Attack of The Hormones

When my best friend’s daughter wrote her a letter saying, “Mom, I know you love me now, but there will be a day you won’t like me because of the ‘Attack of the Hormones,’” I thought, “Wow, how cute.” Oh, sweet, naive me. I had no idea that one day, I’d be the star of my very own hormone horror story.

Fast forward to 2020—when the universe decided to throw everything at me at once. The world shut down, I turned 45 (ouch), and then, to top it off, I landed in the hospital with acute liver failure caused by undiagnosed Celiac Disease. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t cute. Picture me jaundiced, muscle-wasted, and writing goodbye letters to my kids. Let’s just say, it was a plot twist I didn’t see coming.

But here’s the kicker—I knew something was off before the chaos. I brushed it aside because, like many of us, I thought I was invincible. Maybe it was pride. Maybe denial. Or maybe I was just too busy to listen to the warning signs my body was screaming at me.

Turns out, it wasn’t just life throwing punches. My hormones had decided to stage a full-blown mutiny. Mood swings, anxiety, brain fog—it was like living with a mean girl in my head who just wouldn’t quit. And let’s not forget the hot flashes that could rival a wildfire.

The thing is, hormones don’t play fair. They sneak up on you, make you question your sanity, and then leave you Googling, “Am I losing it or is this perimenopause?” Spoiler: It’s both.

Looking back, I can pinpoint this as the start of my personal Attack of the Hormones. The realization hit me harder than the year 2020 itself—my body wasn’t betraying me; it was demanding my attention. And let me tell you, once you tune into that drama, there’s no turning back.

So here’s my takeaway: If life feels like it’s auditioning for a daytime soap opera, don’t ignore it. You’re not crazy (well, not entirely). You’re navigating the rollercoaster of hormones, and trust me, you’re not alone.

Because let’s face it, the real plot twist? It’s realizing that we’re all starring in the same hormone-fueled drama—and we’re still showing up, mascara smudged and all.

And for that, I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a community like Menopalz—a sisterhood where we can laugh, share, and support each other through all the wild, hormonal plot twists life throws our way.

By: Raquel Riggle