SUMMARY:
What is ADHD coaching—and what do marathons, memory cushions, and zombie squirrels have to do with it?
In this episode of ADHD Peri Punks, hosts Chrissy and Sarah talk with UK-based ADHD coach, author, and all-around sparkle-machine Anj Cairns about what ADHD coaching really looks like, how it helps, and why our “impractical” side hustles actually matter.
✨ Learn what ADHD coaching can and can’t do
🐿️ Hear why creative ADHD “side quests” are medicine for your brain 🏃♀️ Discover how running marathons and writing novels became part of Anj’s journey
If you’ve been waiting for permission to chase the weirdest dream on your list—this is it.
If you’ve been telling yourself you’re too chaotic, too scattered, or too late to build something meaningful—this episode is your sign to go chase that squirrel.
Don’t forget to rate us 5 stars, leave a written review, follow us everywhere, and share this episode. And take your rage outside and scream it into the sky.
KEY WORDS
ADHD coaching
ADHD women over 40
ADHD and creativity
ADHD side hustles
memory cushions ADHD
perimenopause and ADHD
late-diagnosed ADHD
ADHD podcast women
SUMMARY:
Therapist, trauma specialist, unapologetic ND-mom, and now coach, Sera Gray joins ADHD Peri Punks to talk ADHD, perimenopause, feminist rage, creative healing, and what happens when women finally get seen—by themselves and each other.
EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
What happens when you mix late-diagnosed ADHD, perimenopausal chaos, feminist rage, and four neurodivergent kids under one gloriously weird roof?
You get Sera Gray—Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, founder of Wild Lotus Therapy & Coaching, mother, artist, and unapologetic forest witch who’s helping women unmask, heal, and burn down the shame that kept them small.
In this raw, soulful, and laugh-out-loud episode, hosts Sarah Glasco and Chrissy Ingram sit down with Sera to talk about what it really means to wake up to your own neurodivergence in midlife—right when your hormones start rioting and the medical patriarchy tells you it’s “just stress.”
Sera has built her life and practice around helping women, girls, and parents untangle misdiagnosis, masking, trauma, and hormonal mayhem. Her approach blends clinical science, feminism, art, and archetype work, reminding us that healing isn’t linear—it’s creative, chaotic, and deeply human.
Join Sarah and Chrissy for a fierce, funny, and unfiltered convo. Sera shares her late ADHD diagnosis story, the hormone-fueled chaos of midlife, what the system keeps getting wrong about ND women and girls, and why creative, feminist care is the revolution we need.
From parenting in a house full of neurodivergence, to smashing shame with art and archetypes, this episode is required listening for anyone feeling unseen, too much, or just over the “good girl” act.
Together they dive into:
💥 The ADHD discovery story — how Sera finally recognized her own brain at 40 and why so many women don’t get diagnosed until midlife.
🔥 Hormones & rage — why perimenopause can amplify ADHD symptoms and unearth decades of repressed fury (and why that’s not a bad thing).
💬 Systemic failures — how women are gaslit by the healthcare and mental-health systems and what it takes to keep advocating anyway.
🧠 Parenting neurodivergent kids — what it’s like to raise four wildly different brains while trying to unmask your own.
🎨 Art & dreamwork as therapy — how creativity, imagination, and “witch energy” can become a form of nervous-system regulation.
💪 The future of neurodivergent care — why we need universal ADHD screening, trauma-informed systems, and a whole lot more compassion.
Sera doesn’t sugarcoat the messy middle—she’s lived through postpartum hell, domestic violence, burnout, and now perimenopause. Her story is a reminder that rage can be sacred, rest can be rebellion, and that there’s magic in the moments we think we’ve fallen apart.
This is more than a podcast episode; it’s a rallying cry for neurodivergent women who are tired of apologizing for existing.
🎧 Listen now to Wild Lotus Rising on ADHD Peri Punks—where hormones, humor, and holy rage meet the science of self-acceptance.
