Perimenopause: Why Your Hormones Feel Out of Control & What to Do About It
If you’re in your 30s or 40s and feeling like your hormones are suddenly out to get you—intense mood swings, crushing headaches, and emotional lows that feel impossible to logic your way through—you’re not alone. Many women experience hormone surges in perimenopause that make them feel like a completely different person, especially in the days leading up to their period.
The go-to solution from most doctors? Birth control. But what if you’re not interested in shutting down your natural cycle with synthetic hormones?
The truth is, a lot of what we experience in perimenopause isn’t just a sudden shift—it’s the result of buildup over time. Our ability to metabolize and clear hormones like estrogen and cortisol slows down due to factors like liver congestion, gut imbalances, and past nutritional depletion. Add in years of stress and nervous system dysregulation, and those pre-period hormone surges can hit way harder than they did when we were younger.
Why Perimenopause Feels Like a Storm
Hormones don’t operate in isolation. They interact with nearly every system in the body, meaning that if one area is struggling, your entire endocrine system can feel the impact. Here are some of the biggest contributors to intense hormone fluctuations:
Liver Congestion & Hormone Detoxification
Your liver is responsible for breaking down and clearing excess hormones. When it’s sluggish due to years of toxin exposure, poor diet, or chronic stress, estrogen and other hormones can recirculate in the body, leading to intense PMS and perimenopausal symptoms.Gut Health & Estrogen Metabolism
A balanced gut microbiome helps metabolize and eliminate excess estrogen. However, imbalances like dysbiosis, leaky gut, or sluggish digestion can interfere with this process, causing estrogen dominance and worsening hormone surges.Chronic Stress & Nervous System Dysregulation
High stress means high cortisol, which directly impacts estrogen, progesterone, and blood sugar balance. When your nervous system is stuck in a fight-or-flight state, your body prioritizes survival over hormone regulation, leading to unpredictable emotional swings, increased anxiety, and worsened PMS.Nutrient Deficiencies from Years of Depletion
Many women enter perimenopause already depleted in key nutrients due to years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, restrictive dieting, or chronic stress. Magnesium, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids are all crucial for hormone balance, and deficiencies can make perimenopausal symptoms feel unbearable.
What You Can Do to Smooth Out the Hormonal Rollercoaster
The good news? You don’t have to just suffer through it. Supporting your body’s natural ability to process and balance hormones can make a huge difference. Here’s where to start:
Support Your Liver
Eat liver-loving foods like beets, bitter greens, cruciferous vegetables, and high-quality protein.
Consider gentle detox support with dandelion tea, milk thistle, or castor oil packs.
Balance Your Gut
Focus on fiber-rich foods to support digestion and hormone elimination.
Take a high-quality probiotic and include fermented foods in your diet.
Regulate Your Nervous System
Prioritize deep rest, bodywork, and stress reduction techniques to shift out of chronic stress mode.
Magnesium supplementation and adaptogenic herbs can also help calm an overactive nervous system.
Replenish Key Nutrients
Ensure you’re getting enough magnesium, B vitamins, and omega-3s.
Eat nutrient-dense, whole foods and avoid inflammatory, processed foods.
You’re Not Broken—Your Body Just Needs Support
Perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like an impossible battle. Instead of masking symptoms with synthetic hormones, you can work with your body to restore balance. By addressing the root causes of hormone buildup—liver stagnation, gut imbalances, nervous system dysregulation, and nutrient depletion—you can ease the intensity of hormone surges and feel more like yourself again.
Get Personalized Support for Perimenopause
If you’re struggling with perimenopausal symptoms and want to take a natural, holistic approach, I can help. My services focus on restoring balance through functional lab testing, personalized nutrition, bodywork, and nervous system support.
Functional Lab Testing – Identify hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and gut health issues.
Nutritional & Lifestyle Support – Get personalized recommendations to optimize hormone metabolism.
Bodywork & Nervous System Regulation – Reduce stress and support your body’s natural ability to heal.
You don’t have to navigate this transition alone. Book a consultation or learn more about my approach here.
