From puberty to menopause, discover the shocking truth about how hormones affect ADHD in women.

Learn why 94% of women experience stronger symptoms during menopause and why your ADHD medication might stop working at certain times of the month.

Essential viewing for every woman navigating the complex dance between hormones and neurodivergence

Welcome back to another episode of Femme on Fire.

2

Today I want to talk to you about

understanding ADHD and hormones in women.

3

So why don't you grab your favorite

drink and get comfy and let's chat about

4

something that affects so many of us.

5

So, let's start with the big picture.

6

You know how sometimes your brain feels

like it's in a fog, and sometimes,

7

other times, it's just super focused.

8

Well, for women with ADHD, this

journey is like a rollercoaster.

9

And it's because of our hormones.

10

Hormones are basically

our essence of being.

11

We need them to make everything in our

bodies and in our minds work properly.

12

But at the same time, they are our curse.

13

And let me break this down

in a way that makes sense.

14

So, let's first start

talking about puberty.

15

This is our first stop

on our hormone journey.

16

It's puberty, and this is when

a lot of girls first, really

17

notice their ADHD symptoms.

18

During this time, about 70 percent

of girls experience more sadness and

19

anxiety than they have ever done before.

20

And it's like our brain is going

through a major update, but

21

nobody gave you the user manual.

22

And where boys are always bouncing

around, even when they are small, girl

23

symptoms have been more subtle until now.

24

Now girls start showing signs in

school which are often misinterpreted

25

as daydreaming, or lack of

motivation, or just being lazy.

26

And nowadays, neurodivergence has more

attention and schools might pay more

27

attention to the needs of the girls.

28

But if not, then depression and extreme

behavior might lure around the corner.

29

So as a parent, you really need to,

um, look at that and understand.

30

So during puberty, we also start the

monthly dance, which is fantastic.

31

Not.

32

And here's something super interesting.

33

Every month, our hormones do this

beautiful but complicated dance.

34

Yeah.

35

In the first two weeks of our cycle,

many women actually feel pretty great.

36

And that's because estrogen, which

is our friend here, is really rising.

37

But then, in weeks three and four,

things become a little bit tricky.

38

Some women find that their ADHD

medication might not work as well.

39

And they might feel more

scattered and emotional.

40

So do be very careful when you

think that your medication doesn't

41

work, or it should be upped.

42

And check where you are in your

cycle before you change anything.

43

And then we have the

next hormonal hurricane.

44

It's the pregnancy adventure.

45

Wow, what a ride this is.

46

I've done it four times, so I know.

47

Now let me share something

really important about pregnancy

48

risk when you have ADHD.

49

And I want you to know what to look

out for because knowledge is power.

50

So during pregnancy, many women

with ADHD notice that their symptoms

51

are becoming more challenging.

52

About 36 percent of women say

that ADHD makes it worse, and 20

53

percent actually feel much better.

54

So, 44 percent doesn't notice

anything at all, which is great.

55

Everyone's experience in this

is different, so do be aware.

56

If you are in the 36 percent

that notices negative changes,

57

here's what you might notice.

58

It might be harder for you to keep track

of your appointment, to remember to

59

take your vitamins and to stay organized

with all those pregnancy related tasks.

60

So some women also struggle with focusing

and time management, but what's really

61

important is that research has shown

that during pregnancy, women with A DHD

62

might face some additional challenges.

63

They often experience, for

instance, higher stress levels

64

and more symptoms of depression.

65

They might have less social support

from friends and family, or at

66

least experience it like that.

67

And it might be more difficult maintaining

healthy eating habits and keeping

68

up with prenatal care appointments.

69

Medical research has also ADHD

have slightly higher chances of

70

having some medical problems.

71

I don't want you to worry

too much about this.

72

The good news is that understanding these

risks helps doctors provide better care.

73

So when your healthcare team

knows about your ADHD, they can

74

give you the extra support and

monitoring during your pregnancy.

75

And they can help you develop

strategies to stay on track with

76

your prenatal care and make sure that

both you and the baby stay healthy.

77

And remember, every pregnancy is unique.

78

And many women with ADHD have perfectly

healthy pregnancies and babies.

79

The key is being aware, and

getting the right support, and

80

taking good care of yourself.

81

So the next hurdle we have as

women, of course, is the menopause.

82

And here is where things

get really interesting.

83

Because during menopause, 94

percent of women say that their

84

ADHD symptoms are getting stronger.

85

Which explains also why more adult

women get diagnosed later in life.

86

I mean, 94%, that's huge.

87

It's like your brain is going

through another puberty, but this

88

time with more life experience

and probably much more coffee.

89

And for more than half of these

women, their 40s and 50s become

90

the time when ADHD has the

greatest impact on their lives.

91

So let me explain what's really happening.

92

In a super simple way, you have to think

of estrogen as your brain's little helper.

93

It makes important brain chemicals like

dopamine, which is your focus friend,

94

and serotonin, which makes you happy.

95

So during perimenopause, which typically

starts around the age of 45, your estrogen

96

levels start doing this wild dance.

97

They go up, they go

down, they go all around.

98

And then in menopause.

99

Those levels drop significantly,

which can make your ADHD symptoms

100

feel like they're on overdrive.

101

Many women tell me that they

feel like they're losing

102

their mind during this time.

103

They are experiencing brain fog, memory

issues, and feel completely overwhelmed.

104

And some, like me, even worry that

they're developing early dementia.

105

But let me reassure you, this is a normal

part of the hormone ADHD connection.

106

You're not getting dementia at this stage.

107

And what's really interesting is that some

women don't even realize they have ADHD

108

until they hit perimenopause, when these

symptoms becomes too obvious to ignore.

109

There is some good news as well.

110

Understanding all this helps us

take better care of ourselves.

111

It's like having a weather

forecast on your brain.

112

When you know what's coming,

you can better prepare.

113

So you are not alone in this journey and

there are ways to manage these changes.

114

Some women find success with adjusting

their ADHD medication, while others

115

benefit from hormone replacement

therapy, or even a combination of both.

116

The key is working with health

care providers who understand

117

both ADHD and hormones.

118

Because trust me, this combination

needs special attention.

119

And remember, this is a

natural transition, of course.

120

But it doesn't mean that you have to

white knuckle your way through it.

121

Understanding what's happening

in your body is the first step to

122

taking control of the symptoms and

finding strategies that work for you.

123

I also want to share some practical stuff

that might help with raging hormones.

124

First of all, keep track of your

symptoms throughout the month.

125

You have to understand what's

happening in your body.

126

Secondly, talk to your doctor

about adjusting medication

127

during different hormonal phases.

128

So, pregnancy, puberty, uh, menopause.

129

Be kind to yourself during

these big hormonal changes.

130

Know that it's not you, it's your

hormones that are going berserk.

131

And you should create a support

system for those tough days.

132

Remember, everyone's experience is

different, and that's totally okay.

133

What matters is understanding your own

pattern and finding what works for you.

134

Before we end today's episode, I

want you to know that if you are

135

struggling with these changes,

You are definitely not alone.

136

Millions of women are on the

same journey, and together we're

137

learning more every single day.

138

And that's all for today's episode.

139

If you found this helpful, don't forget

to like, subscribe, and share with

140

someone who might need to hear this.

141

I will see you next time.

142

Take care.