Follow Sera:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wildlotuscoachingwithsera
Subscribe for more punk-fueled, science-backed, radically honest conversations about ADHD, menopause, and the power of neurodivergent women.
Keywords
Sera Gray, ADHD Peri Punks, ADHD, ADHD women, ADHD and menopause, ADHD and perimenopause, ADHD neuroscience, dopamine and estrogen, late-diagnosis ADHD, executive dysfunction, ADHD burnout, ADHD self-acceptance, neurodivergent women, ADHD education, hormonal health, brain fog, menopause mental health, ADHD research gap, ADHD and hormones, ADHD community, ADHD podcast, ADHD and autism, AuDHD women, HRT, bioidentical hormone replacemenet therapy, stimulant medication, mandalas, neurodivergent parents, neurodivergent parenting, ADHD Coach, ADHD therapist, neuroaffirming therapy
SUMMARY
In this episode of ADHD Peri Punks, we sit down with the brilliant Meredith Carder, ADHD coach, writer, and author of It All Makes Sense Now, to talk about how mistakes turn into momentum — and how ADHDers can grow without fixing themselves.
We refer to a SubStack article that she had just published at the time we recorded this episode called "When mistakes lead to momentum" (you can read that article here), in which she tells the story of her first experience at the Int'l ADHD Conference. Long story short, she didn't have business cards there, so she quickly designed one and went to a printer's service shop to get them printed and they handed her 8.5x11" sheets of paper instead. GIANT flimsy business cards! She had ordered incorrectly. But instead of feeling awful about it, she handed out her enormous "cards" whenever someone wanted one, and everyone had a laugh.
We talk about: ✨ How her book came to life — and what it taught her 🌎 Why the “ADHD tax” & business card "flyer" mishaps are just part of the journey 🖕 How to walk into a conference (or life) without pretending to be neurotypical 💖 Building community — online and IRL — even when it’s messy 🔥 Why perimenopause deserves its own tax jar.
If you’ve ever felt like ADHD meant you couldn’t grow, or like your story wasn’t worth sharing — this episode is for you.
✨ Learn how Meredith turned her mishaps into connection & her book 🌎 Hear how she keeps it real with 180k+ followers & a thriving Hive 🖕 Discover why gender, hormones & the “ADHD tax” deserve attention.
Don’t forget to rate us 5 stars, leave a review, follow us everywhere, and share this episode. Then go outside and shout your magic into the wind.
And if you're like "why the hell does Meredith's audio sound a bit muffled?" well, that's on Trixie, Sarah's producer/editor alter ego who, in the excitement of Meredith coming on, forgot to check mic levels, and so while we were all just cackling our asses off and having such great conversation, Meredith's audio volume was overloading. Thanks, ADHD!
KEY WORDS
ADHD book
ADHD coach
ADHD conference
ADHD tax
Meredith Carder
It All Makes Sense Now
Hummingbird Hive
ADHD & perimenopause
ADHD women
ADHD community
neurodivergence & growth
neurodivergent parents
parenting with ADHD
hyperfocus
emotional regulation
ADHD writers
A powerful conversation with ADHD & Alchemy founder Paula Hirst about meditation, hormones, and turning chaos into calm.
SUMMARY:
What happens when your hormones riot, your ADHD brain is loud as hell, and everyone tells you to “just relax”?
This week on ADHD Peri Punks, hosts Sarah and Chrissy sit down with Paula Hirst, founder of ADHD & Alchemy, to talk about meditation, menopause, and making peace with a brain that never shuts up.
Paula is a UK-born coach-in-training now living in Dubai who specializes in helping professional women—diagnosed or not—navigate ADHD, emotional sensitivity, and the constant “not enough” soundtrack playing in their heads. With a background in hypnosis, guided meditation, manifestation, and life coaching, she brings both science and soul to her work, helping women turn ADHD into a strength instead of a shame spiral.
