You’ve been carrying a backpack you didn’t even realize was there.
At first it was light.
Just a few responsibilities.
A little stress.
A skipped meal here, a late night there.
But over time, the weight built up.
Hormonal changes added what felt like bricks.
Sleepless nights added sandbags.
Now every step feels heavy—but you can’t quite explain why.
You’ve been told it’s your mindset.
Your weight.
Your age.
That this is just part of being a woman.
But that’s not the real diagnosis.
What you’re experiencing isn’t random. It’s nervous system overload driven by hidden stressors your body can’t keep compensating for.
Here are 7 of those disruptors—
And once you see them clearly, everything changes
1. Blood Sugar Swings
Lets start with the most common and most misunderstood. Calories, macros, and what we need to actually live in balance.
Many women are eating cleaner than ever, and also eating less than they need.
Less calories, because we have to be thin to be appreciated.
Less protein, because those have the most calories.
Less carbs, because carbs make you fat.
Less meals, because you don’t have time, and you could afford to lose a lb or two.
But undereating—especially carbs and protein—leads to blood sugar drops which your body experiences as a stress signal. That spike-and-crash pattern keeps your cortisol high and your mood unstable which makes anxiety worse.
And in perimenopause your body is more sensitive to those fluctuations than it used to be.
How this shows up: Nightmares. Sweats at night. Waking up at 2 or 3am and not getting back to sleep for several hours.
2. Cortisol Overload
Cortisol isn’t the enemy—it helps you wake up, focus and respond to challenges.
But when it’s running the show 24/7? You lose your ability to recover.
You feel puffy, wired, inflamed, or wiped out for days after a simple change in schedule.
And here’s the kicker: declining estrogen means your body has fewer tools to regulate cortisol. So, the pressure adds up, fast. Even without “obvious” stress.
How this shows up: Being exhausted, but unable to rest or sleep. Waking up to have to pee in the middle of the night. The “menopause middle” – stubborn belly fat that is resistant to food or exercise.
3. Histamine Sensitivity
Most women aren’t taught how estrogen impacts histamine. (Or even know what histamine is.)
But during ovulation or in high-stress weeks, estrogen can spike histamine levels and make symptoms flare.
If you’re sensitive to histamine, or have ever had histamine-related issues like allergies, MCAS, or food sensitivities, perimenopause may make it worse.
How this shows up:
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Skin issues/rashes/bumps
- Allergies
- Flushed cheeks and neck
- Bloating
- Heat intolerance
4. Low Progesterone = Low GABA
Progesterone is your calming hormone. It boosts GABA, which is like your brains built-in exhale.
When progesterone declines (as it often does in your late 30’s and 40’s) you don’t just lose cycle regulation, you lose access to your internal sense of calm.
Everything feels more intense.
Your emotions sit closer to the surface.
You’re more reactive and less able to just “let it go.”
How this shows up: Reactive, snappy, irritable for no real reason. Difficulty in finding “joy” in things, or even relationships anymore.
5. Overstimulated Nervous System
Notifications. Noise. Family dynamics. Over-scheduling. Deadlines. Not enough rest between demands.
Your nervous system is wired to keep you safe, but in modern life it’s constantly processing threat signals, even when you’re not aware of it.
And once it’s overloaded, even a neutral moment (like ovulation or an email ping) can send you spiraling.
How this shows up: Everything feels too loud, too bright, too tight. You want everyone to go away, immediately.
Science Check
Chronic overstimulation leads to increased sympathetic nervous system activity and reduced vagal tone, impairing the body’s ability to recover from stress. Nervous system regulation techniques—such as breath work, somatic movements, proper nutrition, and mineral balance—help shift the body into a parasympathetic rest and digest state, which supports hormone balance, digestion, and sleep.
Source Cleveland Clinic
6. Disrupted Sleep Cycles
You may be going to bed at a decent time, but if your nervous system is on high alert or your hormones are fluctuating, you’re likely to wake up between 2-4 am when cortisol is rising to help stabilize blood sugar levels, and is part of the cortisol awakening response.
Estrogen and progesterone both support deep sleep.
When they drop, your sleep becomes lighter.
When stress is high, your system doesn’t get the rest it needs.
And around and around you go.
How this shows up: Waking up with every sound, being a light sleeper. Waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep.
7. Too Much Doing, Not Enough Recovering
Even the “good” things—meal prepping, exercising, parenting, learning, working—add stress when there’s no buffer.
Most of us have spent decades adapting to high functioning survival.
In perimenopause, the cost of that survival shows up. You can’t override your nervous system anymore and the buffer of estrogen and progesterone are waning, leaving you feeling raw and brittle.
How this shows up: Feeling like everyone around is taking advantage of you. Feeling like everyone around you is stupid. Not being able to rest. Always finding a way to be productive, even while resting. (Like reading self-help while listening to a podcast on 1.5x to get through it faster.)
But you don’t need to crash.
You just need a way to recover.
Stop the Crashes.
Inside Your Daily™, you’ll find short science-backed tools to help your body shift out of survival mode and back into a state where healing, sleeping, and clear thinking are possible again.
We’ll guide you step by step—no overwhelm, no perfect routine required.
Download the app and get started.
You’re Not Crazy. You’re Responding to Real Inputs.
These seven disruptors aren’t random. They’re patterns.
And once you start addressing them from the inside out, your body responds.
You don’t need a stricter routine.
You need a steadier system.
And that begins with regulation.
Not sure where to begin? Download the Your Daily™ app and start with a simple check-in to get tailored tools for your mood.
