Perimenopause Sucks: Here’s How to Make it Suck a Little Bit Less

Yes. We’re going there. That taboo topic that gets tiptoed around and shrugged off, even though half the planet’s population is destined to experience it: Perimenopause.

I used to laugh (somewhat bitterly) at the word. Meno in Greek means “month.” And pause is, well… pause. So technically, we’re going through a pre-monthly pause? What a ridiculous way to describe what really feels like a hormonal hurricane wrapped in confusion, mystery, and a little bit of madness.

Let me paint the picture...

Every month, I’d find myself wondering:
“Will I get my period today?”
“Is this period going to last two days or twelve?”
“Why do I feel like I could cry watching a paper towel commercial?”
“Why do my sheets feel like a wet towel from night sweats?”
And don’t even get me started on the sudden weight gain and vaginal dryness. That’s a whole other blog post.

Here’s the kicker: there are no universal answers. No one-size-fits-all solution. Every woman’s body, experience, medical history, lifestyle, and hormonal makeup are different. So, we’re all just doing our best, cobbling together trial-and-error strategies while hoping the universe gives us a break.

The general consensus is that perimenopause lasts anywhere from 4 to 6 years—but it can stretch anywhere from 1 to 10. Encouraging, right? (Insert nervous laughter here.)

So what can we do?

We pause. We breathe. And we build our own toolbox.

At Mindful Purpose Institute, we believe that perimenopause is more than a phase—it’s a portal. A sacred, messy, powerful rite of passage. And we’re here to guide women through it with grace, humor, knowledge, and spiritual support.

🔮 Menopause & the Zodiac (Because the Cosmos Get It)

I’m a firm believer that there’s more going on than just biology. Astrology tells us so much about the transitions in our lives—and menopause is no exception.

Here’s how the planets show up for this wild ride:

✨ Around age 42, we experience Transiting Uranus opposite our natal Uranus. Translation? You may suddenly feel the need to speak your truth louder than ever before. You shake things up. Your nervous system starts firing differently. Cue the hot flashes and unpredictable emotional outbursts.

✨ Around age 50, Chiron returns to the place it was when you were born. This “wounded healer” energy invites us to face old pain with new wisdom. We become mentors. We start realizing that all the crap we’ve survived might actually serve someone else.

✨ Around age 59-60, your second Saturn Return hits. Now you’re entering the era of wise womanhood. You’ve earned your stripes. You stop apologizing. You begin taking really good care of yourself—not out of vanity, but because you deserve it.

These transits aren’t just woo-woo theories—they mirror what so many of us feel but don’t always know how to name. That’s why MPI blends spiritual insight with practical tools. Because let’s face it: sometimes, we need a cosmic hug and a cooling pillow.

💎 Crystals That Kept Me Sane (Mostly)

If you know me, you know I love my stones. During my most chaotic moments, crystals became tiny lifelines of grounding and hope. My favorites?

• Moonstone: the goddess of perimenopause. Hormone-balancer and emotional soother.
• Rose Quartz: for those moments I wanted to scream at the world and needed a reminder that love (especially self-love) heals.
• Amethyst: calms the chaos.
• Lepidolite: pure stability in stone form.
• Citrine: my energy booster when I wanted to hide under the covers.

I wore them. I carried them. I slept with them under my pillow. They were reminders that I was still me—just in a new season.

🌿 My Journey With Supplements (AKA Hormone Roulette)

Let’s talk estrogen. In my family, estrogen supplements were considered a hard NO. Some of us had naturally higher testosterone, and when I tried estrogen for the first time, let’s just say my inner Queen of Hearts came out—“off with their heads!” became my emotional vibe for a few weeks.

The symptoms I had been dealing with actually felt more tolerable than my chemically-enhanced rage monster. I quickly decided that path wasn’t for me.

Instead, I found that sublingual black cohosh helped tremendously—especially with hot flashes and night sweats. And I’m serious about this: sticking one leg out from under the covers at night is a legit life hack.

Chamomile tea became my bedtime bestie. On rough days, I turned to herbs like Valerian Root, Evening Primrose Oil, Dong Quai, Ashwagandha, and Chaste Berry. But—and I can’t say this enough—do your research. These are powerful herbs. Consult a professional, especially if you’re on medication.

🧘♀️ Yoga, Breathwork, and Daily Grace

You know what saved me more times than I can count? Yoga.

Not the Instagram-worthy poses or the “perfect” routines. Just movement. Breath. Stillness. A few sun salutations in the morning. A long savasana after a rough day. A deep belly breath when I felt tears coming out of nowhere.

Whether it was Hatha, Restorative, Yin, or just laying on the floor doing nothing—yoga gave me permission to show up exactly as I was. At MPI, we teach this kind of practice—not as performance, but as medicine. It reconnects you to your body. It reminds you that you’re more than your symptoms.

And when I added meditation and mindful walking, things started shifting. I felt present again. I didn’t need to fix anything—I just needed to be with myself.

🌊 Give Yourself the Gift of Being Imperfectly Perfect

There were moments I caught myself spiraling—crying, frustrated, irrational—and then, out of nowhere, I’d start laughing. Because let’s be honest: perimenopause is kind of ridiculous. Our bodies are unpredictable. Our emotions are wild. Our tolerance for nonsense? Practically gone. And maybe that’s a gift.

This is a time to stop shrinking, stop people-pleasing, and start listening—to your body, your needs, your soul.

So yes, perimenopause sucks.

But it also teaches you how to care for yourself in a way you never have before. To rest. To speak your truth. To ask for help. To stop apologizing. To finally, finally, take center stage in your own life.

At Mindful Purpose Institute, we’re not here to “fix” you—we’re here to walk with you. Through this chapter and into your next evolution. With tools, sisterhood, laughter, and a whole lot of soul.

So listen to your body. Drink the tea. Wear the moonstone. Laugh when you can. Cry when you need to. And remember: you’re not alone in this.

Pardon the pun, but I can’t resist—stay positive, and go with the flow.

With love, humor, and a fan in hand,
Pamela
Director of Mindful Purpose Institute