In this funny, grounding, and deeply empowering conversation, Paula opens up about:
🧠 Her late-diagnosis ADHD story — and why self-acceptance hit harder than the label itself.
🔥 How meditation became her anchor in chaos (and why it’s not about “sitting still”).
🌡️ The “WTF” moments of early perimenopause — from emotional whiplash to hormonal gaslighting.
💪 Advocating for yourself in medical systems that still dismiss women’s pain, mood, and intuition.
🌍 Navigating ADHD and mental health as a Black woman living abroad, and what it means to hold space for yourself in systems not built for you.
✨ The transformative power of slowing down, listening inward, and unlearning perfectionism.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever said “meditation isn’t for me” — and for every woman who’s ever been told she’s too emotional, too sensitive, or too much. Paula’s story proves that sensitivity isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.
And yes, there’s plenty of laughter, rage, and the usual ADHD Peri Punks chaos—because transformation doesn’t have to be tidy.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn your overwhelm into alchemy, your sensitivity into strength, and your hot flashes into holy fire.
KEY WORDS
Paula Hirst, ADHD and Alchemy, ADHD Peri Punks, ADHD women, ADHD and menopause, ADHD meditation, ADHD perimenopause, ADHD burnout, ADHD and hormones, neurodivergent women, ADHD mindfulness, ADHD midlife women, meditation for ADHD, ADHD and emotional sensitivity, ADHD and self-esteem, perimenopause symptoms, ADHD and identity, neurodivergent mental health, menopause mental health, ADHD coaching women, ADHD empowerment, ADHD podcast, Black ADHD Women, People of Color Perimenopause, Neurodivergent Black Women
What happens when perimenopause hormones file for divorce and you realize your brain has been running on a completely different operating system your whole life? Enter today’s guest: Mandi Dixon, LPC, NCC — Licensed Professional Counselor, menopause mental health specialist, ADHD/executive functioning coach, and the therapist you didn’t know you needed until right this second.
Mandi works with midlife women in all their messy, magical “what the actual fuck” chaos—anxiety, identity unraveling, rage, executive dysfunction, and the hormonal storms that hit at the exact moment life is already asking more of us. She’s a proud member of The Menopause Society and ISSWSH, and she’s on a mission to finally bridge the massive gap between mental health and menopause education.
But here’s where it gets personal: Mandi recently discovered she’s neurodivergent herself. She made a TikTok about her ADHD revelation in perimenopause, it went viral, and suddenly she found herself not only guiding women through their midlife meltdowns, but sharing her own.
In this episode of ADHD Peri Punks, we go deep into:
🌪️ Her viral TikTok ADHD confession — what it’s like to out yourself online and be met with millions of “me too’s.”
🧠 Shifting identities — from “menopause therapist” to “ADHD menopause therapist,” and what her own late diagnosis means for her life and work.
🔥 The rage is real — why naming rage hits so hard in perimenopause, how it intersects with neurodivergence, and how to process it without shame.
🛠️ Therapy + coaching strategies — practical tools that actually help when executive dysfunction is riding shotgun.
💔 Identity free-fall — how masks come off in midlife, what women are telling her in her DMs and therapy sessions, and how to find stability in the unraveling.
🖕 Myth-busting — why ADHD isn’t a trend, why menopause isn’t “just mood swings,” and what neurodivergent midlife women really want the world to know.
And because we’re ADHD Peri Punks, we also rant about:
Content theft: why stealing reels and captions from smaller creators is unethical, harmful, and needs to stop.
Religious shame: what it’s like for women in the Bible Belt to navigate perimenopause and neurodivergence while battling entrenched cultural + patriarchal narratives.
This episode is raw, validating, rage-fueled, and deeply funny. Whether you’re in the throes of hormonal chaos, wondering if you’re neurodivergent, or just sick of screaming into pillows instead of the damn void, you’re going to feel seen here.
