I didn’t recognize myself. And it wasn’t just the mood swings.

You know the moment, . The question was harmless. The timing? Not great. And suddenly, you're snapping. Loudly. Then apologizing. Then wondering, "What is wrong with me?" Here's the truth: You're not broken. You're just in perimenopause. And your brain chemistry has shifted—whether or not anyone told you. Nicole didn't know that either. She contacted my office feeling defeated—mid-argument with her 15-year-old daughter over who left socks in the dryer. Socks. She said, "One minute I was yelling about laundry, and the next, I was crying into a wet towel like I'd ruined everything." That wasn't the first time either. Every tiny irritation felt amplified. Her daughter's eye rolls. Her son's dirty cereal bowl in the sink. Her partner's innocent question about dinner. The edge was constant—and it didn't make sense. Nicole's sleep was fine. Her life was full. Her job was demanding but manageable. And still, everything felt like too much. What she didn't realize? Her estrogen was fluctuating wildly (impacting serotonin). Her progesterone was dropping (removing her natural "calm" buffer). And her cortisol was consistently elevated (thanks to years of over-functioning). It wasn't her parenting. It wasn't a lack of gratitude. It was her hormones—and her nervous system, begging for a new kind of support. In this month's blog, I break it all down: ✅ Why perimenopause messes with your emotions ✅ How to spot your unique hormonal mood patterns ✅ 4 strategies to soften your edges—without shaming, silencing, or "powering through" 👉 Read my latest blog post: "Snapping at Everyone? The Hidden Hormonal Culprits Behind Your Short Fuse" If you've been asking, "Why am I like this lately?"—you are so not alone. And there are answers. With you, Dr.  Amanda If you wish to stop receiving our emails or change your subscription options, please manage your subscription. 2401-A Waterman Blvd, Ste 4 #296, Fairfield, CA 94533, US