The midlife symptoms women are told to ignore (but shouldn’t)
“Is This Normal?”
Have you ever caught yourself wondering:
“Is it normal to feel this tired all the time?”
“Is it just me, or has my body completely changed overnight?”
“Why am I so bloated after eating things that never used to bother me?”
If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s asking these questions—you're not alone. And no, you're not imagining it.
The truth is, many women are experiencing symptoms that are incredibly common during midlife, but far too often brushed off as “just getting older.” Things like:
- Low energy that no amount of sleep seems to fix
- Mood swings, irritability, or a general sense of feeling flat
- Digestive issues like bloating, discomfort, or irregularity
- Weight gain, especially around the midsection, that feels impossible to shift
- Increased cravings and feeling out of control with food
- Poor sleep, or waking up at 3am unable to settle again
You may have even been told that these symptoms are just part of being “busy” or “a woman”and to push through. But that kind of advice is both outdated and unhelpful.
The Real Story: Hormones & Stress in Midlife
Midlife is a season of major hormonal shifts. Estrogen and progesterone, two key hormones that support mood, metabolism, sleep, and energy begin to fluctuate and decline. On top of that, our stress hormone, cortisol, is often in overdrive thanks to modern life: juggling careers, parenting, ageing parents, relationships, and endless to-do lists.
When cortisol stays high over time, it disrupts everything from sleep to digestion to blood sugar. It can leave you wired but tired, moody, bloated, and constantly reaching for snacks or caffeine to get through the day.
And because your body is under pressure, it starts prioritizing survival over balance, which means weight gain, low energy, and poor digestion aren’t just side effects, they’re signals. Your body is asking for help.
Here’s What Is Normal:
What’s normal is wanting to feel like yourself again. To wake up with energy. To have patience with your kids and clarity in your thoughts. To feel good in your body and confident in your skin.
And it’s possible.
You don’t need to overhaul your life to start feeling better. It starts with understanding what’s really going on in your body and giving it the support it needs through consistent nourishment, nervous system regulation, better sleep, and gut support.
Want to Learn More?
If this blog has you nodding along thinking, "This is me," then you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
Sometimes all it takes is a conversation with someone who gets it…someone who can help you connect the dots, understand what your body is trying to tell you, and guide you toward simple, sustainable changes that actually work.
Book a free 15-minute call with me and let’s chat about where you’re at, what’s been holding you back, and what small shifts can help you feel more like yourself again.
You don’t have to settle for feeling tired, flat, or uncomfortable in your body. Let’s work together to find your balance.