👉 Where to find Mandi Dixon:
📲 Instagram + TikTok: @adhdmenopausetherapist
🌐 Website: mandidixonlpc.com
✨ Listener love helps us keep going!
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You are not alone, you are not broken, and you are not “too much.” You are a ragey, dopamine-chasing, hormonally unhinged legend—and we love you for it.
🔑 Keywords
Mandi Dixon, ADHD menopause therapist, ADHD therapist Texas, ADHD women, perimenopause and ADHD, neurodivergent women, late ADHD diagnosis, executive dysfunction, menopause rage, religious shame and menopause, Bible Belt women, content theft social media, ADHD TikTok viral, ADHD mental health, therapy strategies ADHD women, ISSWSH, The Menopause Society, midlife identity crisis, ADHD podcast, ADHD Peri Punks
What happens when you hand a late-diagnosed, unapologetically real ADHD business coach a frying pan and tell her to serve tough love? You get Karrie Lemansky — better known as Karrie Out Loud — and this unfiltered, laugh-til-you-snort conversation.
In this episode of ADHD Peri Punks, we sit down with Karrie, a 51-year-old ADHD coach, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed “Chief Weirdo,” whose mission is to help neurodivergent adults stop spinning, start thriving, and own their brilliance without apology. With her viral “Frying Pan of Love” approach, Karrie combines blunt honesty with deep compassion to cut through the shame and overwhelm so many ADHDers carry.
We talk about what it means to be diagnosed late in life and how that collides with the chaos of perimenopause. Karrie shares her own story of navigating hormones, brain fog, rage, and the cultural gaslighting that tells women to just “cope better.” And because this is ADHD Peri Punks, we keep it raw, hilarious, and a little sweary (okay, a lot sweary).
This isn’t a motivational fluff piece. It’s a real talk about:
Why shame keeps ADHD adults stuck in cycles of self-doubt
How Karrie turned her own struggles into a business that empowers others
The intersection of ADHD + perimenopause (aka: rage, fatigue, and WTF moments)
The importance of neurodivergent-led coaching and community
Why women 35+ need to stop suffering in silence about their hormones and start demanding better care
And yes… why sometimes the only cure is a good frying pan of love.
Karrie also dishes on her tough-love coaching style, and why being a “weirdo” is the ultimate superpower. If you’ve ever felt too much, too messy, or too behind, this episode will make you feel seen, heard, and maybe even a little fired up to finally stop apologizing for existing.
Whether you’re navigating late diagnosis, perimenopause, entrepreneurship, or just the daily chaos of ADHD life, this conversation is your permission slip to ditch the shame and grab your metaphorical frying pan.
Listen now for an episode that’s equal parts therapy, stand-up comedy, and punk rock pep talk.
Dr. Gilly Kahn joins ADHD Peri Punks to celebrate the launch of her new book, Allow Me to Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women’s ADHD. We dive into the real emotional toll of masking, the impact of perimenopause on neurodivergent women, and how clinicians can better support those of us who feel “too much.” Gilly gets candid about the pressures of being a psychologist, writer, and mom—and offers deeply human advice for anyone who’s tired of fighting their brain.
We talk hormone chaos, emotional regulation, and the power of reclaiming your voice—at any age. Whether you’re 35 and wondering if it’s all in your head or 55 and mad as hell, this one’s for you.
It's a veritable masterclass in emotion regulation, late-diagnosis ADHD, and giving zero f*cks about what society says you should be.
💥 We also talk perimenopause specifically. 💥 We talk rage, shame, and softness. 💥 We talk about why women get missed—and what we can do about it.
If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” this one’s for you. 👂 Rate us 5 stars and leave a review—it helps us fight the algorithm patriarchy. 📘 Grab Gilly’s book now—available everywhere!
🖕Middle fingers up. Let’s interrupt some bullsh*t.
