The Day I Realised It Wasn’t Just ‘Stress’

Let’s rewind to a few years ago. Life was good. I had things under control. Work was steady, emotions balanced (most of the time), and I even had a handle on my finances. Then, almost overnight, something felt… off.

I was constantly tired. My brain felt like it had been replaced by a fog machine. And the breakouts? Like a throwback to my teenage years, but not in a cute, nostalgic way. Still, I brushed it all off. Stress, right?

Wrong.

Eventually, I went to a dermatologist about my skin. I expected some fancy cream or a quick fix, but what I got instead was a revelation. “It’s hormonal,” he said. “It’s perimenopause.”

Of course I knew that. I’d seen enough Instagram reels about the signs—fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, skin flare-ups. But I figured there wasn’t much to be done. It’s just something women ‘get through’, right?

Not quite.

I started by religiously following the skincare routine my dermatologist gave me. But I didn’t stop there. I got serious about my health:

• I take my supplements daily (hello, magnesium and B vitamins!)
• I eat more protein (and less random snacking)
• I’ve cut down on alcohol (turns out wine o’clock wasn’t helping)

And you know what? I feel like I’m going to live.

More than that—I feel like I’m finally understanding my body, and working with it instead of against it. This stage of life isn’t a crisis. It’s a recalibration.

So if you’re tired, moody, foggy, or breaking out like a hormonal teen, don’t just write it off. There’s a name for it. And there are things you can do.

Welcome to the PeriPause party. We’ve got electrolytes, moisturiser, and support. Let’s ride this wave together.