Something all of a sudden I’m seeing loads of…. ADHD symptoms and perimenopause collide!
Perhaps you've always been a little forgetful, easily distracted, anxious or someone who has a hundred tabs open in your brain at once. But lately, things seem to have gone up a notch!
You're struggling to find words, feeling overwhelmed by simple tasks, becoming more irritable and finding it harder to focus.
There's a hormonal connection here worth understanding.
Oestrogen plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and noradrenaline, which are involved in attention, motivation, working memory and emotional regulation.
During perimenopause, oestrogen doesn't simply decline. It fluctuates, sometimes quite dramatically.
These fluctuations can affect neurotransmitter signalling, potentially making existing ADHD symptoms more noticeable.
But there's more going on than just oestrogen.
Progesterone changes: As ovulation becomes less consistent, progesterone production can decline, potentially contributing to poorer sleep and changes in mood.
Sleep disruption: Night waking and poor-quality sleep can significantly worsen concentration, memory and emotional regulation.
Stress sensitivity: When you're already struggling with executive function, everyday demands can feel increasingly overwhelming.
Brain fog and fatigue: Hormonal changes, poor sleep and other contributing factors can make it harder to think clearly and stay organised.
And here's something interesting...
Some women reach their 40s without ever having been diagnosed with ADHD. They've spent years developing coping strategies, staying organised through sheer effort and pushing through their difficulties.
Then perimenopause arrives, and suddenly those strategies don't seem to work anymore.
It's not necessarily that your ADHD has suddenly become more severe. Hormonal changes, sleep disruption and increased cognitive demands may be making symptoms harder to manage.
The good news? There’s so much we can do to support this time.
Looking at things like sleep, nutrition, iron status, thyroid health, stress regulation and hormonal changes can help identify factors contributing to your symptoms.
ADHD medication, supporting neurotransmitter production and appropriate perimenopause treatments may all be important parts of the picture.
Whether it’s undiagnosed ADHD or perimenopausal brain changes or both!, you don't have to simply accept that your brain no longer works the way it used to.
Understanding what's changing is the first step towards finding the right support.
Natasha Gedrim (BHSc Naturopathy)
NRG Naturopathy – Thyroid and Hormone Health
