Let’s talk about menopause — honestly and openly

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For some, it’s a gradual change. For others, it can feel like everything shifts all at once. Hot flushes appear out of nowhere, sleep goes out the window, anxiety creeps in, and that mental clarity you once had suddenly feels miles away. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to just put up with it.

Menopause is a natural phase, usually happening in your late 40s or 50s, when your periods stop permanently. But the changes don’t start the day your period ends — they usually begin years earlier, during a stage known as perimenopause.

Perimenopause is the transitional phase where hormone levels start fluctuating. It can last anywhere from a couple of years to over a decade. During this time, your body is shifting between fertile years and menopause — and that shift can be anything but smooth. You might still be having periods, but they may be irregular, heavier, lighter, or more unpredictable. And in the background, you may notice emotional and physical changes ramping up.

This is often when women start to feel “off” without really knowing why. Mood changes, sleep disruption, anxious feelings, brain fog, changes in weight and libido — they’re all common signs that perimenopause is underway.

What’s actually happening is that estrogen and progesterone are beginning their decline, but in fits and starts. That hormonal fluctuation can be harder on the body than the steadier drop that comes later. It’s no surprise that many women describe perimenopause as the hardest part of the journey.

One of the most frustrating symptoms for many women is weight gain — especially around the middle. You might feel like you’re eating the same and moving the same, yet the scales creep up and your clothes feel tighter.

Here’s why: estrogen plays a role in how your body stores fat. As levels decline, your metabolism can slow down, your insulin sensitivity may decrease, and your body starts to store more fat around the abdomen. It’s a protective mechanism — but not one many women welcome. Add in disrupted sleep, higher stress hormones like cortisol, and increased cravings for sugar or carbs, and it’s no wonder weight gain becomes an issue.

Now, this is where hypnotherapy comes in — not as a magic wand, but as a powerful, natural way to support your mind and body through this transition.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works by helping the brain return to a calmer, more balanced state. It uses gentle trance, guided relaxation, and positive therapeutic suggestions to reduce stress and reframe how the brain responds to change. When you’re in a deeply relaxed state, your body can shift out of fight-or-flight mode. The nervous system becomes calmer, and that has a ripple effect on your physical and emotional wellbeing.

And when it comes to weight, hypnotherapy can support your brain to break unhelpful habits, improve motivation, and reduce the emotional eating that often increases during this stage of life.

There’s also a growing body of evidence that hypnotherapy can help regulate appetite, reduce stress-induced cravings, and encourage more consistent, healthy behaviours. By lowering cortisol and reducing stress-based responses, you create the internal conditions for weight management to feel easier — more natural, and less of a battle.

There’s strong science behind this. A major study compared hypnotherapy to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and found that hypnotherapy was actually more effective for reducing hot flushes and night sweats. Another clinical trial showed that hypnotherapy reduced hot flushes by up to 80% — without medication. It also helped women sleep better, feel less anxious, and regain a sense of control. In fact, one report from Baylor University showed that hypnotherapy improved quality of life to a similar level as hormone therapy — but naturally and without side effects.

And it’s not just about hot flushes. Hypnotherapy can help with sleep, mood, anxiety, confidence, weight management, and even that feeling of “brain fog” that so many women talk about. By working with a qualified hypnotherapist, you get a personalised approach that helps your brain and body settle into this new chapter — with more calm, clarity, and confidence.

This is exactly the kind of support I offer in my practice. I specialise in helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause using solution focused hypnotherapy — in a way that’s practical, personalised, and rooted in both science and compassion.

Menopause — and the years leading up to it — doesn’t have to feel like a struggle. With the right support, it can be a time of reflection, growth, and even renewal. Hypnotherapy offers a gentle but effective way to move through it feeling more like you again.

If you’re ready to explore how this approach could work for you, let’s talk.