Hormones, Stress and Your Nervous System: The Hidden Link

If you feel more reactive, overwhelmed, or easily tipped into stress since you hit 40, you're most definitely not imagining it.

For many of us, mid-life brings a noticeable shift in how our bodies respond to pressure. Sleep becomes lighter, stress feels louder, and the nervous system seems to sit closer to the edge. What is often missing from the conversation is how closely this is linked to hormonal change.

The nervous system and hormones are deeply connected

Your nervous system controls how your body responds to stress. It decides when to switch on, when to slow down, and how quickly you recover after something demanding.

Hormones play a key role in this regulation.

Oestrogen and progesterone influence how calm or reactive the nervous system feels. Progesterone in particular has a naturally calming effect. As hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, that steady influence becomes less predictable.

The result is not a failure to cope, rather a nervous system that's receiving mixed signals.

Why stress feels different in mid-life

In perimenopause, many women notice that things which once felt manageable now feel heavier. Small stressors can trigger a strong response. Sleep disruption becomes more common, especially waking during the night with a racing mind.

This happens because the nervous system is more easily pushed into an alert state. Hormonal fluctuations reduce the buffer that once helped keep stress responses in check.

Over time, this can affect mood, sleep quality, focus, muscle tension and overall resilience.

The role of magnesium in nervous system regulation

Magnesium plays an important role in normal nervous system function. It is involved in how the body responds to stress and how it transitions between states of activity and rest.

During perimenopause, demand for magnesium can increase. Stress uses more magnesium, sleep disruption uses more magnesium, and hormonal changes can affect how efficiently it is utilised.

Many women continue with the same intake they had in earlier years, not realising their needs may have shifted.

Supporting magnesium intake can help maintain normal nervous system function and support more settled sleep patterns. Consistency matters more than high doses.

Why form matters

Not all magnesium is the same.

Magnesium glycinate is widely chosen because it is gentle on the gut and well tolerated, particularly when the nervous system is more sensitive. This makes it suitable for regular use as part of everyday routines.

Choosing a form that the body tolerates well makes it easier to stay consistent, which is key when supporting the nervous system through ongoing hormonal change.

It's for these reasons, our clinical nutritionist insisted on this form for all the SheBANG! superlattes.

Practical support for a changing nervous system

Supporting your nervous system in perimenopause is not about fixing hormones or forcing calm. It is about giving your body the conditions it needs to feel more regulated.

That includes adequate rest, predictable routines, and nutrients that play a role in nervous system function.

Our superlattes were created with this exact stage of life in mind. Each blend contains magnesium glycinate, combined with thoughtfully selected ingredients, in a format that fits easily into daily life.

They are a simple, nourishing way to support your nervous system everyday as your hormones change.

The takeaway

If stress feels louder, sleep feels lighter, and your nervous system feels less forgiving than it once did, there is a reason.

Hormonal shifts change how your body responds to stress. Supporting the nervous system becomes essential, not optional.

Understanding the link between hormones, stress and the nervous system is the first step. Supporting it consistently is what helps many of us feel steadier through mid-life.

Explore SheBANG!'s Perimenopause Superlattes here.