Hey Rebel,
Today’s email marks the start of my Spooky to Sparkly series. This is a seasonal journey from frazzled and foggy to grounded and glowing. Because your hormones deserve a little holiday magic too. Let's kickoff October with this week's theme: Haunted Hormones!
It’s spooky season! Pumpkins on porches, candy bowls overflowing, and that buzz of excitement that always seems to come with October.
But if you’ve been feeling more haunted than happy lately - tired, moody, craving sugar, or just off, you’re not alone.
Because sometimes what’s haunting us isn’t Halloween… it’s our hormones. 👻
A few years ago, I was working a high-pressure job where I existed on little sleep, constant stress, and unrealistic goals set for me and my team by someone else. I’d skip meals because I was too busy to eat, then crash hard at night. My clothes were soaked with sweat by midday, and some days I felt like crying, screaming, and going numb at my desk, all at once.
These photos are about 1 year apart when my cortisol levels changed (you can see I am bloated, tired, my skin is not bright and healthy, my hair was losing it's vibrancy, and that isn't even a genuine smile in the second photo).
I knew I was in perimenopause, but I didn’t realize what was really running the show: cortisol, my stress hormone.
Not estrogen. Not progesterone.
Cortisol had completely taken over and my body was waving every red flag it could to get my attention.
That’s when I learned the truth:
Sometimes the things haunting us aren’t ghosts but they’re our hormones trying to say, “Hey, I need help.”
When stress piles up, when sleep gets cut short, or when we’re running on caffeine and willpower, our hormones start acting like little tricksters in the dark.
They’re unseen but totally messing with us behind the scenes.
That’s what I call Haunted Hormones. When your cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone go off balance and start whispering for your attention.
What’s Really Happening Behind the Scenes
Here’s the spooky science made simple:
- Cortisol is your stress hormone which is meant to protect you, but when it stays high, it steals resources from your other hormones.
- Progesterone is your calming hormone and the one that helps you sleep and keeps you grounded. Chronic stress can drain it, leaving you anxious or emotional.
- Estrogen is your energy and confidence hormone but without enough progesterone to balance it, estrogen can spike or dip unpredictably, causing mood swings, bloating, or fatigue.
When these three get out of sync, your body feels haunted just like something else is pulling the strings.
But the good news? You have the power to turn on the light.
Haunted Hormones Quick Fixes
Try one (or more) of these this week:
- Protein before caffeine ☕
Keeps cortisol calm and prevents that mid-morning crash.
Think: eggs + fruit, or yogurt with pumpkin seeds.
- Midday sunshine + short walk 🌞
Just 10–15 minutes outdoors lowers cortisol and supports progesterone.
- Evening witching hour ritual 🌙
Trade doom scrolling for 5 minutes of stretching or deep breathing. This activity tells your body it’s safe to power down.
Small shifts like these build the foundation for steadier energy, calmer moods, and more hormonal harmony.
Over the next few weeks, we’re going from spooky to sparkly.
Each Tuesday, I’ll share a story, a few tips, and a hormone-focused spotlight to help you feel balanced even through the chaos of the holidays.
Each Thursday, I’ll send you a supportive recipe to help stabilize your hormones this holiday season. This Thursday will feature our first recipe: my Fall Harvest Energy Bites. The email will feature the recipe and a video demonstration! The bites are yummy, quick, and perfect for keeping your energy (and your hormones) in check.
Do your hormones ever feel like they’re haunting you?
Hit reply and tell me what symptom sneaks up on you the most (fatigue, cravings, irritability, or something else?). I seriously read every message. 💌
And if you have a friend who’s been feeling a little off, forward this to them and they can join our Spooky to Sparkly journey here (subscribe button at the bottom of the email).
Here’s to shining the light on what’s been haunting you… and bringing back your sparkle!
Next Tuesday, we dive into a new topic: When Stress Creeps In. We touched lightly on cortisol this week, but next week, we are diving in on why that is THE top hormone I start with addressing when working with my private clients!
Stay Loud. Raise Hell! - Even Through the Holidays!
Tracey
That Hormone Girl
P.S. My membership, Unregulated, is open and founders pricing is just $37/month right now. There are only so many spots before that price (which will never be offered this low again) disappears. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to jump in, this is it. Link is in the black bar at the top of the email!
