5 Signs That Perimenopause Is Coming to an End
There are far more symptoms of perimenopause than I ever imagined.
In school, we were taught that hot flashes usually occur, your period stops, and then, BAM, you're in menopause.
We were taught about the menstrual cycle, menstrual bleeding, hormones, and hot flashes, and that was it. Nothing about the menopausal transition.
I had no idea about perimenopause, let alone the many symptoms that can be truly distressing.
I wrote an entire post about the symptoms of perimenopause and the details about each one, but here are a few of the most common ones:
Hot flashes
An overwhelming feeling of heat takes over your body, your skin turns red, and you start to sweat.
Hot flashes are controlled by a "thermostat" in your brain, not by the ambient temperature. Blood vessels dilate, and you start to feel warm.
Brain Fog
My nightmare. Brain fog is a condition where you can't remember details, names, where you put something—you feel like you're losing your mind.
I had clients I'd known for years, and I couldn't remember their names—it was incredibly frustrating.
Anxiety
For me, anxiety manifested itself as a lack of desire to do ordinary things.
I couldn't drive after dark, I was afraid to take the train to work, and I was convinced everyone hated me.
You might notice anxiety creeping in without even realizing it.
Painful Joints
Joint pain during perimenopause is much more common than you think. Many women (including myself) suffer from it and think it's arthritis.
If you have really painful joints, be sure to check; there are other risk factors, and bone health is incredibly important.
