Before the Hot Flashes: The Mental Health Side of Perimenopause

When people talk about menopause, the first thing that usually comes up is hot flashes. Maybe night sweats or irregular periods. But what if the real warning sign isn’t physical at all?

For many women, the first shift they feel is in their mind.

Changes in mood, sleep, motivation, and focus can sneak in long before your thermostat starts acting up. You may feel more anxious or emotional, less patient, or even disconnected from who you were just a few months ago. And while you might chalk it up to stress or getting older, it’s often something deeper.

Hormonal changes are frequently the real culprit.

As estrogen and progesterone begin to fluctuate in the years leading up to menopause, they influence more than your cycle. These hormones help regulate brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which play a major role in how we feel, think, and process emotions. When hormone levels shift, so can your mental health.

Find out more about the Reclaim You Retreat

It’s not uncommon for women to experience new or worsening anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, or even depression during perimenopause. Some research shows that women in this stage are twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms, even if they’ve never dealt with them before.

But here’s the problem. We’re often waiting for the obvious signs like hot flashes or skipped periods, so the emotional symptoms catch us off guard. Many women don’t realize these mental health changes are part of the transition. As a result, they go unseen and untreated.

This is one of the reasons I created the Reclaim You Retreat.

I’ve seen too many women question their worth, their stability, or their identity during this season of life. They’re holding it all together on the outside while feeling completely out of sync on the inside. This retreat is a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have been buried under the weight of unspoken changes.

It’s more than a getaway. It’s a safe space to talk openly, learn, share stories, and take care of yourself in ways that often get overlooked. We don’t just focus on physical symptoms. We explore mindset, clarity, joy, rest, and reclaiming who you are at your core.

Mental health matters just as much as physical health during perimenopause and menopause. Actually, it often shows up first.

So if something feels off and you haven’t been able to explain it, don’t ignore it. You’re not imagining things. You’re not alone. And there’s nothing wrong with you.

You’re evolving. You’re shifting. You’re becoming.

And if you’re ready to step into the next chapter with more support and intention, we’ll be waiting for you in Costa Rica.

Learn more about the Reclaim You Retreat at www.menopauseincolor.com/retreat-info