ADHD in menopausal women | Bev Thorogood | TEDxBrayfordPool

Menopause and ADHD appear to collide for many women, creating confusing cognitive challenges with both shrouded in misunderstanding, misdiagnosis and a sea of misfiring hormones. Is it time to rethink the perception of ADHD as a naughty boy’s disorder and start looking more deeply at the impact of falling oestrogen levels on dopamine regulation in perimenopausal women.

[MrsSeifersClass]

Your talk brought me to tears. I have recently come to believe that I am ADHD. I am a 61 year old female. No one has ever considered me being ADHD until my grown children told me they think I am. My life makes a lot more sense now. Add that to my confused hormones and retiring during a pandemic and some days are very hard! I SO appreciate your talk!

[hannahpricekarlsson]

Had to pause the video and take a moment for a good cry for the sad little girl and overwhelmed young woman who believed her undiagnosed ADHD symptoms were her own moral shortcomings, and for the perimenopausal woman I am today, so frustrated with never feeling “well” and all the many symptoms described here. I had been so burnt out and considering leaving my career of 20+ years, when my daughter suggested therapy and my therapist casually mentioned “ADHD women like you.” As I read about the symptoms I felt so heard and seen, just like watching this video today. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! ❤ I can now say that I’m quite MAD 😂 and no longer alone!

[gynger]

My life fell apart 6 years ago, problems with work, life and relationships. Doctor carried out memory tests, blood tests advised perimenopausal, no help. Finally got HRT and antidepressants for low mood this time last year. Still had issues with memory, accused of not listening, taking instruction, making silly mistakes. Culminating in disciplinary proceedings and loosing my job in December 2023. In April this year at the age of 56 diagnosed with severe inattentive ADHD and on the Autism spectrum. Wish I had seen this years ago, totally relate. Big up to all the MAD sisters out there xx

[lookingupwithwonder]

Me:
-Adhd &CPTSD
-Peri
-Single mum of 2 x adhd boys
-full time new grad OT working in a locked MH ward
-Grief over mum with Alzheimer’s living in aged care

Far out, limping along today.

To all my sisters- I got you.

[michellem]

I am a women with ADHD going through menopause. And it's torture. I honestly don't know if I can hold onto my job and also I have to pray daily that I can make it through I'm quite resilient but this is the worst thing I've ever dealt with. I'm also diagnosed recently, my whole life has been devastated by ADHD and I had no idea. Thank you for your efforts.

[bexlocks]

I am struggling at the moment. My research in to ADHD points to the fact that I have always had it. tics as a child, skin picking, ditzy, 'tactless', people pleaser, grammar school girl, eating disorder, lower than low self esteem, risk taker, underachiever, substance misuse, PND, toxi relationships, emotional disregulation. I am menopausal on HRT but I am floundering as a newly divorced woman who can barely look after herself let alone her own teenage children.

[wednesdayjones-bsltheatric]

The menopause stole my mask but a therapist said I probably had early onset cognitive impairment. Now I understand the brain fog, the 'depression' and all the other struggles are real and are actually ADHD symptoms made worse by lack of oestrogen and, although frustrating, feeling validated is wonderful. Being disparaged and ignored by the very health service which is supposed to help you is not. More education is needed (and more / any studies).

[dawnxanklincomedy]

This is eye opening. That said, I feel that there needs to be a follow-up video to explain what can happen now that we are equipped with this information. For example: what jobs are we best suited for now? does the battle between our hormones continue for the rest of our lives? what can balance look like? how do we get our doctors to understand what we're experiencing?

[pipwhitefeather]

I went through this! I think during my menopause, the increase in anxiety and emotional disregulation was the trigger for me learning that I've always struggled with these things. In this last year only have I discovered that all my 'problems' are symptoms of ADHD and C_PTSD. I'm 52! I was so deep in my masking that I was believing my own lies. Deep denial I was in. The first time I realised that my 'freak outs' were dis-regulation, and were triggered etc. well It was a bloomin' revelation! I could barely believe that I had been so blind to myself and my own reactions. Thank you for high lighting this subject.

[ShephDJ]

Thank you for this talk, Bev Thorogood. I am a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 67. In my case, my condition was recognized my a psychology professional. I had no suspicion I had ADHD. My only understanding was that I had a stress and anxiety problem. Once I learned the truth, so many things fell into place. I, too, had to quit a college teaching career several years after menopause started. I could no longer cope with large classrooms and lectures. The career failure is the worst part, especially when you have no idea why it is happening. Ms. Thorogood is right: there is as yet virtually no research of this problem of menopausal effects on ADHD women, but with so many more professional women depending on their careers, such research will quickly become necessary.

[justbeegreen]

Not enough attention and supports for late diagnosed women on the spectrum or with ADHD. Healthcare has neglected women’s health for so many generations. It’s crucial for our physical, mental, and emotional health that we demand better care. We deserve better care. Appreciate your story and your vulnerability. I’m trying to prep and navigate this transition — we need more support and mentoring as we navigate this change.

