Perimenopause is the first chapter of the hormonal transition leading toward menopause a tender, often hidden "in-between" place. For many Black women, it’s unfamiliar terrain, navigated mostly in silence. It can begin years before our periods officially stop, usually early to mid-40s, as your body quietly starts recalibrating itself. Yet the unspoken pressure to stay strong and "push through" can make it hard to even name these changes, much less honor them. Acknowledging that you’re entering a new hormonal season is a radical act of self-care and the first step toward restoring emotional balance as we head into midlife.