5 Signs You’re Running on Stress Hormones Instead of True Energy
(Especially common during perimenopause & menopause — here’s how to tell the difference.)
Most women think they’re “just tired,” “just busy,” or “just pushing through.”
But in perimenopause and menopause, what feels like energy can actually be cortisol carrying you through the day — not true, sustainable energy.
And here’s the tricky part:
Stress hormones can disguise themselves as motivation… focus… even productivity.
Until they don’t.
When estrogen and progesterone shift, your nervous system becomes more sensitive and your stress response lasts longer. That means cortisol shows up stronger, spikes higher, and is harder to come down from.
Here are the five signs you’re running on stress hormones instead of real energy.
1. You Wake Up Tired but Feel Wired Later
If your morning feels like a fog but you suddenly “come alive” mid-day or at night, that’s not energy — it’s a delayed cortisol spike.
During menopause, cortisol rhythms become unpredictable.
Instead of rising in the morning (when you need it), it rises later… keeping you awake, wired, and mentally overstimulated long after you want to wind down.
True energy feels steady.
Cortisol energy feels jerky, delayed, and inconsistent.
2. Afternoon You Is a Completely Different Person
If you crash around 2–4 p.m. and need caffeine or sugar to function, your blood sugar and cortisol are tag-teaming each other.
In midlife, your body becomes more sensitive to drops in blood sugar, so cortisol kicks in to “rescue” you — giving you that temporary boost or focus… followed by another crash.
This is why women in perimenopause often say:
“By afternoon, I don’t even recognize myself.”
That isn’t personality.
It’s physiology.
3. You Feel “Fine” Until Something Small Sets You Off
This is one of the biggest giveaways.
When cortisol is running the show, your emotional threshold shrinks:
little things feel big
interruptions derail you
decisions feel harder
your brain won’t switch tasks smoothly
you snap faster than you mean to
This isn’t a mindset issue.
It’s your nervous system trying to keep up.
4. Your Focus Is Sharp… Until It Completely Isn’t
Stress hormones can make you hyper-focused in short bursts — especially when you’re under pressure.
But they also tank your ability to think clearly, remember details, or switch between tasks.
In menopause, estrogen dips affect memory and executive function, so when cortisol steps in to “help,” it creates the perfect storm of:
brain fog
task paralysis
overthinking
feeling scattered
If your mental clarity comes and goes in waves, that’s a sign your “energy” is actually a stress response.
5. You Can’t Relax Even When You’re Exhausted
You’re tired… but restless.
You want to slow down… but your body won’t settle.
You finally sit down at night… and your mind starts spiraling.
This is classic cortisol dominance — and it’s incredibly common in perimenopause.
True energy allows you to wind down.
Stress-hormone energy keeps you buzzing even when you’re depleted.
Why This Matters in Menopause
When you can tell the difference between cortisol-fueled energy and real energy, you stop blaming yourself for:
being moody
being tired
being inconsistent
feeling “off”
losing motivation
not bouncing back like you used to
This isn’t personal.
This is your nervous system trying to protect you — but getting stuck in overdrive because of shifting hormones.
The fix isn’t pushing harder.
It’s supporting your system differently.
Want More Support?
If you’re realizing you’ve been running on stress hormones more than true energy, your nervous system is asking for help.
Start with my free Nervous System Morning Reset — a simple daily rhythm that helps calm cortisol, stabilize energy, and make your days feel more doable.
👉 https://cindistickle.myflodesk.com/nervoussystemorningreset
