Episode Details

What if the brain fog, the overwhelm, the forgetfulness and the "why can't I just get it together?" feeling in midlife aren't a personal failing at all?

This week, we sit down with Dr. Jolene Brighten, board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, women's hormone expert, and author of a new book, ADHD and Women. Dr. Brighten explains why so many women live with ADHD for decades, often masked and quietly overwhelmed, until the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause make the symptoms impossible to ignore.

Together we explore:

• Why estrogen and progesterone shifts can make ADHD symptoms feel louder in your 40s and 50s

• The signs women are most likely to miss, from anxiety and emotional overwhelm to sleep struggles, sensory sensitivity, and "I used to be able to handle this" moments

• Why ADHD in women has been underdiagnosed for so long, and what the research is finally showing

• How hormone therapy, movement, sleep, and nutrition can support a neurodivergent brain through every hormonal stage

• Dr. Brighten's own journey as a neurodivergent woman, and why understanding your brain is an act of self-care, not a label  

And this one got personal. Somewhere in the middle of this conversation, Jenn had a realization she didn't see coming: she may have been living with ADHD her whole life.

If you've ever wondered whether midlife is just "harder for you," this episode is for you. 

ADHD and Women by Dr. Jolene Brighten is out October 6.

For more information go to: dr.brighten.com

To order Dr. Brighten's new book: ADHD and Women

Follow Dr. Brighten on Instagram @drjolenebrighten

Or Listen to The Dr. Brighten Show

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