Perimenopause, Stress, and the Nervous System
Why Many Women Feel “Wired and Tired” — and What Can Help
Perimenopause is one of the most significant physiological transitions in a woman’s life, yet many women are surprised by how strongly it affects their energy, sleep, mood, and stress tolerance. While hormone fluctuations are often discussed, another key factor is frequently overlooked: the nervous system.
Understanding how stress and the nervous system interact during perimenopause can help explain why symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, sleep disruption, tension, and brain fog often appear — and why supporting nervous system regulation can make a meaningful difference.
What Happens During Perimenopause?
Perimenopause typically begins in the late 30s to mid-40s and can last several years before menopause occurs. During this time, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate unpredictably, which influences many systems of the body including:
Temperature regulation
Muscle and joint comfort
Stress hormone balance
Because these hormones interact closely with the brain and nervous system, the body often becomes more sensitive to stress during this stage of life.
The Stress Response Becomes More Reactive
The nervous system operates through two primary modes: Sympathetic (stress / fight-or-flight) and Parasympathetic (rest / recovery / healing)
During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations can make it easier for the body to shift into stress mode and more difficult to fully return to recovery mode. This is why many women describe feeling:
“Wired but exhausted”
Unable to recover from busy days
More physically tense than before
Over time, chronic stress signaling can affect sleep quality, muscle tension, immune function, and overall resilience.
Why Nervous System Regulation Matters
When the nervous system remains in a heightened stress state, the body’s ability to regulate hormones, repair tissues, and maintain steady energy becomes less efficient. Supporting nervous system balance helps the body:
Adapt more effectively to hormonal fluctuations
Improve sleep and recovery
Reduce physical tension patterns
Support emotional resilience
Improve overall adaptability to daily demands
Many women find that addressing nervous system health becomes a foundational part of feeling well during perimenopause, rather than focusing on symptoms alone.
The Role of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the spine, brain, and nervous system. Gentle adjustments help restore communication between the brain and body, allowing the nervous system to shift more easily into balanced regulation.
In practice, women receiving regular chiropractic care during perimenopause often report improvements in:
Stress tolerance
Sleep quality
Neck, shoulder, and back tension
Headaches related to tension patterns
Overall sense of calm and resilience
Objective nervous system scans can also be used to evaluate how the body is responding to stress and to track changes over time, providing measurable insight into progress.
Supporting Your Body Through This Transition
Perimenopause is not simply a hormonal phase — it is a whole-body neurological transition. Supporting the nervous system alongside lifestyle, nutrition, and medical guidance can help women move through this stage feeling stronger, clearer, and more balanced.
Helpful strategies may include:
Prioritizing sleep and recovery
Gentle movement and mobility work
Stress-regulation practices such as breathing or mindfulness
Consistent chiropractic care to support nervous system function
Personalized wellness strategies guided by your healthcare providers
Small, consistent shifts in nervous system support can create meaningful changes over time.
A New Way to Think About Midlife Health
Many women are told that feeling exhausted, tense, or overwhelmed during perimenopause is simply something to “push through.” In reality, this stage of life is an opportunity to better understand how your nervous system functions and to create new patterns of support that carry forward for decades.
When the nervous system is balanced and adaptable, the body is better able to regulate hormones, recover from stress, and maintain long-term vitality.
Support for Women in Somerset County
At Far Hills Family Chiropractic, care is designed to support women through every stage of life — including perimenopause and menopause — using gentle chiropractic care and nervous system–focused assessments to help the body function at its best.
If you are experiencing changes in sleep, stress tolerance, tension, or energy levels, personalized nervous system–focused care may help support your transition into this next stage of life.
Learn more about our Perimenopause & Menopause Chiropractic Care
