Many women in perimenopause describe the emotional sensitivity as feeling like they have “thinner skin.” Things that once rolled off, now register. Conversations replay in your mind. Disappointment feels sharper. Even affection can feel more intense.

If you’ve found yourself more on edge, more reactive, or constantly bracing for something — even when nothing is wrong — you’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

This post will help you understand why anxiety feels different in perimenopause, how to distinguish it from general anxiety, and what actually helps.