The Overwhelm - What's Going On?

Menopause can feel like your body’s changing the rules without giving you a heads-up. One minute you’re fine, then suddenly a missing sock feels like a crisis, and someone chewing sounds like a personal attack. If everything suddenly feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. There are real reasons why menopause can leave us feeling like we’re barely holding it together.

1. Hormonal Havoc

Our brilliant hormones — oestrogen and progesterone — don’t just affect reproduction. They’re deeply connected to brain chemistry and other key systems in the body. As these hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause and decline through menopause, they can disrupt:

• Serotonin & dopamine – mood, motivation, and emotional balance

• Cortisol – our stress response

• Melatonin – our ability to fall and stay asleep

This hormonal turbulence can throw off your usual coping mechanisms. What used to roll off your back now feels like an insurmountable mountain.

2. Brain Fog & Cognitive Overload

Ever walk into a room and forget why you’re there? Or forget the name of someone you’ve known for years? Memory and concentration can feel like distant memories themselves. For me, every talk or presentation is a small miracle!

This isn't a sign of aging or a character flaw — it's just part of the menopausal transition. When mental clarity dips, even the simplest tasks can feel like climbing Everest.

3. Increased Sensitivity to Stress

As hormones fluctuate, our nervous system can feel like it’s on high alert. This might look like:

• Crying more easily

• Getting irritated faster

• Feeling anxious about things that never used to bother us

• Avoiding risk entirely

• Obsessing over the smallest details

• Feeling stuck, unable to move forward

This isn’t just emotional sensitivity — it’s a physiological response to hormonal changes. Our body and brain are recalibrating to this new landscape of fluctuating or low oestrogen and progesterone levels. There are glitches in the system, and this is what they look like.

4. Life Is Happening Too

Menopause often arrives when life is already full:

• Kids leaving or have already left

• Aging or unwell parents

• Career shifts

• Health changes

• Financial stress

• Always feeling rushed

• No time for yourself

These life transitions, combined with internal changes, create the perfect storm. It’s no wonder it feels like everything is piling on.

5. Feeling Alone in the Experience

Menopause is still under-discussed and often misunderstood. We might feel like we're expected to just “push through” or that our struggles aren’t valid. But they are! This emotional invalidation can make the overwhelm even worse.

So, What Can We Do?

First, recognise that this isn’t your fault, and you’re not broken. Reach out to someone who gets it. Prioritise "me-time", self-compassion, and support. If  you want to see change, start smaller than small so you don’t overwhelm your already overwhelmed nervous and hormonal systems.

Changing our perspective can help: Overwhelm is simply a signal — not a failure. It doesn’t have to be permanent. It means your body and mind need care, not criticism, during this recalibration period.

If this resonates with you, you are not alone. So many women who come to me are walking this same path — often silently. Let’s start changing that by talking about it openly, kindly, and without shame.

You’re allowed to:

• Need help

• Find time for YOU

• Rest/Rush less

• Feel ALL of it

You’re doing better than you think. xx

If you're feeling overwhelmed and need a helping hand to get unstuck and moving forward, I’m always here for you!