The Dangerous Age

The time in a womans life when the estrogen is lowering and her fucks are too

Estrogen Down, Boundaries Up: How My Hormones Helped Me Stop Being a Doormat

Once upon a time, in a land filled with PTA meetings, holiday potlucks, and unsolicited advice from people named *Linda*, there lived a woman—me—who said "yes" a little too much.

“Yes, I’ll bake gluten-free cupcakes for 30 kids.”

“Yes, I’d *love* to chair the committee that meets at 6 a.m.”

“Yes, I’ll just silently seethe while you interrupt me for the eighth time, Bob.”

Enter: *perimenopause*, a magical (read: mildly horrifying) transition where estrogen starts to take the scenic route through your body. But here’s the thing no one tells you: when estrogen goes down, your tolerance for B.S. often goes down with it.

Suddenly, I found myself saying things like:

- “No, I’m not available that day. Or ever, actually.”

- “I’m not the right person for that job, but good luck!”

- “I don’t like that tone. Let’s try again with respect.”

Who *was* this bold, boundary-setting woman?

Oh, just me. A certified menopause coach with a dwindling hormone supply and a skyrocketing sense of self-respect. Turns out, estrogen wasn’t just softening my skin—it was softening my spine. And now that it's clocking out early, I’m standing taller, speaking louder, and sitting out of things that don’t serve me.

People sometimes ask, “Is it the hormones talking?” And I say, “Yes. And she’s finally got something to say.”

So here’s to menopause: the era of sweatier nights, louder opinions, and fewer fake smiles. And to all the women in the thick of it—I see you, I coach you, and I salute you.

Because losing estrogen doesn’t mean losing your mind. Sometimes, it means finding your damn voice.

Ready to stop people-pleasing and start power-claiming?

Let’s work together.

Book a free consultation with me https://www.ashleystehlik.com —because your next chapter deserves a loud, proud main character. 👑