Reclaiming Your Body in Midlife

Last month, a woman in my community shared a story that hit me hard…

She said, “Every month feels like a battle I can’t win. The bloating, the mood swings, the heavy bleeding. It’s like my body is punishing me and I don’t know why or what’s changed. I used to feel strong and capable, but now I just feel broken.”

Her words are familiar to so many of us in midlife. For years, we’ve been told to push through the pain, hide the messiness and accept that being a woman means living with symptoms that steal our energy and confidence.

For many women, symptoms don’t just show up once in a while. They arrive on schedule and in sync with our cyclical nature:

  • Endometriosis

  • PCOS

  • Uterine fibroids

  • Heavy periods

  • Hormonal chaos

  • Mood swings

  • Blood sugar crashes

It can feel endless, exhausting, and deeply unfair. Over time, we start to believe our body is betraying us.
But your body is never against you. It’s always working for you.

Here’s what’s happening beneath the surface in your 30s, 40s, and beyond:

  • Estrogen and progesterone start to fluctuate. Instead of the smooth hormonal rhythm you once had, your cycle can become irregular, with highs that feel intense (PMS, heavy bleeding) and lows that leave you drained.

  • Progesterone often drops first. This creates estrogen dominance, which can show up as mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness, anxiety or sleep struggles.

  • Cortisol and stress play a bigger role. With more life demands, your body prioritizes stress survival over reproduction. That’s why stress management is no longer optional, t directly impacts your cycle.

  • Blood sugar becomes more sensitive. As estrogen drops, insulin sensitivity shifts, making crashes, cravings and stubborn weight gain more common.

  • Inflammation compounds symptoms. If your body is already carrying a high inflammatory load, hormonal fluctuations hit harder.

These changes don’t mean your body is failing. They mean your body is recalibrating. Think of your cycle not as an enemy, but rather a monthly update on:

  • Hormone balance

  • Liver detoxification

  • Blood sugar regulation

  • Inflammation

  • Stress levels

Yes, the signals can be painful and overwhelming. But at its core, your body is doing everything it can to adapt and protect you - even when the terrain feels rocky. This season doesn’t have to mean living at war. Instead, it’s an opportunity to partner with your body in a new way.

Here’s where you can begin…

  • Get to the root. Don’t just silence symptoms. Explore the “why” behind them.

  • Nourish deeply. Focus on nutrient-dense foods (protein, fiber, healthy fats, colorful plants) to stabilize blood sugar and support hormone balance.

  • Detox gently. Swap plastics, cut back on processed foods and support your liver with cruciferous veggies, hydration and rest.

  • Prioritize stress care. Daily practices like breathwork, walking or journaling calm cortisol, which directly influences hormones.

  • Shift your mindset. Your body isn’t punishing you - it’s communicating with you.

In the end, your body is trying to find a way to work for you every single day. The more you understand its language - hormonally, nutritionally, emotionally - the more power you reclaim.

I loved this graphic from @toxfreedoc and wanted to share with you here too. Such a powerful way to look at symptoms as signals and what they can mean for our health underneath the surface.

 
 
Erin Trier