My Emotions Feel Out of Control
BODY & EMOTIONS
When anxiety, depression, and overwhelm take over, therapeutic support can help you find stability.
You wake up at 3am with your heart racing about things that felt manageable yesterday. Small irritations send you into a rage that scares you and everyone around you. Some days you can barely get out of bed, while others you feel wired and panicked about everything on your endless to-do list.
Maybe it started with perimenopause symptoms, or perhaps the stress of juggling aging parents and teenagers finally caught up with you. Either way, your emotional responses don't feel like "you" anymore, and you're exhausted from trying to hold it together while everything else in your life demands attention
If This Sounds Like You...
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You're experiencing depression, anxiety, or mood swings that interfere with daily life and relationships
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Sleep has become elusive—either you can't fall asleep or you wake up multiple times per night thinking about everything wrong
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You find yourself snapping at people you love, then feeling guilty and ashamed about it
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Panic attacks or intense anxiety seem to come out of nowhere, often about things you used to handle easily
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You feel emotionally numb some days and overwhelmed others—like your emotional thermostat is broken
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Perimenopause or menopause symptoms are affecting your mental health in ways you didn't expect
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You're using alcohol, food, or other substances to cope with stress more than you'd like to admit
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Concentration and memory feel compromised—you forget things that used to be automatic
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You feel like you're "going crazy" or losing control of your mind just when life demands the most from you
What's Really Happening
Emotional and mental health symptoms during life transitions aren't character flaws—they're normal psychological responses to significant change and stress. When your nervous system gets overwhelmed by multiple demands, it can manifest in ways that feel scary but are actually protective responses.
Understanding the symptoms:
DEPRESSION: Energy depletion from managing too much for too long without adequate support or recovery
ANXIETY: Your system trying to prepare for perceived threats (real or imagined) when everything feels unstable
MOOD SWINGS: Emotional dysregulation when coping resources are stretched thin across multiple stressors
SLEEP DISRUPTION: A wired nervous system that can't settle into rest because it's constantly scanning for problems
COGNITIVE ISSUES: Brain fog from stress, hormones, emotional overload, or simply decision fatigue from too many choices
You're not losing your mind. Your mind is trying to protect you from an overloaded system.
How Menopause Impacts Mental Health
Hormonal fluctuations directly affect neurotransmitters that regulate mood, sleep, and cognitive function. Estrogen and progesterone changes can trigger or worsen depression and anxiety—this isn't "all in your head." These are real neurobiological changes happening in your brain.
But here's what makes it extra challenging: menopause often coincides with other major stressors (empty nest, aging parents, career pressures, relationship changes). So you're dealing with both hormonal impacts AND situational stress simultaneously. We address both the biological impact and the psychological processing of these layered changes.
This is treatable. You don't have to suffer through this alone or just "tough it out."
How We Work Together
Nervous System Regulation
Learn practical tools to calm your system in the moment—breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and body-based interventions you can use when overwhelmed. These become essential skills for managing multiple stressors.
Trauma-Informed Processing
Address how current stressors may be reactivating old wounds or creating new trauma responses. We work at your pace to process difficult emotions safely while building resilience for ongoing challenges.
Cognitive Support
Develop strategies for managing racing thoughts, catastrophic thinking, and the mental loops that keep you awake at night worrying about everything at once.
Parts Work (IFS-informed)
Identify which parts of you are in crisis, overwhelmed, or trying to protect you—and help them find more effective ways to support your wellbeing without burning out your system.
Sleep and Energy Management
Create sustainable routines that support rest and restore your capacity to handle daily stressors. Sleep becomes crucial when managing multiple life transitions.
Medication Coordination
I work alongside medical providers when medication might be helpful. I don't prescribe but can support you in conversations with doctors about treatment options for both mental health and hormonal support.
What Women Often Notice
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Sleep becomes more restorative, even if not perfect—you feel more rested and able to handle daily challenges
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Emotional reactions feel more proportional to actual situations rather than everything feeling like a crisis
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Panic attacks decrease in frequency or intensity, and you have tools to manage them when they occur
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You can think more clearly and make decisions without constant second-guessing or catastrophic thinking
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Menopause symptoms feel more manageable when emotional support is in place—the psychological stress doesn't amplify the physical symptoms
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You develop a reliable toolkit of strategies that actually work when you're overwhelmed
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Relationships improve because you're not constantly on edge or emotionally unavailable
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You feel more like yourself, even when external circumstances are stressful or changing
Important Distinctions
This is therapy, not medical treatment. I address the psychological and emotional aspects of mental health symptoms. For medication evaluation, hormone therapy, or medical treatment of severe depression/anxiety, I coordinate with physicians and psychiatrists to ensure comprehensive care.
Crisis support: If you're having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please contact your doctor immediately, go to an emergency room, or call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). (USA/EU/GB needed...)
Common Questions
Q: How do I know if I need therapy or medical treatment for my symptoms?
A: Often both are helpful. If symptoms are severe or interfering significantly with work, relationships, or daily functioning, start with your primary care doctor. Therapy addresses the emotional processing and coping skills; medication can provide biological support.
Q: Will therapy conflict with hormone therapy or antidepressants?
A: No—therapy and medical treatment often work well together. I coordinate with your medical providers to ensure comprehensive care that addresses both psychological and biological aspects.
Q: Is it normal to feel this overwhelmed during menopause?
A: Yes. Hormonal changes can significantly impact mood and anxiety levels, especially when combined with other life stressors. You're not weak or failing—you're dealing with real biological and psychological challenges that deserve support.
Q: What if I've tried therapy before and it didn't help?
A: Many women have had experiences with therapists who didn't understand the complexity of midlife transitions or dismissed symptoms as "just hormones." My specialization in this population and understanding of how multiple transitions interact may offer a different experience.