🔗 Follow Dr. Gilly Kahn: 📘 Allow Me to Interrupt – Out now! 📸 Instagram: @drgillykahn 📹 TikTok: @dr.gillykahn 🌐 Website: drgillykahn.com
In Part 2 of our conversation with ADHD icon Laura Mears-Reynolds — creator and co-host of the ADHDAF podcast and ADHDAF+ — we unleash the fire. We pick up right where we left off: Laura vs. the media. From misquotes to misogyny, we talk about what it means to tell your truth loudly and why the world still tries to silence women with ADHD.
We dig into visibility, vulnerability, and the importance of rage as a revolutionary force. Laura shares what it’s like to run an international community while navigating the messiness of neurodivergence and looming perimenopause. We also talk about radical authenticity, overcoming RSD, self-love, and what she’d say to anyone who thinks ADHD is just a trend. This episode is equal parts therapy, stand-up comedy, and righteous rebellion.
Keywords: Laura Mears-Reynolds, ADHD is not a trend, ADHDAF, ADHD women, neurodivergent rage, ADHD and media, ADHD podcast, feminist, ADHD Peri Punks, ADHD menopause, visibility, ADHD vulnerability, ADHDAF+, ADHD community support, feminist media critique, ADHD fashion, leopard print, ADHD activism, ADHD and feminism, Simple Politics, dyscalculia, Hannah Huxford, Tatton Spiller
Summary:
In Part 1 of our wildly unfiltered and utterly epic conversation with Laura Mears-Reynolds — aka Renegade, host of the globally popular ADHDAF podcast and founder of ADHDAF+ — we dive deep into the grief, rage, and revolutionary resilience that fuel her work. Laura opens up about the brutal realities of living with undiagnosed ADHD, the impact of RSD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria but also her coined term "Really Shit Daydreams™"), and how burnout nearly took her out before she rose up as a leader and advocate for late-diagnosed women and marginalized genders.
We talk about the emotional cost of masking, the cracks in the UK mental health system, and how Laura’s anti-ableist activism has kicked open the doors of ADHD visibility. This isn’t just an interview — it’s a leopard print army RAWR, a validation, and a call to radically rest when the world demands your grind.
Keywords:
Laura Mears-Reynolds
ADHDAF
ADHD podcast
RSD
rejection sensitivity dysphoria
ADHD burnout
ADHD grief
late-diagnosed ADHD
neurodivergent women
masking
radical rest
DSM
UK mental health
ADHD community
feminist podcast
ADHD Peri Punks
ADHD and emotions
ADHD and media
ADHD activism
neurodivergence
Feeling like your brain has left the chat? In this episode, we explore the messy intersection of burnout, executive dysfunction, and perimenopausal brain fog in neurodivergent women. We’re calling out the dangerous “adult-onset ADHD” myth, unpacking the hormonal crash behind your midlife identity crisis, and offering practical, punk-fueled validation.
💥 What You’ll Learn:
The real reason ADHD often gets diagnosed in midlife
How menopause-related hormone shifts disrupt your neurodivergent brain
Why executive dysfunction isn’t laziness or lack of motivation
How to differentiate burnout from neurological shutdown
Why rest isn’t always enough—and what else to try
🔍 Topics We Cover:
Estrogen-dopamine interplay and brain fog
Executive dysfunction vs. physical fatigue
Capitalist productivity traps and the myth of bounce-back
Diagnosis denial, medical gaslighting, and wellness misinformation
Reclaiming self-awareness, neurodivergence, and your time
💊 Meds & Support Mentioned:
Wellbutrin
ADHD stimulants (contextually discussed)
Restorative practices (non-productivity-based)
📚 Resources + Shoutouts:
Unmasking Autism by Dr. Devon Price
Burnout: The Podcast by Emily & Amelia Nagoski
Ramsay & Rostain (2016). Clinical Psychology Review
Louise Newson, British Menopause Society
📱 Follow + Connect:
→ DM us your ragey brain fog stories @adhdperipunks on IG and TikTok
→ Share this episode with a friend who's questioning everything
→ Rate = comment + review to help us smash stigma and reach more ND midlifers
Summary
Midlife exhaustion hits different when you’re neurodivergent—and in this episode of ADHD PeriPunks, we break down the tangled mess of burnout, executive dysfunction, and menopause brain fog. Sarah and Chrissy dive into what happens when ADHD or autism collides with perimenopause, and why the collapse of your coping strategies isn’t a failure—it’s biology.
