When high-achieving women hit their 40s and 50s, they're often blindsided by a perfect storm: menopause symptoms, overwhelming grief, and major life shifts—all while trying to maintain their professional edge.
The brain fog hits during important meetings. Exhaustion becomes your constant companion. Emotions feel completely out of control. And the worst part? Everyone expects you to keep performing at your peak.
But what if the very thing you've been taught to hide 'your vulnerability' is actually your greatest strength?
This raw, honest account reveals how one woman transformed her darkest period into her most empowering chapter. You'll discover practical strategies for navigating hormonal chaos, processing grief while leading others, and finding your authentic voice when everything feels uncertain.
If you're a high-performing woman struggling with burnout, hormonal upheaval, or major life transitions, this story offers more than hope, it provides a roadmap for turning your struggles into sustainable success.
Read Time 2-3 minutes
Have you ever collapsed into bed completely exhausted… only to lie there with your mind racing like it’s the middle of the day?
You’re not alone.
And no, nothing is “wrong” with you.
Women tell me all the time:
🔊 “I’m so tired but my brain won’t shut up.”
🔊 “As soon as I stop, everything I’ve been holding in comes crashing down
🔊 “As soon as I stop, everything I’ve been holding in comes crashing down
🔊“Why do I feel wired when I should feel tired?”
If this sounds familiar, here’s what’s really happening, and it has nothing to do with willpower and everything to do with your nervous system.
Your Brain Isn’t Being Difficult, It’s Trying to Protect You
When you spend the entire day in “go mode,” your nervous system stays switched on, even when you finally slow down.
Your mind can’t switch off because it doesn’t feel safe enough to stop.
This can happen when you’ve been:
- carrying constant responsibility
- juggling work, family, ageing parents
- navigating perimenopause
- functioning on poor sleep
- absorbing emotional load
- pushing yourself long after you needed rest
Your body is exhausted.
Your brain is alert.
That mismatch is what keeps you awake.
Why It Gets Worse in Your 40s
Many women hit 40+ and suddenly feel:
- wired at night
- anxious in the evenings
- restless
- mentally overstimulated
- unable to unwind
This is because hormonal changes can amplify your stress response.
Perimenopause makes your nervous system more sensitive, which means everyday stress hits harder and takes longer to settle.
It’s not you.
It’s biology.
The “Overwhelm Storage Effect”
Ever notice that you hold it together all day, and the moment you sit still, everything crashes in?
That’s because your system can only buffer so much before it spills over.
When you stop, your mind finally releases what it didn’t have space for.
This is why women often stuff emotions down all day… then spiral at night.
Three Things That Help You Switch Off
These tools work quickly because they speak to the nervous system, not the logical mind:
1. Calming the body BEFORE calming the mind
Trying to “think your way out of overthinking” doesn’t work.
You need to regulate the body first.
Try:
- long exhale breathing
- placing a hand on your chest
- 60-second grounding
- humming (vagus nerve activation)
2. Reducing your “threat load”
Overwhelm is your brain signalling danger.
You can reassure it by lowering stimuli:
- soft lighting
- warm shower
- slower movements
- silence or gentle music
3. Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy works because it gently retrains the nervous system to feel safe, calm and steady, even when life is busy.
This is why so many clients say:
“My mind finally quiets down.”
If You’re Struggling to Switch Off…
It’s not a flaw.
It’s not a weakness.
It’s your system asking for support.
If you’re in Brisbane, Australia, New Zealand or online, I can help you calm your mind and rebuild your inner steadiness.
Follow Me for honest insights on perimenopause, burnout recovery, stress management and weight loss and how to keep thriving when life throws you curveballs.
Women in their 40s and 50s often ask me - “Is this burnout or perimenopause?
Or both?
And how do I know?”
Here’s the truth most women aren’t told:
Burnout and perimenopause often feel identical.
But they are different, and sometimes they overlap.
Let’s break this down gently and clearly.
The Emotional Symptoms of Perimenopause
These symptoms surprise women the most:
- sudden anxiety
- irritability or “rage”
- crying easily
- brain fog
- feeling overwhelmed by small things
- night sweats
- low confidence
- sleep disruption
- sensitivity to stress
- not feeling like yourself
Many women tell me:
“I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
You’re not, your hormones are shifting.
The Emotional Symptoms of Burnout
Burnout affects your whole system:
- exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix
- feeling numb or detached
- zero tolerance for stress
- difficulty concentrating
- emotional reactivity
- low motivation
- waking up tired
- feeling disconnected from your life
Women often whisper:
“I used to cope with everything… now everything feels too much.”
Burnout is not weakness.
It’s depletion.
