Midlife can feel like puberty all over again! Only this time it’s hot flashes instead of pimples, brain fog instead of braces, and anti-aging cream instead of acne gel. Between the mood swings, sleepless nights, and freezer-ready bean bags, it’s easy to wonder if you’re losing it. You’re not. This blog dives into the messy, hilarious reality of “second puberty” and offers real tools – from journaling to local menopause support groups – to help you ride the wave with compassion (and maybe a fan on full blast).
Remember puberty? The awkward, confusing, sweaty mess of it all? Mood swings that could make your family want to hide? Crying one minute, laughing the next, and snapping at your mom for… well, breathing too loud?
Well, guess what: midlife sometimes feels like we’re right back there. Only this time we’ve got jobs, kids, aging parents, bills, and hot flashes to juggle on top of it. Nobody warned us that our 40s and 50s could feel like round two of puberty, only with less acne cream and more brain fog.
My “Second Puberty” Reality
Since surgery means no HRT for me, I’m playing the whole “let’s-try-everything” game: gummies (vitamin C? PMS relief? Who even knows), magnesium, promensil, sage tea (thanks, sage—but you’re not my fave!), and the full freezer accessory lineup for my nighttime survival kit.
The other night, I had a cooling pad on my pillow, a bean bag from the freezer balanced on my forehead, a fan blasting full force, and the window cracked. My husband walked in, took one look, and without a word… backed right out of the room. Honestly, that man deserves a medal for knowing when to quietly retreat.
That was my “yep, second puberty is here” moment. The chaos, the hot flashes, the emotional rollercoaster, but instead of hiding in my teenage bedroom, I needed grown-woman tools to cope.
How Do You Survive Second Puberty?
1. Name It to Tame It
When a wave of irritation or sadness hits, call it what it is: hormones, stress, a midlife storm. Instead of “what’s wrong with me?” try “oh, right, this is that second puberty thing.”
2. Journaling (My Lifeline)
I know, shocker, I’m going to say journaling, but hear me out. Writing it down is like untangling a giant knot in your chest. You don’t even need a whole hour. Three minutes of dumping your thoughts on paper can help you stop spiraling.
Prompt to try: “What’s one thing I need right now that I’m not giving myself?”
3. Laugh at the Chaos
Puberty was awkward and funny in hindsight, right? This stage can be too, if we let it. When my brain fog is so bad that I lose my car keys only to find them in the fridge, I try to laugh instead of cry (sometimes both). Humour makes it bearable.
4. Support Crew on Speed Dial
Whether it’s a best friend, a sister, or a group chat where everyone admits they’re going through the same nonsense. Don’t try to do this alone. Midlife can feel isolating, but you’re not the only one crying in the kitchen with a frozen bean bag and drinking sage tea!
5. Find a Support Group (and Yes, Halifax Has Them!)
Here’s the good news: we don’t have to figure this out solo anymore. I know not all my readers are in Halifax. That said, Halifax has started stepping up for women in menopause. There are support groups like Managing Menopause on Cunard Street, community gatherings like the Menopause Café at the Captain William Spry Public Library, and even a big event this fall. The Atlantic Menopause Show, October 17, 2025, at the Halifax Convention Centre.
It’s literally a whole conference dedicated to menopause education, community, and support. Ten years ago? This didn’t exist. Now? We’ve got an entire convention centre full of women (and the smart partners who show up with them) talking openly about second puberty.
If you’re not in Halifax, Google local supports in your area. More and more women are getting into the medical profession and that has done a lot to shed more light on menopause. We need to start talking more about this topic and get loud and proud!
Final Thought
Second puberty is real, and it can feel just as disorienting as the first one. Except this time, we get to meet it with wisdom, compassion, and a freezer full of bean bags. For me, journaling has been the anchor that helps me sort through the chaos, cool the hot flashes (at least emotionally), and remind myself I’m not broken.
Midlife isn’t the end! It’s just another messy, hilarious, and strangely beautiful beginning.
Journal Prompt for You:
“If I treated myself like a teenager going through big changes, what patience and kindness would I offer?”