We dismantle the myth of “adult-onset ADHD” (nope, not a thing), explore how hormonal changes disrupt neurotransmitter function—especially dopamine and estrogen—and explain why so many women finally reach diagnosis in midlife. We also cover the subtle but important differences between physical fatigue and neurological shutdown, and why rest alone won’t fix what’s actually executive dysfunction.
This episode validates the hell out of ND women who are feeling broken, exhausted, or confused—and arms you with the science, language, and community you need to make sense of it all. Plus, we rant (lovingly) about misinformation in the wellness world, the pressure to be “productive,” and how capitalism gaslights women into ignoring our very real neurological needs.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I burned out, or is my brain just not braining?”—this one’s for you.
Keywords:ADHD executive dysfunction vs burnout, menopause brain fog ADHD, perimenopause fatigue neurodivergence, late ADHD diagnosis women, estrogen dopamine and ADHD, neurodivergent women midlife, adult ADHD myths, mental health perimenopause, cognitive overload ADHD, hormonal changes and brain function
If you’ve ever had to leave a room because the lights were too bright, someone’s perfume felt like a personal attack, or the sound of chewing made you want to crawl out of your skin—this one’s for you. In this episode of ADHD PeriPunks, Sarah and Chrissy unpack the chaotic reality of sensory overload in neurodivergent women during perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
We explore how lifelong sensory sensitivities linked to ADHD and autism often intensify during midlife, thanks to plummeting estrogen levels and disrupted dopamine regulation. From clothes that suddenly feel like torture devices to crowded restaurants that trigger full-body shutdowns, we break down how hormonal shifts magnify sensory processing issues—and why it’s not “just aging.”
We also dive into the science of sensory gating, midlife hormone chaos, and how masking and chronic stress contribute to sensory burnout. Most importantly, we talk about how to advocate for your sensory needs without shame. Whether it’s ditching your bra, investing in noise-canceling headphones, or saying “hell no” to overstimulating social plans—this episode is your permission slip to stop tolerating sensory misery.
Expect rants, real talk, research-backed insight, and punk-fueled validation.
Keywords:
ADHD sensory overload, menopause and sensory sensitivity, autism perimenopause, estrogen dopamine ADHD, neurodivergent women and hormones, sensory processing issues midlife, overstimulation in perimenopause, hormone-related sensory changes, ADHD menopause strategies, sensory regulation women's health
📚 Shoutouts & Resources:
Book: Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg
Podcast: The Sensory Project Show
Research: Mather, M., & Goldstein, J. M. (2015). “Effects of Hormone Therapy on Sensory and Cognitive Function.” Journal of Neuroscience.
In this episode, Chrissy and Sarah throw down about how ADHD time blindness and peri/menopause brain fog join forces to create what we’re calling time dysmorphia. And here’s the thing: it’s not just inconvenient—it can absolutely fuck with your ability to hold onto who you are. We discuss the challenges of navigating time perception, memory loss, and identity and let you in on three things: 1) Time perception can be significantly altered during perimenopause. 2) Hormonal fluctuations can impact memory and cognitive function. and 3) Grief can exacerbate feelings of identity loss and memory issues. SO, if you are feeling like time is slipping away from you and/or are experiencing memory blips and cognitive fog, get in there now! This one's for you.
