It is very common to feel like you are not quite yourself during menopause. Your mood may shift more easily, your patience may feel shorter, and things that once felt simple can suddenly require much more energy.

And there is a reason for that.

As hormone levels change, the brain is also affected. Hormones influence emotional regulation, stress sensitivity, sleep, and recovery. This means you are not simply “overreacting” or failing to cope – your body and nervous system are going through a real transition.

Many women describe feeling frustrated with themselves because they cannot handle things in the same way they used to. But menopause is not a sign that you are becoming weaker. It is a phase where the body may need something different from you than before.

What often helps is not pushing harder, but listening more closely to what your body actually needs.

You may be able to support yourself by:

• lowering expectations during periods of low energy

• allowing recovery before you become completely exhausted

• setting boundaries when something drains more energy than it gives

• keeping routines that create calm and stability

• talking to someone you trust when emotions feel heavy

For many women, things begin to feel easier when they stop fighting the changes and start adapting to them with more kindness toward themselves.

This is not about becoming a “better version” of yourself. It is about caring for the person you are right now, in the body you have today.

And if self-care is not enough, support is available. But often, healing begins in small moments – in the way you speak to yourself, rest, and allow yourself to be human during a time of change.

Alma’s tip:

Try asking yourself not only “What do I need to get done today?” but also “What do I need today?” Sometimes the most important form of strength during menopause is learning to meet yourself with less pressure and more compassion.