Bonnie Williamson Balance and Bliss in Perimenopause

18/04/2026

What does brain fog feel like in perimenopause?

Many women describe brain fog as forgetfulness.

But in reality, it often feels much more unsettling than that.

For me, it felt like my brain was full of cotton wool.

My thinking was slower.
I struggled to concentrate.
Information just didn’t stick.

I would read something and realise I hadn’t taken any of it in.
I started forgetting things at work which increased my anxiety.

There was also a sense of disconnection.

Not confusion, but a lack of clarity.

Like I wasn’t as mentally present as I used to be.

At times, it was frightening.
I even worried about early dementia.

Common brain fog symptoms in perimenopause include:

• Memory lapses
• Poor concentration
• Word-finding difficulties
• Mental fatigue
• Feeling overwhelmed by simple tasks

These symptoms often fluctuate and may worsen with stress, poor sleep or hormonal changes.

If you’re experiencing this, you’re not alone and there are ways to support your brain and nervous system.

You can read more here:

👉

The Real Science Behind Perimenopause and Memory

19/03/2026

A few years ago I genuinely wondered if I was developing dementia.

Not during the day.
During the night.

You know that time when you wake up at 3am and your brain decides to review every possible worst-case scenario?

I’d lie there thinking about all the things I’d forgotten recently.

Walking into rooms and not remembering why.

Losing my train of thought halfway through a sentence.

Forgetting simple words.

So I did what many sensible people do at 3am.

I started looking up dementia symptoms online.

I even found a few questionnaires and did those.

Apparently I passed.

Which was reassuring.

But it didn’t explain why my brain suddenly felt like it had been wrapped in cotton wool.

Later I realised what was actually going on.

Perimenopause.

Brain fog is incredibly common during this stage of life, but when it first happens it can be quite unsettling.

Especially if you’ve always relied on your brain at work.

I’ve written a blog about what’s really going on when brain fog appears during perimenopause.

And why it doesn’t mean you’re “losing it”.

You can read it here:
👉https://perimenopausesupport.uk/f/brain-fog-isnt-just-getting-older

And if you’ve ever stood in the kitchen wondering why you opened the fridge…

You’re definitely not the only one.

The Real Science Behind Perimenopause and Memory

14/02/2026

Perimenopause can knock your confidence in ways you didn’t expect.

Anxiety out of nowhere.
Snapping more easily.

Emotional eating creeping back in.

Feeling like you’re not quite yourself.

You are not failing.

Your brain and nervous system are under pressure.

On my website you’ll find clear explanations, practical tools, and support designed specifically for midlife women.

Gentle.
Practical.
Grounded in real life.

If you’re ready to feel steadier again, take a look.

https://perimenopausesupport.uk

12/02/2026

“I’ve had CBT. It made sense… but I still felt wired.”

I hear this quite a lot.

CBT can be very helpful.

But some women find that understanding their thoughts isn’t enough when their nervous system is still on high alert - especially during perimenopause.

I’ve put together a clear explanation of what actually happens in a Solution Focused Hypnotherapy session, how it works differently and why it can help you feel so much better.

If you’ve ever wondered whether hypnotherapy is safe, legitimate, or just misunderstood this will help.
Read more here:

https://perimenopausesupport.uk/how-hypnotherapy-works

23/01/2026

Something I see a lot with women in midlife is worry about ageing parents.

It’s rarely dramatic.
It’s more of a quiet background concern that never really switches off.

You notice small changes.
You start thinking ahead.
And suddenly part of your mind is always half on.

This often sits alongside everything else perimenopause brings.

Poor sleep.
Less tolerance for stress.
Feeling more on edge than you used to.

What’s interesting is that this kind of worry isn’t really about the future.

It’s about what your nervous system is doing now.

Holding responsibility in two directions keeps the system alert.

If your hormones are already shifting, that alertness can tip into anxiety much more easily.

Not because you’re failing.
But because your buffer is smaller than it used to be.

One small thing that can help is separating what’s actually happening today from what might happen later.

That distinction alone can soften things.

This kind of quiet, background stress is exactly the sort of thing I help women with.

Calmly.
Practically.
Without turning it into a bigger story than it needs to be.

If this is something you’re dealing with, and you want support, I can help. Here’s the link to a Free chat.☕️

https://calendly.com/bonnie-01/free-initial-consultation

Picture of me on a boat feel free to guess where exactly!

10/01/2026

When menopause myths are dressed up as ‘truth’, women lose.”

Different therapies are fine.

Misinformation isn’t.

Perimenopause is real and support should be too.

Free consultation available. 👉https://calendly.com/bonnie-01/free-initial-consultation

07/01/2026

Anxiety in perimenopause doesn’t always need a big fix.

Most of the time, it responds to small things done more often.

Short pauses.Simple routines.

Letting stress move through instead of bottling it up.

If you’ve been telling yourself you should be coping better, this is your reminder: your body is just more sensitive right now — and that’s not your fault.

If this resonated, you’re not alone 💗

I share practical, down-to-earth support here for anxiety and stress eating in perimenopause.

nervoussystem womensupport

07/01/2026

Anxiety in perimenopause doesn’t always need a big fix.

Most of the time, it responds to small things done more often.

Short pauses.
Simple routines.

Letting stress move through instead of bottling it up.

If you’ve been telling yourself you should be coping better, this is your reminder: your body is just more sensitive right now and that’s not your fault.

If this resonated, you’re not alone 💗

I share practical, down-to-earth support here for anxiety and stress eating in perimenopause.

05/01/2026

If anxiety has started showing up more in perimenopause, it can feel confusing -especially if you’ve always been someone who copes.

You might be telling yourself to calm down, try harder, eat better… and still feel on edge or reaching for food when you’re stressed.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means your body is under more strain than it used to be.

Small changes in how you respond - earlier and more gently can make a big difference over time.

If this feels familiar, you’re very much not alone.

I share simple, practical support here for calming anxiety and stress eating in perimenopause.

💗

midlifewomen calmthebody

01/01/2026

12/11/2025

It’s exhausting to always be on alert …waiting for the next wave of anxiety.

You try to carry on as normal, but your body’s already on edge before the day even begins.
Your mind scans for danger that isn’t really there, and even small things can suddenly feel overwhelming.

That constant state of alertness isn’t weakness — it’s your nervous system trying to protect you.
But when the stress response gets stuck in overdrive (which often happens during perimenopause), your body forgets how to stand down and feel safe again.

The good news?
You can teach your body to calm — gently, and without forcing it.

My Perimenopause Anxiety Toolkit gives you simple, practical ways to:
🌸Reset your nervous system when anxiety spikes
🌸Understand what’s happening in your body (and why it’s not your fault)
🌸Rebuild a sense of calm and control you can trust

You don’t have to keep pushing through alone.
Start finding your calm again here 👇
👉 https://sales.chestnuthypnotherapy.com/peri-anxiety-toolkit/

11/11/2025

“What if people think I’m failing?”

It’s a quiet fear that sits beneath so much anxiety.

You hold yourself together, put on a brave face, and try to please everyone - while replaying conversations and wondering if you said the wrong thing.

It’s exhausting, isn’t it?

Anxiety has a way of convincing you that you’re being judged - when really, your nervous system is just trying to keep you safe.

You don’t have to keep performing or proving your worth.

Here, you can exhale.

You get to feel accepted exactly as you are - no masks, no pressure, no perfection required.
If this resonates, my Perimenopause Anxiety Toolkit can help you understand why anxiety shows up this way and guide you back to calm, step by gentle step.

👉 https://sales.chestnuthypnotherapy.com/peri-anxiety-toolkit/