Like adolescence, perimenopause is full of surprises for you and your body. Suddenly your physical responses are unpredictable, and it can be a little unnerving. Your adolescence was marked by a growth spurt, new ways of thinking, sudden emotional responses, and a body becoming sexual in appearance and sensations. Now hot flashes, sudden emotional responses, and a body changing in its appearance and sexual response mark your menopause. This chapter will familiarize you with common menopausal symptoms, and later chapters will offer ways of dealing with these changes.