Hi all

[EmpressMollitium]

I'm currently in my Perimenopause state and finding that this is really exacerbating my ADHD symptoms. I was wondering if any of you suffered the same and had found any good coping techniques to help with it?

[Fresprt]

I can totally relate to it! I just recently figured it out myself. I was reading an article yesterday that suggests practicing Mindfulness. All I really know is that I am really struggling!

[RoadTrippin]

The changing hormone levels effect many women and fluctuations during perimenopause in particular, there's now so much more awareness, and previously confident celebrities publicly telling their stories about how anxiety, memory issues, insomnia etc hit them for the first time during menopause, it's hardly surprising that women with ADHD find their symptoms worsen. It's down to falling oestrogen levels which have a direct effect of the neurotransmitters which are already low. I've only just been diagnosed on reaching age 60! I started thinking I had dementia my "executive functions" as I now know they're called are so badly effected. The usually recommendations are, low sugar diets, regular high protein meals, exercise etc. However I've read that those taking ADHD medication may require dose adjusting at menopause to compensate. It seems a lot of women like me don't get diagnosed until they can't cope any more at menopausal age, so many years of struggles just put down to depression and stress etc. Also when people retire or don't have any routine imposed on them it becomes impossible to organise their lives and undiagnosed ADHD is revealed!

I couldn't engage at all with CBT and after years of waiting for DBT which is very much mindfulness based, I couldn't engage with the recommended practises despite wanting to do it, that's when my psychologist realised I probably had ADHD! All my years of procrastination and telling MH professionals I was "stuck" now makes sense!

[Travelgirl1]

Hi, I can relate too! I just came across a video on this topic on the CHADD website from their most recent annual conference. I am about to watch it because it looks like it might be helpful.

youtu.be/HCyFLo3X02U(Not working as expected?)

[Knitting20projects]

Yes!!! Wish I had a great answer. My gyn mentioned brief hormone replacement until I’m menopausal. I don’t want HRT because my mom & aunt had breast cancer. So am toughing it out. It is brutal.