t taste exactly like your favorite Colombian, but it’s surprisingly good. Packed with stress-fighting adaptogens like chaga, eleuthero, tulsi and ashwagandha, and 1/2 the caffeine of regular joe. When that 3 PM slump hits and I need a boost that won’t keep me wired till midnight, this is my go-to. 💋 Michelle Grab a Cup!
There you have it. Understanding stress is the first step to managing it, and maybe your weight, and your heart health too. If you still have questions, or want to know more, hit reply and let us know. We always love to hear from you and are always happy to help.
We hope this was helpful. If you have a few minutes, hit reply and let us know your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you.
xoxo,
Mikelle and Michelle
