ADHD & Perimenopause/Menopause

By Laura Springsteen May 16, 2025

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. The information I share here is based on personal experience and research and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns.

This Makes so Much Sense…….now

I remember my first panic attack.  I thought I was having a heart attack, I thought I was going to die. That is not something you forget. I was in my early 40s, attending a graduate program full time and working 2 part-time jobs.  I was stressed, but there were forces at play that I was completely ignorant of. 

I had never heard the term neurodivergent, I know now that word has been around for decades. I had not yet been diagnosed with ADHD or Anxiety. And since I had never had a panic attack before, I chalked it up to the stress and considered it a one-off. Yeah, I was wrong about that. I received my ADHD Diagnosis, along with anxiety and depression, in August of 2024 – that’s about 14 years after my first, of many as it turns out, panic attacks.

You see, when I was diagnosed, I could look back and see that ADHD had always been there, I could see how it impacted my life – both negatively and positively. But what I couldn’t understand was why it seemed so much worse the past 15 years. So, I put my hyperfocus to good use and did some research

Perimenopause & Menopause

Perimenopause and menopause can intensify ADHD symptoms, and even mimic ADHD traits. Estrogen plays a crucial role in modulating neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which are integral to attention, mood regulation, and executive function. As our estrogen levels decrease, there is a reduction in our neurotransmitters – this exacerbates ADHD symptoms, leading to increased forgetfulness, distraction, emotional instability, and difficulties in task management.  Ah-ha💡! Why are there not billboards about this everywhere?! 

Most women start to lose estrogen in their early 40s, but you may not realize it’s happening because it usually happens gradually. It was in my early 40s that I had my first panic attack, it’s when I started needing a planner to keep track of all the things. And I had no idea I had started perimenopause because I was still having a regular period. So many women, like me, go through this without ever knowing or understanding the connection to their ADHD symptoms, thinking they are going crazy. And it’s not just us neurodivergents, neurotypicals have many of the same traits during this time.

How can we manage this?

• Consulting with healthcare providers about potential changes in ADHD medication to better align with hormonal shifts 
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help stabilize estrogen levels and mitigate cognitive symptoms
• Regular exercise, a balanced diet, stress-reduction techniques, and good sleep can support overall brain health
• Engaging in cognitive-behavioral therapy or other counseling methods can provide strategies to manage both ADHD and menopausal challenges

I wish I had this information when I was going through perimenopause, but I know it now, and just knowing can be a huge relief. No, you’re not crazy. You’re not broken. What you are going through is REAL! You are not alone.

Resources

Here are some resources in case you want to go down your own ADHD rabbit hole:

• Medical News Today – ADHD and Menopause (an article discussing how declining estrogen and progesterone levels may lead to lower dopamine levels) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adhd-and-menopause
• WebMD- How Does Menopause Affect ADHD? (Explores influence of estrogen on brain chemicals, and how their reductio can exacerbate ADHD symptoms) https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-and-menopause
• ADDitude Magazine- Menopause, Hormones, and ADHD Symptoms in Women (Provides insight into how estrogen loss during menopause affects neurotransmitters regulating cognitive function and emotion) https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-and-menopause
• CHADD- Does Menopause Cause ADHD? (Discusses the possibility that menopause may cause clinical picture that resembles ADHD) https://chadd.org/attention-article/does-menopause-cause-adhd/
• Berkshire Healthcare NHS- ADHD and the Menopause (PDF Guide) (Comprehensive guide on how reduced estrogen levels during menopause can impact ADHD symptoms) https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=507d214ab4&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-a:r2464260132125104011&th=196d890450bf4f24&view=att&disp=inline&realattid=EED13CB2-F177-4CAB-8D07-728D16641FAC&zw