When Your Hormones Hijack You: My Story of Period Anxiety, Panic & Power

Let me tell you about Day 1 and 2 of my period.

For years, those two days have felt like being trapped inside my own body while my mind spins out of control.

The anxiety isn’t just mental—it’s physical. My heart races like I’ve run a marathon. My chest tightens to the point where I’ve convinced myself more than once that I’m having a heart attack. My thoughts loop on repeat at high speed, and no amount of "deep breaths" or "just calm downs" do a damn thing.

I’ve landed in the ER more than once because of it. Sitting under those fluorescent lights, hooked up to machines, convinced I was dying. And every time, after countless tests:"It’s anxiety. You need to calm down."

They try to hand me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds, pat me on the shoulder, and send me home. Unseen. Unheard. Feeling broken beyond repair and crazy.

Because here’s the part they don’t seem to fully understand:I know anxiety. I can feel the difference, this is hormonal. This is my body doing something I can’t control — shifting, changing, rewriting the rules without asking my permission.

When your hormones start to shift — perimenopause, menopause, all of it — your old tricks stop working. The things that used to soothe you don’t touch the edges anymore. Suddenly, you’re hot, sweaty, uncomfortable, and completely disconnected from the person you thought you were. Your body changes. Your mind races. You feel gross, unattractive, and exhausted. And it’s easy to start believing you’re just losing it.

But this month? Something shifted.

Day 1 hit like it always does. The racing heart. The spiraling thoughts. The sweating. The dread. But instead of running to fix it, I sat with it. Uncomfortable as hell, but fully aware:

This is hormonal. I am not crazy. I am not broken.

I finally understood that my body was screaming not because I was weak, but because it was shifting into a new chapter. And I am learning to meet it with compassion instead of panic.

I’ve spent years feeling unseen by doctors, misunderstood by people who don’t get it, and frustrated by a body that no longer operates by the old rules. But I’m also gaining something I never expected in the middle of this hormonal chaos:

👉 My voice.👉 My power.👉 My refusal to shrink or apologize.

I will not be silenced. I will not let anyone dull my shine or mess with my fire.

If you’re in this messy middle with me, know this:You’re not alone. You’re not crazy. And you’re not broken. Your body is changing, yes—but you are becoming even more powerful.

Here's a FREE resource about the effects of Stress on the Body. If this doesn't make you go out and do something about your daily stress levels I don't know what will.

Which of any of these surprise you the most? Hit me up in the comments and let me know!

👉 If this hit home for you, I’ve created free resources to help you navigate this wild ride. Grab them now at ashleystehlik.com and be sure to join my email list for more raw conversations, real tools, and unapologetic midlife magic.