Have you been feeling a little “not quite yourself”?

Perhaps you’re waking at 3am for no clear reason. Feeling more anxious than usual. Forgetting words mid-sentence. Wondering why your body suddenly feels unfamiliar.

Before you assume it’s stress, burnout or “just getting older”, there’s something important to understand.

It might be perimenopause.

Perimenopause vs Menopause: What’s the Difference?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that menopause is a long event.

In reality:

• Perimenopause is the transition phase – often starting in your 40s (sometimes earlier). Hormones fluctuate, periods become irregular, and symptoms may begin. You can still get pregnant during this time.
• Menopause is technically one moment in time – when you haven’t had a period for 12 months.

Understanding this difference can immediately remove so much confusion.

(If you’d like a simple breakdown of this and four other lesser-known facts, you can download my free guide:
5 Things No One Tells You About the Menopause )

The Symptoms That Surprise Women Most

We tend to hear about hot flushes.

But many women are caught off guard by:

• Anxiety that seems to come from nowhere
• Low mood
• Brain fog
• Loss of confidence
• Sleep disruption

When you don’t realise hormones are shifting, these changes can feel frightening.

When you do realise, they feel manageable.

You’re Not “Losing Yourself”

This stage isn’t about decline.

It’s a transition.

And understanding what’s happening in your body is the first step towards feeling steadier again.