Navigating perimenopause & menopause alongside chronic illness: Finding balance when life throws extra curveballs
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
If you had told me quite a few years ago that I would be standing here today as a Holistic Menopause Coach, I might have smiled softly and wondered how that path would unfold.
My journey into holistic wellness didn’t begin with a grand blueprint. It began from a deeply personal, quiet place of searching. Living with a chronic illness had already taught me first hand just how unpredictable our health can be. I knew what it felt like to manage a body that required gentle pacing, deep rest, and an abundance of patience.
Then came my late 30’s and with them, perimenopause.
Now I’m in my mid 40’s (Even if my face still tries its very best to convince people I’m much younger! ✨) Adding the hormonal shifts of perimenopause on top of an existing chronic condition brought a whole new set of curveballs I never quite anticipated. Suddenly, the delicate balance I had worked so hard to try and create felt shaken.
You Are Not Broken, and You Are Not Alone
Like so many women I talk to today, I quickly hit those exhausting, frustrating brick walls.
I knew the battle of feeling dismissed by clinical professionals. I knew the heartache of articulating that something felt "off" only to be handed little or no suggestion or being dismissed. This just didn’t honour the whole picture of my health. I knew the quiet isolation that creeps in when the people around you—as much as they love you—just don’t quite understand the sheer depth of the fatigue, the brain fog, or the sudden waves of anxiety.
If you are reading this right now and feeling completely worn down by your symptoms, please let this be your gentle reminder: You are not broken, you are not losing yourself, and you do not have to go through this transition all by yourself.
That personal struggle ultimately became my calling. I immersed myself in studying menopause deeply through a holistic lens. I wanted to understand the intricate dance of our nervous system, our hormones, our sleep, and our emotional energy—not just to bring healing and harmony back to my own body, mind, and spirit, but so I could become the compassionate, whole-person ally I so desperately needed back then.
Three Gentle Shifts for Your Nervous System Today
When you are managing fatigue, joint aches, or shifting moods, the last thing you need is a rigid 10-step checklist that leaves you feeling more overwhelmed than when you started.
Instead, true holistic wellbeing begins with tiny, nurturing moments that show your body it is safe to rest. Here are three gentle practices you can offer yourself today:
1. Practice the "Micro-Pause"
When hot flashes, brain fog, or sudden anxiety hit, our nervous system instinctively goes into overdrive. Try setting an intention to pause just three times a day. Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. Take three slow, soft breaths, letting your stomach expand as you inhale, and letting your shoulders drop completely as you exhale. It takes less than a minute, but it sends an immediate message of safety to your nervous system.
2. Create an Evening "Settle Down"
Sleep disruptions during perimenopause and menopause are so common, especially when chronic fatigue or pain is also present. Try creating a 20-minute gentle boundary before bed. Turn off glowing screens, dim the lights, and perhaps sip a warm herbal tea like chamomile or rose petal. Allow your senses to slowly wind down, signalling to your hormones that the day is softly closing.
3. Soften Your Expectations (Self Compassion)
Some days you will have energy to move and accomplish your list; other days, your body will ask you to simply be. Both days are valid. Replacing frustration with self-compassion is often the single most powerful shift we can make for our hormonal health. Let the frustration slowly pass. Place your hands on your heart and say “It’s okay to just be” or choose an affirmation that you feel is relevant in that moment.
A Safe Space to Pause & Breathe
My passion is providing a gentle bridge between clinical intervention and your daily wellbeing. I believe that taking care of yourself shouldn't feel like a chore or another thing on your to-do list—it should feel like a warm, supportive embrace.
If you are feeling ready to bring a sense of harmony back to your days, I am so honoured to share that bookings are now open for my Online 1-to-1 Menopause Holistic Lifestyle Coaching.
Together, we look at the beautiful, whole picture of who you are—your diet, daily rhythms, gentle movement, sleep, and emotional peace. We co-create a bespoke, manageable plan tailored completely to your pace, supported by heart-centred, ongoing guidance so you always feel heard, validated, and held.
There is no pressure, and there are no rigid rules here. Just holistic gentle guidance that fits with you and your lifestyle.
If your heart feels like it needs a quiet space to connect, I warmly invite you to book a free 30-minute initial online call with me.
We can simply sit together, breathe, share a virtual cup of tea, and see if working together feels right for you.
Until then, please remember to be deeply gentle with yourself today.
Warmest wishes and serenity,
Chloe 🩷
Holistic Therapist & Menopause Coach
Follow me on Facebook & Instagram at the top of my homepage 🩷
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