[megan]

I left work two years ago at 50 with severe major depression and feel thankful I have a roof over my head today as I cannot cope well with things that were easy, even fun previously. I still struggle daily. My brain which used to be able to tackle the most convoluted complex problems is like a mosh pit. Everything you presented represents this cluster I find myself in. There were other contributing factors to me hitting a wall, things going on in my life that can take a person down, so I didn't know what I was experiencing was peri-menopause and the ADHD fits to a T today. How? the doctors, therapists, psychologist, psychiatrist, mother, no-one has said menopause let alone ADHD but that is what I have been feeling like I have, WTF. I feel like I have been living in a twiglight zone. So grateful for this video!!!

[xzlhchy]

Since my diagnosis at 43, I have been a sponge when it comes to ADHD research. I have read at least 30 books and spent THOUSANDS of hours researching online. Yours is one of the most informative talks I've heard, and I wish every woman with ADHD could hear it. Thank you for your honesty and your bravery!

[chrissraceporting]

My beautiful wife is in the beginning of menopause. What has made her so difficult to help is complicated by adhd and a brain injury which makes her aggressive and confused. We are getting through it but it isn't easy

[thewickedpixie]

This is me now. I'm exactly in this place, certain I'm undiagnosed adhd and definitely menopausal and all the ways I've coped and scraped by in life have failed and im lost at sea, the way I've been feeling for the last 3 years i would not care if I fell asleep didn't wake up again. I have absolutely no desire to prompt that outcome and would never cause myself harm but simply the continuation of my life as it is right now is not worth anything for myself. I have 2 amazing and beautiful children who are my world and they are 100% worth anything . I have to keep fighting for their sake and help them with their struggles so they will have a better life. They are each half my heart outside my body and i will always be there for them. I just wish my life wasn't so hard

[elisabethastrom]

Thank you!!❤ I am about to send this video to my employer, doctor, counsellor...because it describes exactly what I am experiencing in my life right now. I am in menopause and on 50% sick leave from my job (which I love). I initially blamed stress as the number one cause of my problems (such as brain fog, fatigue headaches migrains and more). Now I see your video and it confirmed all my growing suspicions that the stress is only a symptom of my hormones going bananas again and this time in new, not so exciting ways! My husband sometimes jokingly say: You can't blame the hormones! Because early in our relationship, before me and two of our children were diagnosed with ADHD and Aspberger and we learned all we could about the hormones role in regulating all of our emotions, actions and reactions, he didn't believe hormones could have that much importance in our daily life. But now after 20 years he has accepted the fact that almost all of our daily struggles are actually due to hormones in one way or the other. This is just something the whole world should realize and the fact that you did the research and put them into words (WITHOUT seeming completely MAD, which is what I feel like when I try to explain to people around me that have no experience of this) in order to educate society is super impressive, important and SO helpful! ❤

[kshack]

I am 48 and have been struggling my entire life to find the right help for my issues. I now think I have been misdiagnosed my whole life! And I’ve been struggling recently with peri menopausal symptoms so I really needed to hear this!! 😢 -exhausted in IL ❤

[gail]

Im a medical professional, aged 60. This is an eye opening presentation that gives me so much hope for the adhd and memory problems I experience. I cannot retire yet, its not possible, but I feel so much less crazy after hearing this information.

[claireseymour]

You just described my life. I was diagnosed with adhd after my life started to fall apart at 50. I was also diagnosed with ASD, dyslexia, hypermobility dyspraxia and anxiety. I was in the middle of a master's degree and my brain suddenly stopped working. I could no longer think, read, complete sentences, control my impulses or hyperfixation and my memory was non existent. It took nearly 3 years to complete my part time master's, but with the support of my husband and daughter I graduate in 2 weeks time with distinction. There is absolutely no way that I could hold down a full time job, as unfortunately neurodiversity effects the same area of the brain, so when one aspect goes haywire, they all do. I'm hypersensitive to sensory stimuli, especially noise, light, heat, and smell, causing me to have frequent migraines. I try to manage my spoons, but unless I become a hermit there seems to be no way forward. In addition, my drop in estrogen affected my hypermobility, causing the connective tissue in my pelvic area to complete prolapse. Joy. I only knew about hot flushes and mood settings. Nothing prepares you for this. If anyone out there would like to collaborate in research I would be up for it as research is one of my special interests, and I'm a voracious and hyperfixated gleaner of information once my brain has decided it wants to do it. But be warned: I will not be able to stick to a dead line, and my structure and organisation will be non existent. But, my meandering neurodiverse brain will eventually creatively find patterns, connections and novelty and produce original and extremely well researched work. ❤

[cjam]

You hit a cord with the comment about early-onset dementia. I honestly think I’m losing my mind! 55, menopausal, undiagnosed. I appreciate your viewpoint!