I'm 43, perimenopausal, and I spent months feeling wired, exhausted, and unable to sleep past 3am — without knowing cortisol was the culprit. In this article I share the 4-week protocol I actually used to lower cortisol naturally during perimenopause — without ashwagandha. From the eating window shift that changed my sleep in week one, to the supplements backed by real clinical research, this is the honest, experience-led guide I wish I'd found first.