
03/09/2025
Survival Mode & Perimenopause
Let’s talk about survival mode. Most of us live here everyday and it’s a draining way to live. When your nervous system is stuck in survival mode and you’re constantly on high alert, it’s like living with your foot pressed down on the accelerator. Over time, this takes a toll. Imagine driving your car at high speed constantly. What would happen? Eventually the car would break down and you are no different.
For women in perimenopause, survival mode can amplify symptoms:
⚡ Hot flashes may feel more intense
😴 Sleep becomes restless
🌪 Mood swings feel harder to regulate
💭 Brain fog and fatigue increase
Why? Because your body can’t heal or rebalance when it’s only focused on getting through the day. I’ve spent a lot of time doing this through 2025 and I can tell you that it’s exhausting and mostly caused by lack of communication in all ways, including with yourself. Survival mode is an instinct to keep you safe but in today’s society we are forced into this draining state again and again by daily life.
Luckily, there are ways to control your survival mode and it all comes down to understanding your nervous system.
✨ Learning to soothe the nervous system—through breathwork, mindful movement, and somatic practices—helps your body shift from surviving to thriving.
Don’t live through perimenopause feeling like it’s something you have to survive or get through. Perimenopause is a natural part of life and can be a time of reconnection and renewal.
So here are a few tips to help you:
1. Find your seat
Sit comfortably with your feet on the ground. Let your shoulders drop and soften your jaw.
2. Orient to safety
Slowly look around the room, letting your eyes land on something that feels calming or pleasant. This tells your nervous system, “I’m safe right now.”
3. Breath with a sigh
Inhale gently through the nose.
Exhale through the mouth with a soft sigh, like you’re letting go of tension.
Repeat 5–7 times, noticing your shoulders and chest release.
4. Ground through touch
Place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly. Feel the warmth of your own touch and tell yourself: “I am safe. I am supported.”
Just a few minutes of this each day can help ease nervous system overwhelm, supporting calmer moods, steadier sleep, and softer symptoms during perimenopause.