I Wasn't Losing My Mind. I Was Losing My Nouns.

Many women experience brain fog during perimenopause, including those frustrating moments when everyday words seem to disappear. This is one of Maggie’s Lost Pages

It was a regular weekday evening in the Sullivan household.
It started with the potato peeler. Not because I wanted to peel potatoes. Let's not get ridiculous.
I simply needed the... the...The silver thing.
"Can you pass me the silver thing?" I asked Dan.
He looked into the cutlery drawer.
"The spoon?"
"No. The thing that we use for potatoes."
Dan frowned. "The masher?"
Apparently, we'd entered Round Three of Guess the Kitchen Utensil.
"No."
We stood in silence for a good thirty seconds, staring into a drawer full of kitchen utensils that had suddenly become suspects in a police lineup.
"The... potato peeler!" I yelled.
"That's the one," Dan said, handing it over as though we'd just completed an Olympic relay.
I'd known that word for nearly fifty years.
Apparently, my brain had quietly unsubscribed from it overnight.
It wasn't just the potato peeler.
That was only this week's disappearing act.
Last week there was the supermarket incident.
I walked in for milk.
Walked out with candles, laundry detergent, three avocados and a plant.
No milk.
The plant, however, is thriving.
When people talk about menopause and perimenopause its always about hot flushes.
Nobody tells you that one day you'll stand in your own kitchen negotiating with a potato peeler because the words have packed their bags and gone on annual leave.
Brain fog isn't dramatic.
It's a thousand tiny betrayals.
It's opening the fridge and forgetting why.
Walking upstairs with purpose, only to arrive wondering who authorised the trip.
Calling your daughter by the dog's name.
Then apologising to the dog.
If this has happened to you, let me save you a little worry.
You're probably not losing your mind.
You're just temporarily leasing it.
Fortunately, the potato peeler and I are speaking again.
Truth Bite
Many women experience brain fog during perimenopause. It can show up as forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating or those maddening moments when familiar words disappear. Hormonal changes, particularly fluctuating oestrogen levels, can affect attention and memory, and poor sleep often makes it even more noticeable.
While brain fog is common, it is worth speaking with a healthcare professional if symptoms are sudden, severe or causing significant concern.
You’re not alone.
If Maggie feels strangely familiar, you’ll probably enjoy Perimenopause Bites, where she discovers she isn’t the only woman wondering why her vocabulary has started freelancing.