This isn’t moodiness. This is medically induced rage—and it’s f*cking valid. In this episode, Sarah and Chrissy dive into the volcanic emotional fallout when perimenopause meets ADHD emotional dysregulation. We’re talking cortisol chaos, estrogen withdrawal, and a lifetime of masking suddenly going nuclear. Rage isn’t your enemy—it’s your data. And sometimes? It’s your power source. Topics covered:
How dropping estrogen affects serotonin, cortisol, and your chill
Why ND women hit the burnout wall HARD in midlife
The connection between masking, medical gaslighting, and explosive emotion
How rage becomes a message, not a malfunction
Tools for using anger as clarity, not collateral damage
Research cited:
Dr. Louise Newson on midlife mood and HRT; motional regulation during hormonal decline, cortisol/serotonin impact
Rebecca Traister’s Good and Mad (cultural commentary on women’s rage)
Feel like setting something on fire? Hit play first. Your rage isn’t too much—it’s exactly what this broken system needs to hear.
WE'RE ON A MISSION, and WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
ADHD PERI PUNKS is the rebel podcast set to empower women and lend support to those around them as they navigate the wild expedition of ADHD and perimenopause/menopause.
Blowing the roof off the stigma surrounding this arena, it's about embracing these natural states of being by owning your rant, accepting yourself, and raising awareness through shared experiences and knowledge.
We aim to create a punk community where authenticity reigns, and you can safely celebrate and express your neurodivergent, hormone-rockin' self.
Find us on Instagram @adhdperipunks
Your ADHD didn’t just get worse for no reason—your hormones set your dopamine supply on fire.
Perimenopause tanks estrogen, and estrogen is the unsung hero of your dopamine regulation. ADHD + per/menopause isn’t just a mess—it’s a biochemical betrayal.
We break it all down in this episode of ADHD PeriPunks—raw stories, real science, and survival tools.
🎧 Hit play, tag a fellow queen of chaos, and remember: you’re not batshit crazy... You’ve just been (hopefully just temporarily lol) hormonally hijacked.
Dr. Lisa Mosconi – Research on menopause and brain function
The Menopause Brain (book)
Studies on estrogen and dopamine in female brains (e.g., Mosconi et al., 2017, Nature Reviews Neuroscience)
Dr. Louise Newson – Hormonal influence on ADHD symptoms and need for HRT in perimenopause
Podcast: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
Dr. Jen Gunter – The Menopause Manifesto (book)
Critical of misinformation, emphasizes medical accuracy
Other Scientific Concepts Mentioned:
Estrogen’s role in regulating dopamine and serotonin
Executive dysfunction exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations
In part 2 of this unfiltered two-part episode where Sarah and Chrissy get raw about what it’s really like trying to balance ADHD, perimenopause, and mental health while society screams “just try harder,” they continue to discuss various supplements and herbal remedies they have tried and/or currently take to help manage their ADHD and peri/menopause symptoms. They talk grief, hormones, autism crossovers, COVID brain fog, and why mindfulness isn’t a cure-all, and in part 2 you get a bonus tangent rant on capitalism, and of course, we can't seem to get through an episode without talking tits! No, we didn't know boobs would come up, but they somehow always do, so let's just proceed accordingly moving forward with this knowledge! This is your permission slip to burn the productivity rulebook, get curious about what works for you, and say fuck it to shame.
Part 2: Topics and key words include hot flashes, word recall, brain fog, early onset dementia, hair loss, autoimmune challenges, capitalism, and ... boobs.
Medications, Supplements, and support strategies mentioned:
NMN, NAD, Wellbutrin, Black cohosh, Turmeric, Moringa, DIM, Nutrafol, oral minoxidil (Rogaine), Vitamins D, K, and Omega 3, Cod liver oil, Collagen peptides, Verisol, Fortibone and Fortigel collagen types.
Reminder and disclaimer: The meds, supplements, natural remedies, and other support strategies mentioned in ADHD Peri Punks are not meant to replace professional medical advice. These conversations are based on the lived experiences of both Chrissy and Sarah, and their health interventions are their individual choices based on their unique body chemistries, specific health circumstances, and consultations with their individual physicians and therapists.
