The fogginess is real. The forgetfulness is real. And the fear that something is fundamentally wrong with you? That's real too. But here's what I want you to know: perimenopause changes the brain in ways that are documented, understood, and navigable. You are not broken. You are in a season. And you don't have to find your way through it alone.

Anxiety, depression, rage, and emotional overwhelm are some of the most common and least talked about symptoms of perimenopause. If you've been feeling unlike yourself and can't quite explain why, you're not alone and you're not imagining it. In this post, Fort Collins therapist Megan Silberhorn explores the emotional symptoms of perimenopause, why they happen, and how counseling can help midlife women find their footing again.

Something has shifted. You can feel it — in the way you wake up at 3am for no reason, in the anxiety that appears out of nowhere, in the strange grief of not quite recognizing yourself anymore. You've been strong through hard things. But this feels different. If you're a woman in midlife wondering what is happening to you, I wrote this for you.