My ADHD Story - Battling Menopause

My ADHD Story - Battling Menopause

From All Aboard ADHD by Claire Quigley Ward

May 1, 2026 · 40 min · Season 1 · Episode 60

About this episode

Claire Quigley Ward and Sharon Worth discuss the intersection of ADHD and menopause, exploring how hormonal changes can impact ADHD symptoms in women.

Is it "just menopause", or has your ADHD brain reached a tipping point? In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Sharon Worth, Menopause and ADHD Coach, plus co-author of the book Meno-Wars: Battling the Menopause with ADHD. Sharon shares her own powerful journey of being diagnosed with ADHD at 49 and autism at 51, after the hormonal shifts of perimenopause made her lifelong "mask" finally slip. For many women, the transition into midlife isn’t just about hot flushes; it can also be the stage where ADHD symptoms, which may have been managed or masked for decades, suddenly feel far more overwhelming. Sharon and Claire explore why this happens, the role hormones play, and how women can navigate this complex “tipping point” with greater clarity, understanding and far less shame. They discuss: 🧪 The Oestrogen-Dopamine Connection: the biological link between hormones and brain chemistry, where falling oestrogen levels can disrupt dopamine regulation, making ADHD symptoms more noticeable 🎭 The Collapse of the Mask: why perimenopause often acts as a "tipping point" where the coping mechanisms women have used for years to mask their struggles, no longer work…

People in this episode

Host: Claire Quigley Ward

Guest: Sharon Worth

Topics covered

  • ADHD
  • menopause
  • hormonal shifts
  • women's health
  • self-advocacy
  • diagnosis challenges

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • menopause
  • perimenopause
  • hormones
  • dopamine
  • self-advocacy
  • diagnosis
  • medication
  • women's health

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Meno-Wars: Battling the Menopause with ADHD

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