Perimenopause can bring changes that feel unfamiliar, frustrating, and sometimes overwhelming. You may notice increased anxiety, disrupted sleep, brain fog, irritability, changes in motivation, or a sense that your usual strategies for managing stress no longer work as well as they once did.

Anxiety does not always look like obvious fear or panic. Sometimes it appears as constant overthinking, difficulty making decisions, anticipating what might go wrong, or feeling emotionally activated by situations that others seem to navigate with ease.

Trauma can change the way we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. Experiences that once felt manageable may begin to feel overwhelming.

ADHD is often misunderstood as a problem with attention, organization, or self-discipline. Yet for many adolescents and adults, the experience of ADHD extends far beyond difficulty concentrating or keeping up with daily responsibilities.

Sue Diamond wrote this article at The Good Life Therapy Center in Vancouver, B.C. While the article is written specifically to help those struggling with addiction, there are techniques listed that can help many individuals find an immediate sense of inner peace.

Written by The Gottman Institute. Your emotional awareness dramatically influences your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships.