Perimenopause is one of the most significant transitions in a woman’s life, yet most women enter it confused, overwhelmed and unsupported.
For many, symptoms appear suddenly and make them question their health, their mood, and in some cases, their identity.

The truth is this: nothing is wrong with you.
You are not losing control.
Your body is moving through a profound hormonal and neurological transition that has simply never been explained properly.

As a dietitian and somatic therapist, I guide women through the physical, emotional and energetic changes of perimenopause every day. When you understand what is actually happening inside your body, everything starts to make sense.

Let’s break it down clearly and compassionately.

The Hormone Changes No One Warns You About

Perimenopause is not a gentle decline.
It is not linear.
And it is not simply “low hormones.”

Here is what really happens:

1. Oestrogen doesn’t fall gently — it spikes, surges and crashes.

This explains why women experience symptoms that seem inconsistent or unpredictable.

These fluctuations can cause:
• anxiety or restlessness
• breast tenderness
• fluid retention
• migraines
• irritability
• belly weight gain
• sleep disturbances

Many women are told these symptoms are stress, mental health issues, or unrelated. Often, they are hormone-driven.

2. Progesterone gradually declines.

Progesterone is calming and grounding. It supports sleep, mood, and nervous system regulation.

Low progesterone can create:
• poor sleep
• heavier or irregular periods
• increased inflammation
• overwhelm
• lowered tolerance to stress
• blood sugar instability

This is why so many women say “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

3. The brain becomes more sensitive to stress.

Perimenopause affects the nervous system as much as it affects hormones.

This is why women experience:
• emotional reactivity
• feeling easily overstimulated
• difficulty coping with demands
• sudden fatigue
• brain fog or forgetfulness

This is not weakness.
It is physiology and neurochemistry.

The Symptoms No One Connects to Perimenopause

Most women only recognise perimenopause when hot flushes appear, yet the early signs start years earlier.

Symptoms commonly dismissed include:

• gut issues
• food sensitivities
• blood sugar swings
• mood fluctuations
• heart palpitations
• joint pain
• weight changes
• low libido
• anxiety with no clear trigger

Women are often treated for each symptom separately instead of understanding the hormonal link.

Why This Is Not a Breakdown — It Is a Recalibration

Perimenopause is not your body failing.
It is your body renegotiating its internal landscape.

Your system becomes louder because it needs you to listen.
It is asking for nourishment, rest, boundaries and recalibration.

When I explain this to women, I see the relief wash over them.
The shame dissolves.
The confusion softens.
And a deeper understanding emerges.

How Nutrition Supports Hormone Balance in Perimenopause

The right nutrition stabilises your hormones, energy and nervous system.
Common deficiencies during this phase intensify symptoms.

Women in perimenopause benefit from:
• balanced blood sugar meals
• consistent protein intake
• magnesium, zinc, iodine and iron repletion
• fibre rich plant foods for oestrogen metabolism
• anti inflammatory eating patterns
• reducing alcohol and processed foods
• phytoestrogen rich foods for oestrogen fluctuations

Nutrition doesn’t fix everything, but it creates a stable foundation for your body to regulate itself.

How Somatic Therapy Supports the Perimenopausal Brain and Nervous System

Hormonal shifts can amplify stored stress and emotional patterns. Somatic therapy helps regulate your nervous system so you can move through perimenopause with clarity instead of overwhelm.

Women often experience improvements in:
• anxiety
• irritability
• sleep
• emotional reactivity
• muscle tension
• energy
• body confidence

You learn how to return to your centre, receive the messages your body is giving you, and respond with clarity rather than fear.

You Are Not Alone — And You Are Not Losing Yourself

Perimenopause is a transition, not a decline.
It is a return to truth, to your body and to your deeper needs.

With the right support, this can become a powerful and empowering phase of life.

Who I Am and How I Can Support You

I am Anca Vereen, an Accredited Practising Dietitian, somatic psychotherapist, sound therapist and women’s health practitioner.
I specialise in helping women navigate:
• perimenopause and menopause
• hormone imbalance
• weight gain and inflammation
• gut and metabolic issues
• emotional eating and stress regulation
• fatigue and burnout

My approach integrates nutrition, somatic therapy, nervous system regulation, emotional processing and lifestyle medicine so you can understand your body and support it with confidence.

Book an Appointment

If you are experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and want personalised, evidence based and body centred support, you can book a consultation below.

👉 Book a consultation with Anca
www.ancavereen.com/bookings

You deserve clarity.
You deserve support.
And you deserve to feel at home in your body again.