You wake up at 3 a.m. drenched in sweat, heart pounding, convinced the bedroom is on fire—only to realize the fire is coming from inside your own skin. A few hours later you’re standing in the grocery aisle staring at your list, completely blanking on why you’re even there, while your favorite jeans suddenly feel like they’ve shrunk in the wash overnight. You’re exhausted, moody, and starting to wonder if something is seriously wrong—but everyone keeps telling you “it’s just stress” or “you’re too young for that.”

Here’s the truth most women never hear until it’s screaming in their face: perimenopause (the messy transition into menopause) can start as early as your mid-30s or early 40s, and the average woman spends 7–10 years in it before her final period. That means millions of us are walking around confused, frustrated, and dismissing very real symptoms.

Ready for the nine signs that quietly announce menopause is already here—even if you still feel way too young?