If you've always handled stress well but perimenopause has made everything feel like too much — this episode explains exactly why, and what's actually happening in your body. Stress didn't get harder. Your hormones changed how your body responds to it. In this episode, I break down what chronic cortisol elevation is doing to your blood sugar, sleep, progesterone, and metabolism — and why managing stress in midlife requires a completely different approach than what worked before. Perfect for women in perimenopause or menopause who feel overwhelmed, wired, and can't figure out why their usual coping strategies have stopped working. 00:00 Podcast Intro 01:10 Today's Stress Topic 01:59 Why Stress Hits Harder 03:06 Estrogen and HPA Axis 03:47 Free Quiz Break 04:36 Cortisol Blood Sugar Loop 06:13 Sleep and 3AM Wakeups 07:21 Progesterone Steal 08:08 Thyroid and Belly Fat 08:36 Stabilize Blood Sugar 10:03 Evening Wind Down 10:27 Move Without Overdoing 12:23 Nervous System Capacity 12:52 Key Takeaway and Next Steps 13:53 Wrap Up and Review 14:43 Outro and Follow Check out the full show notes at https://cindistickle.com/podcast/ep-138-menopause-stress-why-your-body-cant-handle-it-like-it-used-to-and-what-to-do-about-it Connect with Cindi Perimenopause Morning Reset — https://cindistickle.myflodesk.com/nervoussystemresetpodcast Book a Metabolism Consultation: https://calendly.com/cindistickle/metabolism-consultation Come hang out in my Facebook Group — https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause