Have you ever looked at your life and thought: "Why does everything feel harder than it used to?"

Maybe you’re still doing all the things. Taking care of your family, showing up at work, supporting everyone around you, trying to eat well, trying to exercise, and trying to keep everything together with varying degrees of success. So, how does your house look right now?

But somewhere along the way, something changed.

• Your sleep isn't what it used to be.

• Your patience is thinner.

• Your emotions feel closer to the surface.

• Your brain feels foggy.

• Your stress feels bigger.
  

And you find yourself wondering: "What happened to me?"

If this sounds familiar, I want you to know something important:

You are not failing, you are not "bad at handling stress”, you are not losing yourself or your mind. Your body is going through a major transition that takes 5-10 years, and understanding what is happening can change everything.

Welcome to Perimenopause.

The Moment I Realized Women Were Not Being Told Enough

When I began working toward becoming a certified menopause coach, one thing shocked me:

How little women are prepared for this stage of life.

For years, we learned about puberty. We learned about pregnancy. We hear about menopause. But the years leading up to menopause - aka adult puberty? The years when our hormones begin changing, fluctuating, and affecting our bodies in unexpected ways? We are usually left to eff around and find out - which is something our generation excels at by the way.

So many women enter this season wondering if something is wrong with them.

But there is something empowering I discovered:

• There is so much we can do to support ourselves through this transition.

• We are not powerless.

• We just need better information and practical tools.

So What Actually Happens During Perimenopause?

Let's start with the basics. During perimenopause, our reproductive hormones begin changing.

Estrogen and progesterone fluctuate as they sharply decline. We also experience changes in testosterone levels. These hormones influence far more than reproduction. They affect many systems throughout the body, including mood, sleep, energy, metabolism, and stress response.

This is why perimenopause can feel like your body suddenly decided to rewrite the rules.

You may notice:

• Hot flashes

• Night sweats

• Mood changes

• Increased anxiety or irritability

• Brain fog

• Sleep challenges

• Changes in energy

• Increased sensitivity to stress

• Changes in body composition

• Decreased muscle mass

• Lower libido

• Vaginal dryness

• Hair changes

• Feeling less resilient than you used to

  
  

And sometimes the hardest symptom isn't even physical.

It's the feeling of:

"I don't recognize myself anymore."

The Stress Connection Nobody Talks About Enough

Here is where things get really interesting. Many women assume stress is just another thing they have to tolerate. But stress and perimenopause can create a frustrating cycle. As hormones shift, many women become more sensitive to stress.

The things that used to roll off your shoulders suddenly feel overwhelming. The small inconveniences feel bigger. Your emotional reactions feel stronger. Your ability to "just push through" isn't what it used to be.

And when stress stays elevated, cortisol - the hormone involved in your stress response - remains activated.

This can contribute to making many symptoms feel more challenging, including:

• Poor sleep

• Feeling emotionally overwhelmed

• Fatigue

• Difficulty relaxing

• Increased stress sensitivity

• The Rage!

• More frequent and intense hot flashes

It can feel like you're stuck on a never-ending not merry-go-round:

Hormonal changes create more stress.

Stress makes symptoms feel worse.

Symptoms create more stress.

And around and around you go.

The Good News: You Can Step Off the Merry-Go-Round

This is the part I want every woman to hear:

You are not stuck here.

Perimenopause may feel like an uphill climb, but you don't have to climb it alone. You don't need to completely overhaul your life. You don't need another impossible routine. And you definitely don't need to become perfect at self-care.

You need simple tools that help your body feel supported with small moments of calm, practical habits, and a better understanding of what your body is asking for. Because sometimes the biggest change comes from learning how to work with your body instead of fighting against it.

Why I Created PeriLuma

I created PeriLuma because I wanted women to have the support and understanding I wish every woman had during this transition. And, what I wish I had when I started Perimenopause around 3 years ago. I’m really getting the hang of this, but the first couple years were super rough. PeriLuma is a place where we can:

💜 Understand what is happening in our bodies
💜 Learn simple science-backed ways to support ourselves
💜 Reduce stress without adding more pressure
💜 Laugh through the chaos
💜 Feel confident moving into this next chapter

Perimenopause is not the end of who you are.

It may actually be the beginning of reconnecting with yourself in a whole new way.

Your Next Step Toward Calm

If you are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or like your body has changed overnight, I created a free resource to help you begin.

When You Choose Yourself: 20 Nurturing Habits to Build Self-Love, Reduce Stress, and Flourish Through Perimenopause + 10 Habits That Quietly Undermine It. Inside, you'll discover simple practices designed to help you create more calm, confidence, and connection with yourself.

Because you deserve support through this season, and you definitely deserve to feel like yourself again.