ADHD and hormones - The shift

ADHD as a peri-menopausal woman is… a whole different level.

No one prepares you for how much hormones can amplify ADHD.

You think you’ve finally figured out your routines, your systems, your coping strategies and then peri-menopause arrives. Bam! It all changes.

I felt like I was riding a bike with stabilisers and then without any notice, the stabilisers were ripped from me. Without warning. I wondered why I wobbled. Then fell in a ditch.

For many women I coach (and for me too), peri-menopause can make ADHD feel:

More emotional – the swings, the overwhelm, the RSD spikes - the big feelings can feel a lot
More forgetful – words disappear mid-sentence, names vanish, appointments slip - not fun
More tired – bone-deep fatigue, my limbs felt so heavy it was like I was wearing concrete boots
More sensitive – noise, stress, pressure… everything feels louder and it didn’t before
More disorganised – old systems suddenly stop working
More impatient – with others and with yourself - kindness to yourself feels like a thing of the past

And here’s the part most people don’t know:

This isn’t just a peri-menopause thing, ADHD symptoms flare any time hormones shift.

You see it in:
🌸 Teenagers — fluctuating hormones magnify emotional regulation, motivation and executive functioning issues. As a mum to two teens, who are autistic/ADHD I see this first hand
🤰 Pregnancy — some women’s ADHD improves, but for many it worsens significantly, especially in the first trimester and postpartum.
💛 Postnatal periods — low oestrogen and dopamine dips can make ADHD feel overwhelming.
🔥 Peri-menopause — the classic “ADHD x 100” experience, where everything intensifies at once.

Because oestrogen supports dopamine and dopamine is already something ADHD brains don’t have enough of.
So when oestrogen fluctuates, ADHD symptoms often flare dramatically.

If you’re a peri-menopausal ADHD woman wondering:

“Why does everything feel harder right now?”
“Why am I suddenly losing my words?”
“Why am I crying over tiny things?”
“Why can’t I get my brain to work the way it used to?”

You’re not failing.
You’re not going backwards.
You’re not imagining it.

Your brain is literally recalibrating.

Here’s what can help:

Reduce pressure where possible
This is a transition season — be kind to yourself.

Swap rigid routines for micro-routines
Small anchors keep you going even on chaotic days.

Support your hormones
Supplements, nutrition, sleep, exercise, they all help the ADHD brain regulate.

Connect with other ADHD women
You realise you’re not alone so quickly. Find the people that ‘get you’.

Be gentle with yourself
This isn’t weakness. It’s biology and neurobiology intertwined.

For any ADHD woman navigating hormone shifts — teenager, pregnant, postpartum, peri-menopausal you’re not broken, and you’re certainly not alone.

Your brain is still brilliant.
It just needs care, compassion and flexibility during these hormonal storms.

You’ve got this!