Danielle Elliott

Oh, yeah. The title of the show comes from an interview with a woman named Terry Matlin. She's been treating women with ADHD since the 90s. And during the pandemic, she received more emails than she's ever received with women seeking treatment. And she said these women were just climbing the walls like they needed help. And yeah, that's where the name of the show comes from.

Oh, yeah. The title of the show comes from an interview with a woman named Terry Matlin. She's been treating women with ADHD since the 90s. And during the pandemic, she received more emails than she's ever received with women seeking treatment. And she said these women were just climbing the walls like they needed help. And yeah, that's where the name of the show comes from.

Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. Yeah. Thanks for coming in.

Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. Yeah. Thanks for coming in.

My questions about ADHD and perimenopause fit into a bigger category, ADHD and hormones. And I'm not even slightly the only person asking about them. Women have posted all sorts of stories and questions about ADHD and hormones on Reddit. Allow me to read you one of those posts.

My questions about ADHD and perimenopause fit into a bigger category, ADHD and hormones. And I'm not even slightly the only person asking about them. Women have posted all sorts of stories and questions about ADHD and hormones on Reddit. Allow me to read you one of those posts.

Hey y'all, I just got back from a session with my psychiatrist, and she shared with me something that's kind of blown my mind. Apparently, that's in all caps, girl hormones throw all sorts of wrenches into ADHD and ADHD medication. After that conversation with her psychiatrist, the woman started tracking her symptoms alongside her menstrual cycles. She noticed, It's like clockwork.

Hey y'all, I just got back from a session with my psychiatrist, and she shared with me something that's kind of blown my mind. Apparently, that's in all caps, girl hormones throw all sorts of wrenches into ADHD and ADHD medication. After that conversation with her psychiatrist, the woman started tracking her symptoms alongside her menstrual cycles. She noticed, It's like clockwork.

The post is from four years ago. Back then, it was filed under the hashtag Tips and Techniques. Today, there's an entire category on Reddit called ADHD and hormone-related issues.

The post is from four years ago. Back then, it was filed under the hashtag Tips and Techniques. Today, there's an entire category on Reddit called ADHD and hormone-related issues.

Women write about having increased cognitive difficulties, irritability, depression, rejection sensitivity, and other symptoms, usually during the second half of their menstrual cycles, during postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause. One woman said her ADHD eased when she became pregnant and then became unmanageable when she stopped breastfeeding.

Women write about having increased cognitive difficulties, irritability, depression, rejection sensitivity, and other symptoms, usually during the second half of their menstrual cycles, during postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause. One woman said her ADHD eased when she became pregnant and then became unmanageable when she stopped breastfeeding.

Another said she thought she had her ADHD handled until she hit perimenopause. She wrote, In yet another post, a woman said she is fairly certain she has ADHD, but her doctor can't diagnose her. Her symptoms came on during menopause, and according to the DSM, symptoms must start by the time a person turns 12. Her doctor is following that guideline.

Another said she thought she had her ADHD handled until she hit perimenopause. She wrote, In yet another post, a woman said she is fairly certain she has ADHD, but her doctor can't diagnose her. Her symptoms came on during menopause, and according to the DSM, symptoms must start by the time a person turns 12. Her doctor is following that guideline.

Reading this brought me back to my earlier question. Is it possible to develop ADHD later in life? The women writing these posts are frustrated. The author of the first one captured the feeling well. She wrote, so at least I know why these issues are happening and that's kind of a relief. I'm not broken. I'm not not trying hard enough. I'm not a mutant. Why doctors didn't tell me this before now?

Reading this brought me back to my earlier question. Is it possible to develop ADHD later in life? The women writing these posts are frustrated. The author of the first one captured the feeling well. She wrote, so at least I know why these issues are happening and that's kind of a relief. I'm not broken. I'm not not trying hard enough. I'm not a mutant. Why doctors didn't tell me this before now?

No effing clue. The questions and frustrations are not exactly new. Sari Solden told me women have been asking them for decades. But the rise in diagnosis means many more women are asking about hormones and ADHD. Most of them want to know how to adjust treatment to account for these hormonal swings. Doctors and scientists don't have solid answers. At least, not yet.

No effing clue. The questions and frustrations are not exactly new. Sari Solden told me women have been asking them for decades. But the rise in diagnosis means many more women are asking about hormones and ADHD. Most of them want to know how to adjust treatment to account for these hormonal swings. Doctors and scientists don't have solid answers. At least, not yet.

On this final episode, I'm going to let you hear from a few researchers. We're going to talk a lot about hormones and why we don't yet understand, scientifically, how those hormones affect women with ADHD. or whether it's possible to develop ADHD after the age of 12.

On this final episode, I'm going to let you hear from a few researchers. We're going to talk a lot about hormones and why we don't yet understand, scientifically, how those hormones affect women with ADHD. or whether it's possible to develop ADHD after the age of 12.