When the Down Days Linger: Peri/Menopause, Mental Health, and Just Keepin’ On

Hey there, Menobodies—and all who are listening.(said with a little ho-hum… a little sadness)Today’s episode comes from a tender place. I’m feeling a bit down, and I wanted to show up anyway—because if you’ve had low moments during perimenopause or menopause, I want you to know you are not alone.Setting the Stage Just a couple episodes back, I talked about having a “down day” and how I handled it.Well… this time it wasn’t a day.Coming out of the holidays—end of year, beginning of the next—I struggled big time for almost four weeks. And honestly? It caught me completely off guard.I love the holidays. I was prepared. I had family, friends, rest, and moments of joy. And yet…How It Felt I felt:SadLonelyDiscouragedAt times, even hopelessSuper discouragedAnd the hardest part was asking myself:Why is this happening? I’ve been working so hard on managing my perimenopause symptoms—physical, nutritional, and mental health. And yet, there I was… exhausted, taking naps by 10am, leaving events early, and worrying about how it all looked to other people.There was also the people-pleaser in me.The mom in me—trying to shield my girls from how low I felt.The part of me trying to “perform” and keep up with all our usual holiday routines.Behind the scenes?There were moments of desperation.Crying.Frustration.Endless processing to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it.At times, I truly felt like I was hanging on by a string.The Hard Truth About Peri/Menopause Truth be told, I can’t tell you exactly what shifted or how I got semi out of it—and I say semi because some of it still lingers.This is the doo-doo part of perimenopause and menopause.It can come out of nowhere.We don’t have control.All we can do is cope as best we can and hope we don’t burn down relationships or ourselves in the process.Mental Health: Back to Basics I’ve done a lot of research and work around:Movement, lifting weights, inflammation, dry skin and hairNutrition—protein, fiber, limiting alcohol(Side note: the holidays and feeling like poo made that harder… nothing extreme, just more than usual for me)But the mental health part?I thought I had that covered. I mean… I’m a therapist. 😅Turns out, I had to go back to basics:Compassionate self-talkTruth-telling instead of shameRestDistraction when neededMeditationA 2am Story (Because of Course) One night around 2am, I was awake, alone, and sad—so I did what many of us do… I grabbed my phone.I ended up on the Calm app and found binaural beats—sounds that alternate between the left and right ear, similar in theory to EMDR or tapping, helping both hemispheres of the brain communicate and calm.I bought the “miracle” track.Did it knock me out? Nope.But it did open my mind.I had clarity.Ideas for work projects.Thoughts about supporting my family.And while this isn’t a paid ad, I genuinely love Calm. It’s incredibly robust—movement, kids content, sleep stories, stress support, famous voices. Fun fact: in a past role as a wellness coordinator, Calm came out on top after a lot of research.I eventually fell back asleep around 5am… and then had to keep trucking through life while still feeling very much not myself.And honestly?It sucked.What I Can Offer YouI don’t have a magic pill or perfect meditation—but I do have this:First: You are not alone.Second: This is normal. Symptoms vary wildly between women—and even week to week within the same body. That unpredictability is the normal.Third: Here are some things that helped a little:Basic hygiene – Just being clean helped me feel cared forA clean outfit (a “set”) – Matching pants and top = small winComfort foods & drinks – Coffee in the morning, cheese-based joyResting without guilt – Shows, movies, quiet time without interruptionNaps (when possible) – Even resting countsHonesty with my partner – Even when they don’t fully understandVerbal processing – Walking while dictating thoughts into my Notes appTylenol & massage tools – Sometimes the basics matterFourth: Something I wish I’d done sooner…Asked for more help.This is hard for me—not because of pride, but anxiety. Worrying I’m too much, that people will feel obligated, or say no.But help could have looked like:MealsHelp with exhausting tasks (like walking the dog)Even just asking friends to send good vibesLetting people know you’re not okay can be helpful—even if they don’t do anything.A Note on Support & Loss If you have a bestie, sibling, or daily talk-it-out person—amazing. Keep that up. I’m cheering for you.If you don’t… that’s okay too. It’s more common than we think.And if you’ve lost that person—like losing a mom who was your go-to—I see you. That grief shows up again and again.If it feels right, you might consider:A spiritual guide or pastorA therapist (we literally get paid to hold your thoughts 💛)You’re Not Alone Here Did you struggle at the end of 2025 or the start of 2026?Are you in it right now?Reach out. This community exists for peri/menopause humans navigating the doo-doo together.Yes, we also experience highs—and there will be more of those on the podcast.Both can exist at the same time.Share your hard moment with me—via Facebook, Instagram, email, or a podcast note.Until next time…Keep truckin’. Just trying is enough. 💛Connect with Beth:💌 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies🌐 Website: www.menobodies.com/home🗞️Newsletter:www.menobodies.com/newsletter