By: Shawn Mars
While ADHD in women has gained increased attention in recent years, Kristen Baird-Goldman, a women’s health advocate and educator, believes that one key piece remains overlooked how hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can dramatically worsen ADHD symptoms. “People don’t realize the connection between estrogen and dopamine,” Kristen explains. “When estrogen drops, as it does during perimenopause and menopause, dopamine drops too. That directly affects your brain’s ability to focus, regulate emotions, and process information—all areas already challenged by ADHD.”
According to Kristen, many women in their 40s and 50s misinterpret these symptoms as simply ‘getting older.’ “Memory loss, misplacing your phone or keys, struggling to focus, feeling overwhelmed by noises or smells, those aren’t just signs of aging. They’re signs of your hormones fluctuating. And if you have ADHD, those changes hit even harder.”
Kristen’s professional advocacy is rooted in her personal experience. After having her second child at age 40, she noticed subtle shifts in her focus and energy but assumed they were typical of new motherhood. “It wasn’t until my mid-40s that I hit a wall,” she recalls. “I felt exhausted, foggy, and emotionally unstable. I genuinely thought I was developing early dementia.”
When standard bloodwork showed everything was “within the norm,” Kristen sought answers from a functional medicine practitioner who took her concerns seriously. “That’s when I discovered my hormones were swinging wildly. My estrogen levels would spike to pregnancy levels and then crash to those of a woman in her 70s. It felt like my body was on fire. My mind was failing me. And my ADHD symptoms were out of control.”
Kristen also began experiencing intense sensory issues, something she had never connected to her ADHD. “Suddenly, everyday sounds became unbearable. The strong smells made me feel physically ill. Light touches on my skin felt strange and uncomfortable. I learned that these are sensory processing challenges that often worsen when hormones fluctuate, but nobody was talking about it.”
Through a combination of bioidentical hormone therapy, ADHD-focused care, and lifestyle changes like targeted exercise and nutrition, Kristen eventually regained control over her health. But she stresses that finding the proper support was a challenge. “There’s no single practitioner who understands both ADHD and hormones. You have to build a team and advocate for yourself every step of the way.”
Kristen also points to systemic gaps in healthcare. “Most medical research has focused on men, so women’s midlife health issues have been sidelined. Early studies, like those from the Women’s Health Initiative, scared women away from hormone therapy. We now know those studies were flawed, but that misinformation continues to harm women.”
She believes public conversation needs to change, too. “We need to see this information in places like Oprah Daily, Goop, and Women’s Health,” Kristen urges. “Women shouldn’t have to dig through medical journals to understand their own bodies.”
Her message to women over 40 is direct and compassionate: “If you feel like you’re falling apart, you’re not crazy. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not alone. Trust yourself. Find ADHD-informed professionals. Find providers who understand hormones. Keep asking questions until someone listens.”
Disclaimer: The information shared in this article is based on personal experiences and available research. It is not intended as medical advice. Hormonal changes and their effects on ADHD symptoms can vary widely among individuals. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or healthcare regimen.
