No, I’m Not Just Moody
How to Talk About Period and Perimenopause Mood Swings Without Apologizing
You know that moment.
You're laughing at a meme one minute, then suddenly—BAM—your chest is tight, your eyes sting, and you’re either snapping or spiraling.
And then someone around you (well-meaning or not) says it:
“Are you okay?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Are you PMSing or something?”
Cue the shame spiral. Cue the self-doubt. Cue the urge to hide, shut down, or over-explain.
But here’s the thing:
You are experiencing a very real, very valid hormone-fueled shift in your mood. And it’s time we talk about it without tiptoeing.
What’s Actually Going On In Your Body?
Whether it’s your monthly cycle or the wild ride of perimenopause, your brain and mood are deeply impacted by your hormones. Here's how:
➤ Estrogen and Serotonin Are Dance Partners.
Estrogen supports the production and uptake of serotonin, your feel-good, steady mood neurotransmitter. When estrogen rises, you usually feel more social, upbeat, and motivated. When it drops? So does your serotonin. You might feel sensitive, irritable, or flat out emotionally raw. These drops happen pre-period and randomly during perimenopause.
➤ Cortisol is Loud AF in Midlife.
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. When it spikes (which it often does due to poor sleep, blood sugar dips, heat, and chronic stress), it can make you reactive, panicky, edgy, or shut down. Add low estrogen or progesterone to the mix? Welcome to the emotional blender.
➤ Your Nervous System is on Overdrive.
Hormone changes impact your nervous system's ability to regulate. That’s why small stressors suddenly feel HUGE. Your reactions feel out of proportion but only if you ignore the internal storm you're riding.
Translation?
You’re hormonally wired to feel things more intensely at certain points in your cycle or more unpredictably in perimenopause.
And knowing that matters.
How to Explain Mood Shifts Without Apologizing
You don’t have to justify your every emotion.
But it can help to have language when you’re misunderstood, dismissed, or just want to advocate for what you need.
Here are a few scripts to try:
💬 “I’m in the part of my cycle where my hormones drop really fast. That makes me more sensitive and emotionally raw. I don’t need fixing—I just need a little space.”
💬 “Perimenopause has made my moods more intense and less predictable. I’m managing it, but some days it feels like I’m on a rollercoaster I didn’t sign up for.”
💬 “This is a hormone-triggered response. It’s not about you, and it’s not permanent—I just need to ride this one out.”
These aren’t excuses. They’re explanations.
And offering them without shame gives others a chance to meet you with empathy, not confusion.
How to Track (and Predict) the Shifts
If you’ve ever felt like your emotions don’t make sense, try this:
Track your moods across your cycle. Note days when anxiety, irritability, or sadness feel stronger.
Look for patterns. Are you more sensitive during ovulation? More withdrawn during your luteal phase?
Correlate with sleep, food, heat, and stress. Hormones don’t act alone—your whole environment plays a role.
Once you see the pattern, it becomes easier to prepare.
To soften the blow.
To ask for what you need instead of spiraling in silence.
One More Thing: Mood Shifts Aren’t Just in Your Head
Mood changes in midlife can:
Strain relationships
Impact your work performance
Lead to self-doubt or even depression if left unsupported
But when you understand why it’s happening, and give yourself the language to own it, you take back some of the control that hormones try to steal.
You don’t need to tough it out.
You need tools, support, and people who get it.
You’re hormonal.
You’re navigating a very real neurochemical shift.
And you’re allowed to talk about it without apologizing or shrinking.
So the next time someone raises an eyebrow at your emotions, try this:
“This is a hormone moment. I’ll be back soon.”
And then do what you need to support yourself.
I’m here to change that.
