Published on · Caroline Senges
Perimenopause: what a somatic approach can offer
Perimenopause, body and emotions: what a somatic approach is, what it can offer alongside medical care, and what it does not replace.
Perimenopause is the transition period before menopause. It can begin several years before periods stop for good, and every woman experiences it differently: some barely notice anything, others feel deeply shaken.
What you may feel
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) lists possible changes such as irregular periods, hot flushes and night sweats, sleep problems and lower sex drive, as well as mood swings, anxiety, irritability and difficulty concentrating.
These signs are not specific to perimenopause: other causes can explain them. That is why the first step is always to talk to your doctor, gynaecologist or midwife, especially if you have unusual bleeding or palpitations.
What is a somatic approach?
"Somatic" comes from the Greek sôma, the body. A somatic approach starts from what you feel physically — tension, breath, warmth, openness, closing down — to better understand what you are going through emotionally.
In the LeReset method, this involves listening to sensations, breathwork, working with the different "parts" of yourself, and paying attention to pleasure, daily rhythm and micronutrition.
What it can offer during perimenopause
Without promising anything, somatic support can offer:
- a space to put words to what is changing, without judgement;
- bodily reference points to notice stress or irritability building up earlier;
- simple practices to repeat at home, such as breathing exercises;
- a kinder look at self-image and desire, which can be shaken during this period;
- time just for yourself.
What it does not replace
A somatic approach does not diagnose, does not replace hormone therapy or any other treatment, and is no substitute for medical care or psychotherapy. It is a complement, and happily works alongside the professionals who support you.
If you are going through a period of great distress, talk to a doctor. In France, if you are having suicidal thoughts, 3114 answers 24/7.
Going further
I am Caroline Senges, state-registered nurse (2008) and somatic therapist. I support women in one-to-one sessions in Bagnols-en-Forêt or online with LeReset somatic, and in group workshops in Fréjus and the Pays de Fayence with LeReset Movement.