Where They Overlap (and Confuse You)
Both burnout and perimenopause can cause:
- anxiety
- sleep issues
- brain fog
- overwhelm
- irritability
- low confidence
- emotional sensitivity
- feeling unlike yourself
This is why many women misdiagnose themselves, and why support often misses the mark.
So… how do you know which one you’re dealing with?
Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
- If your symptoms fluctuate depending on your cycle → it’s perimenopause.
- If your symptoms improve when you rest → it’s burnout.
- If rest doesn’t help → it may be both.
Most women I see have a combination.
Your system is already overloaded from life…
and then hormones add another layer.
No wonder everything feels too much.
The Good News?
You don’t need a perfect diagnosis, you need the right kind of support.
Both burnout and perimenopause improve when you:
- calm your nervous system
- regulate emotional spikes
- improve sleep
- strengthen inner safety
- reduce stress hormones
- retrain your mind-body patterns
This is exactly what the MenoMind and Burnout Recovery programmes do.
Women often message me weeks later saying:
“I didn’t realise how much easier things could feel.”
You don’t have to guess what’s happening to you.
If you’re unsure whether you’re in burnout, perimenopause or both, we can figure it out gently together.
Let’s make sense of what your body is telling you.
Follow Me for honest insights on perimenopause, burnout recovery, stress management and weight loss and how to keep thriving when life throws you curveballs.
Let’s be honest…
Most women don’t eat sugar because they “lack discipline.”
They eat sugar because they’re overwhelmed.
If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for chocolate, biscuits, or anything sweet after a stressful day, your brain isn’t betraying you, it’s protecting you.
Here’s why.
Sugar Cravings Are a Stress Response, Not a Character Flaw
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, the “fight or flight” hormone.
And guess what helps your brain cope with danger?
- Quick energy!
- Fast relief
- Instant comfort
- Sugar.
Your brain literally believes it's helping you survive.
This is why cravings hit hardest when you’re:
- overwhelmed
- tired
- emotional
- burnt out
- anxious
- overstimulated
- mentally overloaded
It’s not lack of discipline.
It’s biology.
Why It Feels Worse in Your 40s
Hormonal changes during perimenopause affect:
- glucose regulation
- stress tolerance
- emotional resilience
- reward pathways in the brain
This means women 40+ often crave sugar MORE, especially in the afternoon and evening.
Again… not your fault.
Stress → Sugar Loop (The Cycle No One Talks About)
- You get stressed
- Your brain asks for comfort
- You reach for sugar
- You feel a quick release
- Blood sugar crashes
- You feel tired + emotional
- Your brain asks for MORE
- The cycle repeats
Women often tell me:
“It feels automatic… like I don’t even think.”
Exactly.
It is automatic.
It’s a subconscious pattern, which is why conscious “willpower” doesn’t work.
Why Hypnotherapy Helps Reduce Sugar Cravings So Quickly
Hypnotherapy helps by:
- calming the nervous system
- reducing stress triggers
- interrupting the craving cycle
- rewiring the “sugar = comfort” pathway
- strengthening your emotional regulation
- helping your brain feel safe WITHOUT sugar
Most clients notice fewer cravings within 1–2 sessions.
They say things like:
“It’s the first time in years I didn’t reach for chocolate after a hard day.”
If You’re Struggling With Emotional Eating…
You’re not flawed.
You’re not weak.
And you’re definitely not alone.
Your brain is simply overloaded, and sugar feels like relief.
The good news?
You can break the stress → sugar cycle gently and naturally.
Let’s help you feel calm, steady and in control again.
Follow Me for honest insights on perimenopause, burnout recovery, stress management and weight loss and how to keep thriving when life throws you curveballs.
Ever notice one of your star team members suddenly looking like they're running on fumes? Or maybe that person who used to light up meetings is now just going through the motions?
Here's the thing about burnout – it doesn't announce itself with a dramatic exit. It creeps in quietly, slowly draining your best people until they're shadows of their former selves. And by the time most managers notice, it's often too late to prevent the real damage.
The tricky part? Burnout shows up differently for everyone. Some people become snappy, others withdraw completely. Some work even harder trying to prove they're still capable, while others start making mistakes they'd never normally make.
And if you're managing women in their 40s or 50s? Well, there's an extra layer of complexity when hormonal changes amplify every workplace stressor, making burnout symptoms even more intense.
But here's what I want every leader to know: you have way more power than you realise to spot the warning signs early and create conditions where your team can thrive without burning out.
It's not about adding more wellness programs nobody uses – it's about understanding what's really happening and taking action before your best people hit the wall.
Ready to learn the subtle signs you might be missing and discover strategies that actually work to prevent team burnout?
Ready to explore more?
