Managing a team can be challenging at the best of times. But one manager says her workplace has become particularly chaotic because she and several members of her team are all navigating perimenopause at the same time.
Writing about her experience online, the manager described the situation as a 'living nightmare', with colleagues experiencing very different symptoms, from exhaustion and unpredictable bleeding to mood changes and struggles with body temperature. The headline's 'We're all going crazy!' is shorthand for the chaos she describes, rather than a direct quote from the manager herself.
Every Woman Is Experiencing It Differently
The manager says there is no single way her team experiences perimenopause.
One colleague is described as being 'tired all the time', leaving the manager wondering how she gets through the working day. Another reportedly becomes particularly irritable during a flare-up.
The manager has her own version of the problem. She says she can find herself internally spiralling and wanting to 'retreat where nobody will ever find me'.
She has also noticed a pattern around her menstrual cycle, with unpredictable bleeding making some periods particularly difficult. During those moments, she can begin wondering whether something is wrong with her home life, before recognising that her home is actually peaceful and that hormonal changes may be influencing how she feels.
'I know it's the hormones and to ride it out,' she explained.
One of the clearest examples of the team's informal support system involves a colleague who knows when she is becoming overwhelmed. She reportedly tells her manager: 'I'm going crazy again.'
The pair have developed a simple solution: they go for coffee together, allowing the employee to step away from the situation before returning to work.
These are the manager's personal observations, rather than medical diagnoses. Perimenopause symptoms can vary considerably from person to person. The National Health Service (NHS) lists changes to periods, hot flushes, sleep problems, mood changes, anxiety, memory problems and difficulty concentrating among possible symptoms.
What Exactly Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the stage leading up to menopause, when hormonal changes can cause periods to become irregular and trigger a range of physical and emotional symptoms.
The NHS says menopause usually affects women between 45 and 55, although it can happen earlier. Menopause itself is defined as not having a period for 12 months, when hormonal contraception is not affecting periods.
The symptoms can have a significant impact on everyday life, including work, relationships and family life, although some people experience few symptoms or none at all. That variety is particularly relevant to the manager's story. One employee may be dealing with fatigue, while another experiences mood changes, disrupted sleep or hot flushes.
'Bring a Bloody Sweater!'
Perhaps the most relatable workplace battle described by the manager involves the office thermostat.
She says the women on her team struggle with regulating their body temperature, creating tension when a male colleague enters the office, closes the window and turns the heating up because he is cold.
Her response?
'Bring a bloody sweater!'
Hot flushes and sudden feelings of heat are recognised symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. The NHS recommends measures such as wearing lightweight clothing, keeping rooms cool and finding ways to reduce stress when managing hot flushes.
The thermostat dispute may sound trivial, but temperature and ventilation can become surprisingly important workplace issues for someone experiencing hot flushes.
The Team Is All on HRT
The manager also says she and her colleagues are all using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) while attempting to manage their symptoms.
HRT is an established treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms. The NHS says it can help with symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems, anxiety, low mood and vaginal dryness. The type of HRT used depends on individual circumstances, including whether someone is still having periods.
The manager's experience should not be interpreted as advice that HRT is suitable for everyone. Treatment decisions should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Could Workplaces Do More?
The story also raises a wider question about how employers support workers experiencing menopause symptoms. Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) guidance recommends creating an environment where workers can discuss menopause openly and says employers can consider practical measures around workplace temperature, ventilation, rest areas, flexibility and health and safety.
That is particularly relevant to this team, where small interventions such as taking a coffee break appear to have become an informal way of helping colleagues manage difficult moments. Rather than requiring every employee to cope in the same way, the manager's account illustrates the value of recognising that symptoms and needs can differ from one person to another.
A 'Hormone-Powered Circus'
The manager's post also prompted other Reddit users to share their own experiences and suggestions. These were individual comments, rather than independently verified evidence or medical advice. One commenter jokingly described the situation as a 'hormone-powered circus', while another praised the 'I'm going crazy again' phrase as a useful signal that someone needs a break.
For all the manager's talk of chaos, her account suggests her team has created an environment where colleagues can acknowledge when they are struggling rather than simply carrying on. Small gestures, such as taking a coffee break or stepping away from the office, appear to have become part of their informal support system.
Perimenopause may be making the office unpredictable, but the manager's experience suggests that understanding, flexibility and a little humour can go a surprisingly long way. It may be a 'living nightmare' at times, but at least this particular team appears to be going through it together.
