ADHD + Perimenopause: Why It Feels Like Your Brain’s Breaking

Mia Dalessandro
11 minutes ago
2 min read

When Focus Frays and Emotions Spike: Why ADHD Feels Harder During Perimenopause

A gentle photo of a woman sitting at a desk with colourful sticky notes around her — maybe one hand on her heart, the other holding tea.

At a recent workshop, a woman shared her experience with ADHD:

“I used to manage my ADHD... but now? It’s like I’ve lost the plot.”

She described it as having 30 browser tabs open — and they’re all glitching.

And instantly, heads nodded.

If you're finding perimenopause is making your ADHD symptoms worse...You're not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

Wait — what does oestrogen have to do with ADHD?

Here’s the short version:

Oestrogen supports your brain’s use of dopamine and serotonin — two key chemicals for mood, motivation, memory, and focus.

So when oestrogen levels start to drop or fluctuate in perimenopause?

Your brain can feel scrambled.
Your systems stop working the way they used to.
And your ADHD symptoms dial up — big time.

Common struggles during perimenopause (especially with ADHD)

Forgetting what you were saying… mid-sentence
Getting overwhelmed faster
Crying at weird things
Struggling to finish tasks or follow your own thoughts
Feeling like you’ve lost your coping strategies
Old shame stories creeping back in — “What’s wrong with me?”

“Is this my hormones... or my ADHD?”

Answer: Both.

Perimenopause messes with brain chemicals. ADHD already makes those chemicals harder to regulate. So yes — things might feel harder right now.

It’s not your fault. You’re not broken. You’re just dealing with a massive hormonal shift on top of an already-busy brain.

What helps?

Here’s what came up in the workshop — and what I often suggest in sessions:

Track your cycle: Even if it’s irregular, start noticing when your symptoms flare up. Awareness = power.
Simplify everything: Set reminders. Use post-its. Meal plan less. Delegate more. Give yourself permission to need supports.
Talk back to the inner critic: Your brain might be louder with self-doubt right now. Hypnotherapy helps shift those thought patterns and build resilience.
Build your support crew: Find a GP, therapist, or coach who gets ADHD and menopause. You don’t need to navigate this alone.

You’re not losing it. You’re adapting.

If your ADHD feels worse lately, it’s not a personal failure. Your brain is changing. Your hormones are shifting. But there are ways to feel steady again — you just need a plan that fits this new version of you.