For many women, perimenopause brings more than just hot flushes. The impact on their cognition and mood is so extreme it feels like the chair has been pulled out from under them. Strategies that once held everything together stop working. Anxiety spikes, brain fog sets in, and confidence takes a hit.

In this episode, Dr Rachael Sumner discusses why hormonal changes can hit ADHD brains harder - not just in perimenopause, but throughout their lives. And we look at why so many women are only discovering their ADHD in mid-life.

Research is still catching up, but this episode helps shed some light on a hidden struggle affecting thousands of women, and offers validation, understanding, and a way forward.

In this episode:

Why ADHD symptoms often worsen during perimenopause
The role of estrogen in supporting dopamine and serotonin
The link between ADHD and PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)Why neurodivergent women may be more sensitive to hormonal shifts across the lifespan.
Why so many women are diagnosed with ADHD in their 40s and 50s
The collapse of coping strategies and ‘unmasking’
Separating ADHD symptoms from hormonal changes
The mental health impact: including anxiety, burnout and emotional dysregulation
Why research into women’s health is still lagging behind
The power of connection, validation and being understood

Guests

Dr Rachael Sumner, Senior Research Fellow, University of Auckland
Dr Jacqui Johnson, ADHD Coach Partnering with ADHD
Fiona Winfield, ADHD Coach Fiona Winfield
And a special thanks to the women from the workshop - When ADHD meets Menopause. For more information on upcoming workshops go to A Hot Mess

No Such Thing as Normal is made with the support of NZ On Air

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32. ADHD and Perimenopause: The Perfect Storm