04/02/2026
You’re not going mad — your brain is changing.
If you’ or someone you love is moving through peri-menopause or menopause and noticing anxiety, low mood, irritability, brain fog, old memories resurfacing, or emotional reactions that feel unfamiliar — this matters:
It’s not just hormones.
In Age Like a Girl, Dr Mindy Pelz explains that menopause brings neurochemical changes in the brain, not just shifts in oestrogen and progesterone.
As these hormones fluctuate, key neurotransmitters are affected — including serotonin, dopamine, GABA and cortisol regulation. This directly impacts mood, emotional resilience, sleep, motivation and stress response.
One important (and validating) point she raises is that unresolved trauma often surfaces during this phase.
Not because something is wrong — but because the brain no longer has the same hormonal buffering it once did.
For many women, menopause becomes a neurological and emotional transition point.
In my clinical work, I support women through this stage using EMDR combined with hypnotherapy, especially when trauma, anxiety or nervous system overwhelm are present. These approaches work directly with the brain to help process stored experiences and restore regulation and calm.
You’re not broken.
You’re changing — neurochemically.
And support exists 💛
