Mood Swings & Brain Fog: When Your Emotions and Memory Bugger of on Holiday

Nothing beats a Menopause holiday. This can make you feel like your emotions and memory packed their bags and left without letting your body know. One minute you’re holding it together like a pro, the next you’re tearing up in the dog food isle at the supermarket. Don’t even get me started on the brain fog. You walk into a room with purpose, then just stand there thinking, Wait… what the actual fuck am I doing?

The truth? You’re not losing it. Your hormones are just having a midlife identity crisis.

What’s Actually Going On

Estrogen and progesterone don’t just manage your reproductive system but they’re also best friends with your brain. Estrogen, in particular, helps regulate serotonin (the 'happy' chemical) and supports memory and focus. So, when estrogen levels start jumping around, your emotions, energy, and clarity tend to go right along with it.

This hormonal chaos can cause:

• Sudden bursts of irritation or sadness (sometimes at the same time).

• Forgetfulness and “word gaps” mid-sentence.

• Losing focus or zoning out halfway through a conversation.

• Feeling overwhelmed or anxious for no clear reason.

You’re not broken. You’re just running on low hormonal Wi-Fi.

The Emotional Whiplash

Here’s the fun part, you can feel fine in the morning and be crying over a banana by lunchtime. Hormones affect your nervous system, so emotional swings are literally wired in. Combine that with stress, lack of sleep, and midlife pressures and well put it this way, no one is safe. If you’ve ever argued with the kettle or side-eyed your thermostat, you’re in the right place.

How to Clear the Fog and Calm the Feels

You can’t stop the hormone ride, but you can make the journey smoother. Think like Lurpak that has been left out of the fridge too long.

• Move your body. Exercise releases endorphins, clears your head, and burns off irritability.

• Fuel your brain. Omega-3s (salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds) all support brain health and mood.

• Sleep like you mean it. Easier said than done, but rest helps emotional balance and memory.

• Write it down. If your thoughts are scattered, journaling or brain-dumping helps organize the chaos.

• Breathe. Deep breathing and mindfulness can literally rewire your stress response.

• Talk to someone. A therapist, friend, or menopause-savvy GP. Sharing takes the sting out of it.

And if you’re really struggling, don’t tough it out. HRT or other treatments can help restore hormonal balance and calm the mental storm.

The Bright Side

Here’s the part nobody tells you. When the fog starts to lift, so does the pressure. You stop sweating (literally) over the small stuff. You care less about pleasing people and more about protecting your peace. Menopause doesn’t erase your mind, it just forces you to declutter it. And what’s left is sharper, clearer, and a lot more honest. So, go ahead and tell that one woman that calls herself a 'friend' but is about as useful as a chocolate teapot to piss off (you know you want to).

A Little Reminder

You’re not losing your mind, you’re learning to live with a new one. Go easy on yourself when you forget things, laugh when your emotions go off-script, and remember, this is just one chapter in a long, powerful story. Brain fog fades. Balance returns. And your sense of humor? Well, you're still as wick as before.