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Perimenopause: It’s Designed to Disrupt (and That’s a Good Thing)
The Awakening·Kirstin Bouse·Dec 17, 2024· 5 minutes

Perimenopause: It’s Designed to Disrupt (and That’s a Good Thing)

If you’re somewhere in your 40s (or even late 30s) and you’ve found yourself wondering, Who even am I anymore?—you’re not alone.

You’re also not broken. You’re not failing. You’re not “just stressed” or “losing it.”

What’s actually happening? You’re going through a massive, natural transition: perimenopause. And here’s the big truth bomb—it’s designed to disrupt you.

Now, before you throw something at me, hear me out.

What Exactly Is Perimenopause?

Let’s get clear on the basics. Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause, which officially begins one year after your last period. But perimenopause? Oh, she’s sneaky—she can start up to 10 years earlier, bringing with her a mix of symptoms that often look a lot like stress or burnout:

  • Brain fog.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Mood swings.
  • Feeling like you’re juggling too many balls, and they’re all dropping.

Sound familiar?

The problem is, no one told us this might happen. For decades, we’ve been led to believe midlife is about “aging gracefully” (whatever that means). But here’s what I want you to know:

Perimenopause isn’t something to fix. It’s something to move through.

And yes, it feels messy. But that mess? It has a purpose.

The Madness AND the Magic

Perimenopause often feels like madness. Your hormones are on a rollercoaster, your patience is wearing thin, and you’re starting to snap at things you used to brush off. You’re exhausted, wired, disoriented—and maybe, just maybe, you don’t feel like yourself anymore.

But here’s where the magic comes in.

That same hormone-driven madness is also waking you up. It’s shaking you free of the patterns, roles, and expectations that no longer fit. It’s your body and brain’s way of saying:

“Enough. It’s time for something new.”

This disruption isn’t about falling apart. It’s about rebuilding—wiser, freer, and more intentional.

Your brain is literally rewiring itself. As estrogen levels shift, your brain starts pruning away connections you no longer need. That’s why you suddenly have zero tolerance for nonsense, less energy for people-pleasing, and a growing urge to ask yourself:

  • What do I actually want?
  • What’s no longer working for me?
  • What parts of my life need to go, so I can feel more like ME again?

Perimenopause Is a Rite of Passage

If this all sounds a little “woo,” let’s compare perimenopause to something we all understand: puberty.

Puberty was messy, awkward, and disorienting, too. But it had a purpose. It turned us into adults.

Perimenopause is the reverse. It strips away what no longer serves us—old roles, outdated expectations, the “good girl” tendencies we’ve clung to for decades—and prepares us for a new stage of life. A stage where we can finally show up as our fullest, truest selves.

In other words: perimenopause is a Rite of Passage.

It’s not just a biological shift. It’s a psychological and emotional one, too. And when you understand that? Everything changes.

You’re Not Alone—And You’re Not Failing

Here’s the part that really lights a fire under me: so many women move through this transition blindfolded. We don’t know what’s happening to us. We think we’re burnt out, too stressed, or not “strong enough” to handle it.

And worse? Too often, we’re dismissed by health professionals who don’t understand the hormonal shifts and stressors colliding in midlife.

But I need you to hear this:

You are not failing. You are evolving.

Perimenopause might feel like it’s breaking you down, but what it’s really doing is stripping you back to your essence. To your truth.

Your Invitation to Step Into Queen-Hood

So what comes after the madness? Magic.

Midlife is your invitation to step into your Queen-Hood—to rise into the truest, wisest version of yourself.

A Queen knows her worth. She sets boundaries unapologetically. She reclaims her joy and pleasure without guilt. She stops shrinking, twisting, and bending herself to fit into roles that don’t fit anymore.

And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone.

Navigating the Madness and Magic Together

This transition is hard, yes. But it’s also an opportunity—one you can embrace with the right support, tools, and mindset.

That’s exactly what my Embracing the Magic and Madness of Menopause mentorship program is all about.

Together, we’ll navigate the chaos, reclaim your energy, and help you re-emerge as the grounded, confident, and powerful woman you’re becoming.

Because this isn’t the end of the story. It’s your crowning.

Are you ready to embrace it?