Hacking Your ADHD – Episode Summary

Episode: Hormones, Health, and the ADHD Brain with Dr. Anupriya Gogne

Host: William Curb
Guest: Dr. Anupriya Gogne, Psychiatrist at Brown University Health
Release Date: March 16, 2026

Overview

This episode dives deep into the complex interplay between hormonal changes, health, and ADHD—especially as it affects women during key life transitions such as pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause. Dr. Anupriya Gogne, a specialist in perinatal psychiatry and neurodevelopmental disorders, shares practical insights into how hormonal fluctuations can create a “perfect storm” for ADHD symptoms, challenges surrounding diagnosis (particularly in women), misconceptions about treatment during pregnancy, and strategies for leveraging strengths rather than being weighed down by internalized self-criticism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Overlooked Impact of Hormones on ADHD

[03:44–09:34]

• Hormonal fluctuations: Pregnancy, perimenopause, and the menstrual cycle all provoke hormonal shifts that can amplify ADHD symptoms.
• Self-blame and misattribution: Many with ADHD, especially women, may attribute challenges to personal failings ("I’m just lazy") instead of recognizing the genuine effects of hormonal and brain chemistry changes.
• Emotional regulation: ADHD isn’t just about executive dysfunction; there are sensory, impulsive, and emotional regulation components, often presenting differently in men (external) vs. women (internalization).
• The “perfect storm”: Postpartum is especially challenging due to steep hormonal drops, profound sleep deprivation, environmental changes, and increased cognitive and emotional demands.

Dr. Gogne: “ADHD in pregnancy and the postpartum time is like the perfect storm for someone with untreated ADHD... Even if everything goes okay, it's a state of physiological stress for the body.”
[05:52]

Sleep Deprivation & Memory Issues

[09:34–12:16]

• Memory concerns: Many mothers fear cognitive decline (e.g., “I think I have dementia”), but this is a failure of working memory, often due to poor sleep and hormonal dips.
• Executive compensation: Pre-existing coping systems (like keeping keys in a set place) are disrupted by the demands of parenthood, causing ADHD symptoms to become newly unmanageable.

Dr. Gogne: “If you’re not getting those deep stages of sleep, then over time you’re going to lose those memories... That’s not actually dementia, that’s basically working memory.”
[09:49]

Medication Safety and Misconceptions During Pregnancy

[12:16–16:04]

• Stopping medications: Many women are abruptly advised to stop ADHD meds during pregnancy/breastfeeding due to outdated or incomplete knowledge among clinicians.
• Current data: Most ADHD meds are not absolutely contraindicated—well-informed perinatal psychiatrists can help optimize treatment safely.
• Risks of untreated ADHD/depression: Unmedicated symptoms (depression, stress) may pose greater risks to pregnancy and child development than most medications.

Dr. Gogne: “The truth is that there’s very few medications that are absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. There are a lot of medications we can use, but common primary care doctors...don’t always know that.”
[12:29]

Gender Differences and Societal Expectations

[16:04–18:14]

• Gender norms: Societal roles often place the burden of complex organizational tasks on women/mothers.
• Rumination & internalization: Women more often internalize failures and experience negative self-talk compared to men, who tend toward externalizing distress.

Dr. Gogne: “If my husband doesn’t clean or doesn’t know how to clean, he doesn’t feel like a bad father. But if I don’t know how to clean my kid’s room, I feel like I’m a bad mother.”
[16:44]

Emotional Impulsivity, Sensory Overload, and Guilt

[17:45–20:40]

• Impulsive emotions: ADHD-related impulsivity includes emotional reactions (e.g., anger “at the drop of a hat”), not just physical impulsivity.
• Sensory overload: Sleep deprivation worsens frustration tolerance and reactivity, often leading to guilt and self-criticism (especially around parenting).

Dr. Gogne: “Her system is just set to explode. But then she also feels so guilty afterwards.”
[20:28]

The Masking Problem & Perfectionism

[21:31–24:23]

• Perfectionism as a mask: Many women develop perfectionistic coping to compensate (and conceal their struggles), but this can backfire into anxiety and low self-esteem.
• Negative self-talk loops: Years of internalizing minor failures or struggles build deep-seated negative beliefs.

Dr. Gogne: “Women have a tendency to internalize...ADHD usually tells me, ‘my thoughts are like a loop...negative self talk on a loop,’ which has developed not in one day, but throughout life because they were untreated.”
[22:40]

The Diagnostic Gap—Especially for Women and Girls

[24:23–27:03]

• Missed/invisible symptoms: Girls and women are less likely to be diagnosed due to inattentive, less disruptive symptoms and persistent cultural stereotypes about ADHD.
• Mismatch with expectations: Performing well in one area (e.g., video games, a favored subject) but failing elsewhere leads to misunderstanding from self and others.

