Here’s how and why:
1. Hormonal Changes Reduce “Softening” Effects
Estrogen and progesterone — especially progesterone
— have a calming, smoothing, even people-pleasing effect on the brain.
- They support empathy, nurturing, and accommodation
- They help keep us more focused on connection, soothing others, and keeping peace
- Estrogen fluctuates and drops
- Progesterone declines dramatically
As a result, many women begin to feel:
- “I’ve had enough.”
- “I can’t lie anymore.”
- “I don’t want to pretend I’m okay with this.”
2. The Brain Rewires in Midlife
Research shows that during midlife, the brain begins to prune some pathways and strengthen others — especially those related to meaning, values, and identity.
Women often begin asking:
- “What’s actually important to me now?”
- “How much of my life have I spent silencing myself?”
- “What would happen if I said what I really think?
3. The Accumulated Wisdom Factor
By 45–55, many women have:
- Raised kids, supported family, worked, compromised
- Been the “peacekeeper” or caretaker for decades
- Watched others ignore boundaries, take advantage, or avoid hard truths
“I don’t want to live quietly anymore.”
This “Truth Urge” Can Sound Like:
- “I don’t need to please everyone anymore.”
- “That’s not working for me.”
- “This dynamic is unfair, and I’m done pretending it’s okay.”
- “I’m tired of being quiet about what matters.”
Sometimes it bursts out in frustration — especially if it’s been suppressed for years.
Final Thought
So yes — the urge to speak truth is absolutely connected to hormonal changes, but also to your evolution as a whole person.
This isn’t just a chemical shift. It’s a rite of passage — the emergence of your clearest, strongest self.