Why It's Time to Stop and Find Yourself Again During Peri-Menopause
Life can be relentless. Between work, family, and endless to-do lists, many women feel like they’re constantly running on empty. But during peri-menopause, the stakes are higher. This transformative phase—often starting in your 40s—is when your body sends clear signals that it's time to slow down. Unfortunately, many women, including myself at some points, ignore those signs, pushing through despite the exhaustion, mood swings, and discomfort.
But here's the truth: your body is sounding alarms, and it’s time to listen.
The Alarms of Peri-Menopause
Peri-menopause is about more than just the typical hot flashes and hormonal fluctuations. It’s a time when your body is practically shouting for attention, sending out clear alarms that you need to stop and take care of yourself. These alarms come in different forms, like:
Fatigue that no amount of coffee can fix
Anxiety or mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
A sense of burnout, or feeling constantly overwhelmed
Aches, pains, or discomfort that seem unrelated to your usual routine
Brain fog or memory issues that disrupt daily life
These symptoms aren’t just annoyances—they are your body's way of telling you that something needs to change.
For many women, peri-menopause can be an emotional rollercoaster. Hormonal fluctuations can trigger anxiety, depression, or sudden irritability, making it feel as though you're not in control of your own emotions. These shifts are significant and shouldn’t be downplayed. By acknowledging these feelings as part of the peri-menopausal process, you can approach them with more compassion and care.
The Emotional Toll of Ignoring Peri-Menopause
So many women are conditioned to keep going, even when their bodies are pleading for rest. They’re juggling careers, family responsibilities, and personal goals, often without taking a moment to breathe. But during peri-menopause, continuing at this pace can lead to burnout and more serious health problems.
Ignoring the emotional and physical symptoms can create a vicious cycle. When you’re constantly tired and emotionally drained, your ability to make sound decisions diminishes. You might become more irritable with loved ones or less productive at work, all the while pushing yourself even harder to maintain the illusion of being “on top of things.”
But at what cost? Ignoring the body’s signals during peri-menopause can deepen the emotional and physical toll, leading to chronic fatigue, depression, and even longer-term health risks such as cardiovascular disease. It becomes essential to acknowledge that now is the time to slow down, not just for your immediate well-being, but for your future health as well.
Why Slowing Down is Essential
Peri-menopause is often framed as a period of transition, but that label doesn’t fully capture the significance of this phase in a woman’s life. It’s more than just physical change; it’s an emotional and mental shift as well. Many women find themselves at a crossroads, feeling a push to keep going but also sensing the need to stop, reflect, and recalibrate.
This is why making time to slow down, unload stress, and find moments for yourself is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
When we talk about slowing down, it’s not just about taking a break from daily tasks. It’s about creating space to reconnect with yourself. Whether that means pausing to reflect, getting more rest, or engaging in activities that nurture your mind and body, the goal is to bring balance back into your life.
Acupuncture: More Than Just Relief, It’s Reconnection
Acupuncture offers a powerful tool for women during peri-menopause. While many people associate acupuncture with pain relief, its benefits go far beyond that. Acupuncture works to restore balance in the body, particularly in relation to the nervous system and hormonal health. It’s a holistic practice that addresses the root of your symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves.
For women in peri-menopause, acupuncture can:
Reduce stress and anxiety by regulating the body's stress response through the nervous system.
Enhance sleep quality, helping you rest and recover more effectively.
Support hormone balance, which can ease mood swings and emotional instability.
Relieve physical discomfort, such as joint pain or headaches often associated with this stage of life.
Improve mental clarity, reducing the impact of brain fog.
But more than anything, acupuncture offers women an intentional pause. The time spent in treatment is time devoted entirely to yourself—a moment where you can step away from the rush of life and give your body and mind the care they need.
How Acupuncture Helps Women Stop and Listen to Their Bodies
Acupuncture is a practice of mindfulness in and of itself. When the needles are placed, you’re encouraged to stop, breathe, and tune into your body. It’s a moment where all the external noise fades away, and you are left with yourself—your thoughts, your feelings, your breath.
This space is invaluable. It’s often during acupuncture treatments that women start to reconnect with what their bodies have been trying to tell them all along. That constant fatigue? It’s more than just a need for more sleep; it’s a call for deeper rest, the kind of rest that allows your entire being to reset. That irritability or anxiety? It’s your body telling you that it’s overwhelmed and needs time to recharge.
Acupuncture offers more than just physical relief; it opens up a pathway to emotional and mental clarity. In slowing down during treatment, you begin to realize that this pause is not only necessary—it’s transformative.
Finding the Time for Yourself Again
It’s easy to say, "I don’t have time." But what if you made time? What if, instead of pushing through exhaustion, you prioritized yourself? Peri-menopause is the perfect time to reclaim your space and set boundaries. It’s about realizing that if you don’t stop now, the consequences will only get harder to deal with later.
Here are some simple ways to begin finding time for yourself again:
Schedule regular acupuncture sessions: This not only helps manage symptoms but also creates a dedicated time for self-care.
Practice mindfulness: Even 10 minutes a day of deep breathing or meditation can help calm the mind and reduce stress.
Create "me time" rituals: Whether it's a morning walk, journaling, or a warm bath before bed, find small ways to reconnect with yourself daily.
Ask for help: Delegate tasks or ask family members for support, giving you more space to unwind.
Say no: Learn to set boundaries and decline commitments that drain your energy.
The Power of Stopping
When women start paying attention to the alarms, they realize how transformative stopping can be. It’s in these moments of pause that healing begins. Your body starts to respond—your energy improves, your mood stabilizes, and you start to feel more like yourself again.
It’s not about giving up or stepping back. It’s about finding the balance that allows you to be the best version of yourself, not just for those around you, but for you.
Holistic Support: Acupuncture and Wellness Coaching
At Free Flow Health in San Diego, I help women navigate peri-menopause through acupuncture and wellness coaching. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by your symptoms or simply need guidance on how to slow down, I offer personalized support to help you find balance again.
For those unable to visit in person, I also offer virtual wellness coaching to guide you through lifestyle adjustments and self-care practices from the comfort of your home. This holistic approach ensures that you’re not just managing symptoms but actively creating space for your own well-being. Email me to set up a virtual wellness session. For in office visits, book below.