Episode Details

Night sweats, meltdowns, migraines, brain fog — and still dismissed as “mum stress.” For ADHD women, perimenopause isn’t weakness — it’s biology colliding with a system that refuses to notice.

In this episode, Jane speaks with Dr Lara Briden, naturopathic doctor and author of Hormone Repair Manual, to unpack what perimenopause really looks like for ADHD women, why blood tests often come back “normal,” and how body-identical hormone therapy can help.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why blood tests often miss perimenopause — and why “normal” doesn’t mean well
• How ADHD and hormones collide to intensify brain fog, rage, and sleep problems
• The role of histamine, thyroid, and iron in brain fog and exhaustion
• What HRT actually is — body-identical vs synthetic hormones
• Why antidepressants are over-prescribed when perimenopause is misdiagnosed
• Practical survival tools: progesterone, circadian rhythm resets, and magnesium — because bubble baths don’t fix brain fog
• Why perimenopause is puberty 2.0 — a transition, not a failure

This Episode Is For You If…

• You’re over 37 and struggling with new rage, brain fog, or sleep issues
• You’ve been told your blood tests are “normal,” but you feel broken
• You’ve been dismissed with antidepressants when your body was screaming hormones
• You’re curious about how HRT interacts with ADHD and stimulants
• You want validation that perimenopause isn’t hysteria — it’s biology in transition

🧠 Resources for You

• Perimenopause Symptom Tracker – Free self-check to see if what you’re experiencing might be perimenopause. Download here →
• Perimenopause ADHD Brain Fog Kit – Practical tools for mums dealing with brain fog, memory slips, and hormone chaos. Find it here

References & Resources Mentioned

• Dr Lara Briden website: https://www.larabriden.com/ 
• Hormone Repair Manual — Lara’s book on navigating perimenopause:
• Lara Briden’s guide to natural treatment ideas for premenstrual mood symptoms: larabriden.com/top-6-natural-treatments-for-premenstrual-mood-symptoms
• Insights from Dr Jerilynn Prior in the final bonus session of The Hormone Whisperers: tanyaborowski.com/shop/p/the-hormone-whisperers-may25-recordings

Related ADHD Mums Episodes

• The Perimenopause Crash — Progesterone, Stress, and the Rage Nobody Warned Us About
• Histamine + Hormones: Why You Feel Like You’re Falling Apart

🎧 Listen now: HORMONES: HRT, ADHD & Perimenopause — What No One’s Explaining to Women — on Spotify, Apple, or adhdmu