Let’s talk about something so many of us are experiencing right now — especially in midlife.

You’re moving through your day, doing your best to hold it all together, when something small happens:

• Your partner forgets something you asked for.
• Your child spills their drink.
• Your boss shifts a meeting at the last minute.

And suddenly… you’re overwhelmed with emotion.

Not just mild frustration — but a fast, intense, almost involuntary reaction. A surge of anger, panic, shame. The urge to shout, withdraw, storm out, or completely shut down.

And then comes the confusion:

“Why am I reacting like this? It’s really not a big deal.”

Here’s the truth:

When your reaction feels bigger than the moment, it usually is. It’s not just about now — it’s about then.

That’s what emotional triggers do. They open old doors.

They bring up unresolved experiences, unmet needs, or wounds that your younger self never got to fully process.

And while perimenopause can certainly heighten emotional responses (hello, fluctuating hormones), it’s not just your hormones talking.

It’s your history speaking, too.

Your nervous system has carried stories — and survival strategies — for decades. And during this stage of life, as your identity shifts, your body changes, and your reserves feel stretched thin, those stories can come rushing to the surface.

Here’s what that can look like:

• You feel angry when someone tells you what to do — because you grew up feeling powerless or controlled.
• You panic when plans change — because you’ve lived with uncertainty, and it left you feeling helpless.
• You resent being the one everyone leans on — because you had to be the strong one far too early.
• You get anxious when someone pulls away — because love always felt inconsistent.
• You feel intense sadness when you’re excluded — because you’ve learned to silence your own needs just to belong.

These responses aren’t flaws.

They’re echoes.

Your nervous system isn’t overreacting — it’s remembering.

So yes, perimenopause can make emotions feel bigger, but it’s not just a hormonal storm.

It’s a perfect storm — where old patterns, unresolved pain, and the demands of midlife all collide.

And the more we understand this, the more compassion we can offer ourselves.

You’re not broken. You’re remembering.

And with awareness, you can begin to heal — not just survive this season but grow through it.

Louise x

Learn more about Louise here link