Navigating Perimenopause: Understanding the Mental Health Impact and How Therapy Can Help Supporting Women Through Life’s Transitions at Heights Family Counseling
Navigating Perimenopause: Understanding the Mental Health Impact and How Therapy Can Help
Supporting Women Through Life’s Transitions at Heights Family Counseling
Perimenopause is a natural stage in life, but for many women, it can also be one of the most confusing and emotionally challenging. While most people associate perimenopause with hot flashes and irregular periods, fewer are prepared for how significantly it can affect mental health. At Heights Family Counseling, we want women to know they are not alone in this experience—and that support is available.
🧠 What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause refers to the transitional time before menopause, often beginning in the mid-to-late 30s or 40s and lasting several years. During this time, hormone levels—especially estrogen and progesterone—begin to fluctuate significantly, impacting not just physical health but also emotional and cognitive functioning.
🌪️ The Mental Health Effects of Perimenopause
Many women report feeling like they’re “falling apart,” when in fact, their nervous systems are responding to real biological changes. Common mental health symptoms during perimenopause include:
Increased anxiety or panic attacks
Depression or mood swings
Irritability and emotional sensitivity
Burnout and overwhelm
Brain fog and memory issues
Intensified ADHD symptoms (or new ADHD-like symptoms)
Sleep disturbances and fatigue
If you've suddenly found yourself struggling with focus, feeling disconnected, or questioning your identity or emotional stability, know that you're not imagining it—your body and brain are navigating a profound hormonal transition.
💡 Psychoeducation: Understanding What’s Happening in Your Brain
One of the most empowering things we offer at Heights Family Counseling is psychoeducation—helping you understand the why behind what you’re feeling. Hormonal fluctuations can affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, both critical for mood regulation, sleep, and focus. That’s why perimenopause can trigger anxiety, depression, and even ADHD-like symptoms in women who’ve never had them before—or intensify existing ones.
When you understand that these challenges are biological, not a personal failure, it opens the door to healing, self-compassion, and better coping strategies.
🤝 Meet Julie Murillas: Specialist in Perimenopausal Mental Health
At Heights Family Counseling, we’re proud to have Julie Murillas, LPC, as part of our team. Julie has a warm, affirming, and deeply knowledgeable approach to working with women in midlife and beyond. She specializes in helping clients:
Navigate emotional changes linked to perimenopause
Manage ADHD symptoms that may emerge or intensify
Cope with anxiety, mood shifts, and burnout
Reconnect with identity and confidence
Develop practical tools for nervous system regulation
You can learn more about Julie here.
🧘♀️ Therapy Can Be a Game-Changer
Therapy during perimenopause isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about finding yourself again in the midst of change. We offer a safe, culturally competent space to explore what you’re going through and help you move forward with greater clarity, calm, and resilience.
Whether you're struggling to manage emotional shifts, questioning if what you're feeling is "normal," or simply needing a supportive space to be heard—our therapists are here to walk with you.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
We’re here to support you through every season of life.
📍 Serving clients in Houston and San Antonio
💬 Schedule an appointment today at heightsfamilycounseling.com