If you've found yourself wondering, "Is this perimenopause, ADHD, or both?" you're certainly not alone.
Increasingly, women are seeking support because they're struggling with concentration, memory, emotional overwhelm, anxiety, low mood, poor sleep, irritability, or a sense that they simply don't feel like themselves anymore. For some, these difficulties seem to appear out of nowhere. For others, they feel like long-standing challenges that have suddenly become much harder to manage.
The overlap between ADHD and perimenopause is one reason so many women are asking questions.
Why ADHD Often Goes Unnoticed in Women
Historically, ADHD has been associated with hyperactive young boys. As a result, many women grew up without recognising that their own struggles might be related to ADHD.
Instead, they may have been labelled as:
- Sensitive
- Disorganised
- Lazy
- Emotional
- Daydreamers
- Not living up to their potential
Many women become experts at masking their difficulties. They work harder, develop coping strategies, and push themselves to keep up with the demands of work, family life and relationships.
From the outside, they may appear successful and capable. Internally, however, they may feel exhausted from constantly trying to stay on top of everything.
The Role of Hormones
Hormones can have a significant impact on attention, mood and emotional regulation.
Many women notice changes in their ADHD symptoms during different stages of life, including:
- The menstrual cycle
- Pregnancy and the postnatal period
- Perimenopause
- Menopause
Oestrogen plays an important role in supporting dopamine, a neurotransmitter closely linked to attention, motivation, memory and executive functioning. As oestrogen levels fluctuate and decline during perimenopause, some women find that symptoms become more noticeable or harder to manage.
This can leave women wondering whether they are developing ADHD, when in fact hormonal changes may be amplifying challenges that have always been present.
Common Experiences
Women often describe:
- Increased forgetfulness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Losing track of conversations
- Feeling more emotionally reactive
- Struggling with organisation
- Increased anxiety
- Feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks
- Difficulty starting or completing tasks
- Exhaustion and burnout
Many tell me they feel as though they've suddenly "lost their coping strategies."
The Emotional Impact
For some women, learning about ADHD can bring a mixture of relief, grief and confusion.
There can be relief in finally having an explanation for experiences that never seemed to make sense.
At the same time, there may be sadness when looking back and wondering how life might have been different if these difficulties had been recognised earlier.
Many women also carry years of self-criticism, believing they were somehow failing, lazy or not trying hard enough.
Is It ADHD, Perimenopause, or Both?
The reality is that there isn't always a simple answer.
Some women discover that hormonal changes are the primary factor. Others realise that ADHD has been present throughout their lives but has become more noticeable during perimenopause. For many, the answer is a combination of both.
Rather than focusing on finding the "right label," it can be helpful to explore what your experiences are trying to tell you and what support might help.
How Therapy Can Help
Whether you're exploring a possible ADHD diagnosis, adjusting to a recent diagnosis, or trying to make sense of the changes that come with perimenopause, therapy can provide a space to slow down and reflect.
Together, we can explore:
- Patterns that may have been present throughout your life
- The impact of hormonal changes
- Self-esteem and self-criticism
- Emotional regulation
- Relationships and communication
- Practical strategies for managing overwhelm
Most importantly, therapy can help you develop a more compassionate understanding of yourself.
If this article resonates with you and you'd like support exploring ADHD, perimenopause, self-esteem or overwhelm, you're welcome to get in touch to arrange an introductory call.
Images: Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash