Am I in Perimenopause? How to Recognize the Signs and Reframe this Phase of Midlife

There’s a moment in midlife when something starts to feel... off. Maybe your sleep goes sideways. Maybe your moods become unpredictable. Or maybe, despite everything looking “fine”, you're just not okay inside.

If you're in your late 30s, 40s, or even early 50s and wondering, “Am I in perimenopause?” — you’re not alone. In fact, that question has been popping up in my conversations more and more lately. So let’s talk about it.

🎧 Prefer to listen? Click here to tune in to this episode of Midlife by Design on your favorite podcast platform.

Because the truth is: Perimenopause isn’t just a hormonal shift — it’s a life shift. 

And while it can feel confusing, frustrating, or even scary, it’s also a powerful invitation to reconnect with who you really are and finally be who you came here to be.

First Things First: What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause — and it can last anywhere from 7 to 10 years. 🤪

It’s marked by fluctuating hormones, irregular periods, and a host of physical, emotional, and even spiritual changes.

The kicker? It doesn’t have a set age. It’s not about a number — it’s about how you feel.

Physical Symptoms to Watch For

The list is long (we’re talking 80+ possible symptoms), but here are some of the most common red flags:

• Anxiety or panic attacks — especially if they’re new

• Night sweats or hot flashes

• Brain fog and forgetfulness

• Sudden rage or mood swings (hello, fork-stabby feelings)

• New food sensitivities or alcohol intolerance (that wine giving you the sweats at night?)

• Libido in the toilet

• Gut changes or weight gain

• Exhaustion, even after “resting”

• Itchy skin or disrupted sleep

Some women also notice these symptoms before their periods even start changing — which is why they’re often overlooked or dismissed.

But It’s Not Just Physical

This phase often comes hand-in-hand with a deep sense of questioning:

• Is this the life I want?

• Am I in the right job, relationship, or place?

• What do I actually care about now?

This is where perimenopause and the so-called “midlife crisis” meet.

But what if it’s not a crisis?

What if it’s a wake-up call?

A long, slow awakening that helps you come back to your truth?

The Spiritual Side of Perimenopause

Many women experience a spiritual shift during this time.

You become more sensitive, more intuitive, and often — more unwilling to tolerate BS. This is partly due to declining estrogen levels, but it’s also because you’re finally ready to stop pushing your truth aside.

You begin to realize: This life I’ve built — does it still fit?And if the answer is no… it’s time to get curious.

How Human Design Can Help

Your Human Design can offer huge insight into how you experience perimenopause:

• Projectors may realize how burned out they are from living like Generators.

• Manifesting Generators may feel restless or frustrated if they're boxed in.

• Generators may suddenly find their energy isn’t being used in satisfying ways.

• Reflectors may feel so exhausted from living in a sacral world that they shut down.

• Manifestors may be so sick of following others' orders that they literally become sick.

  
  

Learning how your energy type is meant to function, and using this wake-up call to start aligning to that--can be the quickest way to feeling better in perimenopause.

So, How Do You Deal with Perimenopause?

First: listen to your body. These symptoms? They’re not annoyances to “power through” — they’re invitations to slow down, reevaluate, and support yourself differently.

And second: don’t go it alone. I created the Perimenopause Survival Guide to help you recognize the signs, understand your unique needs (based on your Human Design), and bring some clarity to what’s happening in your body and your life.

👉 Click here to download the guide

You Are Not Broken — You’re Becoming the Next Best Version of YOU

This phase can feel like a mess--it's true.

But it’s also a metamorphosis.

You’re not broken. You’re in a transition.

One that can actually lead you back home to yourself--back to the truest, most real version of you.

So if you’re wondering, “Am I in perimenopause?” — the real question might be:

Am I ready to live life more fully as myself?