On the heels of episode 6 where Sarah shared about her biopsy for endometrial cancer, Sarah and Chrissy give a real-time health update from both their sides. Sarah discusses the most current test results and next steps, and only these two punks can turn potentially serious problems and stress into morbid comic relief with their maniacal laughter. This 12-minute bonus tidbit is tailor-made for us ADHDers... so short, we think even YOU might be able to get through the whole 12 minutes without zoning out and having to restart it. We believe in you!
Summary:
In this unfiltered two-part episode, Sarah and Chrissy get raw about what it’s really like trying to balance ADHD, perimenopause, and mental health—while society screams “just try harder.” From sleep-deprived chaos to med titration meltdowns, they rip into the stigma around ADHD meds, the fear-mongering around HRT, and the bullshit idea that supplements alone can “fix” you. They talk grief, hormones, autism crossovers, COVID brain fog, and why mindfulness isn’t a cure-all—but it sure beats yelling at your family. This is your permission slip to burn the productivity rulebook, get curious about what works for you, and say fuck it to shame.
Part 1: Topics and key words include stimulant meds, Bioidentical HRT (hormone replacement therapy), sleep, COVID, meltdowns, hormonal imbalances, ADHD, Autism, the fear and stigma surrounding medication, meditation, yoga, breath work, OCD, and supplements.
Medications, Supplements, and support strategies mentioned:
Ritalin (fast acting methylphenidate), Concerta (Extended release methylyphenidate), Estrogel, progesterone, magnesium cream, mushroom tinctures, black cohosh, chase tree
Reminder and disclaimer: The meds, supplements, natural remedies, and other support strategies mentioned in ADHD Peri Punks are not meant to replace professional medical advice. These conversations are based on the lived experiences of both Chrissy and Sarah, and their health interventions are their individual choices based on their unique body chemistries, specific health circumstances, and consultations with their individual physicians and therapists.
⚠️ Trigger Warning:
This episode includes a discussion of a recent endometrial cancer scare, medical procedures, and the emotional toll of waiting for test results. We also explore themes of medical gaslighting, hormonal changes, and the mental health challenges faced by neurodivergent women. Please take care while listening.
Episode 6 summary:
In this powerful episode, Sarah shares the story of a recent endometrial cancer biopsy and the internalized urge to stay silent in order to protect others. Chrissy and Sarah unpack how women—especially ND women—are often conditioned to minimize their pain and navigate peri/menopause alone.
Together, they explore:
The emotional strain of waiting for medical results
Why women delay or avoid sharing serious health concerns
The intersection of ADHD, hormonal shifts, and medical gaslighting
The importance of self-advocacy, regular check-ups, and speaking up
How partners, friends, and communities can show up with real support
And why breaking the silence around women’s health isn’t just important—it’s life-saving.
This one’s honest, raw, and a reminder that none of us should have to suffer quietly. 💥
SUMMARY:
In this episode of ADHD Peri Punks, we dive into our journey of launching the podcast, discussing the intersection of ADHD and peri/menopause. We explore the importance of communication with partners, the impact of hormonal changes on mental health, and the need for education and awareness surrounding these topics. Through personal anecdotes and shared experiences, we also emphasize the significance of open conversations and support systems for women navigating these challenges and the importance of not resisting and/or lying about our need for rest!
TAKEAWAYS:
The podcast aims to empower women navigating ADHD and perimenopause.
Communication with partners is crucial for understanding and support.
Hormonal changes can significantly impact mental health and relationships.
Education and awareness about ADHD and menopause are essential.
Personal experiences highlight the challenges faced by women in midlife.
Open conversations can help break the stigma surrounding these topics.
Support systems are vital for women dealing with ADHD and hormonal changes.
The importance of sharing experiences to foster community and understanding.
Men should be included in conversations about menopause and ADHD.
Self-advocacy and empowerment are key in managing health.