Dr. Gogne: “It was often put on the child that, oh, you know, you're just making excuses...even doctors didn’t think they might be missing something.”
[25:57]

Differentiated Strengths & Support Strategies

[27:03–31:35]

• Highly variable abilities: Discrepancy between strengths and weaknesses (e.g., excelling in one subject, struggling with another) is typical in ADHD and a clue for diagnosis.
• Focus on strengths: Treatment goes beyond meds—understanding your cognitive profile, optimizing environments, seeking help (e.g., hiring out disliked tasks), and dropping guilt are key steps.

Dr. Gogne: “The goal of treatment is to identify the strengths and really hone in on them...just focused on your strengths.”
[30:55]

Comparison and Social Media

[31:35–33:37]

• Highlight reel problem: Comparing your own “internal chaos” to others’ curated images or social performance increases shame and isolation.
• Diversity of success: Each person’s strengths and paths are unique—what matters is leveraging what works for you.

Podcast Host: “I’m comparing myself to someone else’s...what they’re curated, showing me what their life is like.”
[31:38]

ADHD as a Family Pattern

[33:41–37:24]

• Moms as “observers” and advocates: Women often recognize ADHD first in their children or spouses—sometimes only realizing their own diagnosis as a result.
• Intergenerational understanding: ADHD is highly heritable—awareness often spreads across generations once the pattern is recognized.
• Environmental factors: Structure, routines, and support systems in families or schools can help buffer ADHD symptoms.

Dr. Gogne: “I have a mom who is now diagnosed both with ADHD and autism. Her diagnosis came about because she took her son for the testing and was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t do this too. Like, oh my God, oh, so this is what this is.’”
[36:34]

Reframing and Pathways to Thriving

[39:07–43:02]

• ADHD ≠ Deficit: Neurodivergence is difference, not deficit; it becomes “a disorder” insofar as it disrupts life satisfaction, functioning, and relationships.
• Superpowers, not just struggles: With understanding, support (not just medication!), and strategy, neurodivergent brains can flourish—channeling their unique strengths.
• Diagnostic process as empowerment: Knowing your brain’s patterns (e.g., auditory vs. visual processing) enables concrete adaptations in work, relationships, and everyday life.

Dr. Gogne: “At the beginning of treatment, we are at a point...if I say to someone, ‘Hey, you have these superpowers, like, you are really good at xyz,’ you know, they don’t believe me…but once we are able to help them...they can excel in that field a lot.”
[40:23]

Final Takeaways and Encouragement

[43:09–44:43]

• More tools, therapies, and supports than ever are available, including AI-based organization aids.
• Evaluation is always worth pursuing if you recognize a pattern in yourself or a loved one—it’s not a reflection of intellect or effort.
• Don’t be held back by stigma or self-doubt: with the right help, you can find ways to succeed on your own terms.

Dr. Gogne: “They are definitely none of those things. ADHD by itself is not a problem of intellect...Stop comparing yourself to people and see what you’re good at and whatever is getting in the way. There is help for that now.”
[43:34]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "ADHD is a state of dopamine dysregulation...that already exists in the ADHD brain...it gets even more dysregulated when the hormones are a factor."
  — Dr. Gogne [05:47]
• "So it's internal chaos with hormones and sleep, and external chaos with everything changing."
  — Dr. Gogne [10:42]
• "Perfectionistic cognitive distortion, which we know that women with ADHD more often suffer from that—the perfectionism."
  — Dr. Gogne [22:11]
• "We don’t realize that our social systems or academic systems are not ideal for an ADHD brain—not because something is wrong with it, but because it is different and needs different conditions to work."
  — Dr. Gogne [24:03]
• "Part of treatment...is to create an environment in which your brain can function the best... identify the strengths and really hone in on them."
  — Dr. Gogne [29:29]
• "With time, things have changed...There are things that can be done to help them."
  — Dr. Gogne [43:12]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Hormones and ADHD in Women: 03:44 – 09:34
• Sleep, Memory, and New Motherhood: 09:34 – 12:16
• Medication During Pregnancy: 12:16 – 16:04
• Internal vs. External Hyperactivity: 16:04 – 18:14
• ADHD, Emotions & Guilt in Parenting: 17:45 – 20:40
• Perfectionism and Masking: 21:31 – 24:23
• Invisible Symptoms and Diagnosis Gender Gap: 24:23 – 27:03
• Strengths-Based Support Strategies: 27:03 – 31:35
• Comparison and Self-Esteem: 31:35 – 33:37
• ADHD Patterns in Families: 33:41 – 37:24
• Reframing ADHD, Superpowers, and Support: 39:07 – 43:02
• Final Thoughts and Encouragement: 43:09 – 44:43

Conclusion

This episode offers an empowering, compassionate deep dive into ADHD—especially as experienced by women through life’s transitions. Dr. Gogne demystifies the science, spotlights the unique emotional realities faced by mothers, and stresses that with validation and support, it’s possible to transform internal chaos into lived strengths.

Key actionable messages:

• Seek evaluation if you notice longstanding patterns or struggles—many supports are now available.
• Focus on your strengths and stop comparing your internal experience to others’ external displays.
• ADHD is not a character flaw; there are tangible ways to improve both function and fulfillment.