ADHD or Perimenopause or both? Why Your Brain Feels Broken
A calm, clear explainer for women who feel overwhelmed, foggy, forgetful, and unlike themselves.
If you’ve been wondering…
“Is this ADHD getting worse?”
“Is this perimenopause?”
“Why do I feel like I’m losing my mind?”
“Why can I remember 2012 but not what I walked into the kitchen for?”
“Why am I so overwhelmed by tasks that used to be easy?”
You’re not alone — and you’re not broken, as it’s probably not early-onset alzheimer’s.
Women in midlife often hit a double-wave of neurological change:
ADHD + perimenopause + modern stress = a brain that feels overloaded and offline.
Let’s break down what’s happening in the simplest, most validating way possible.
Part 1: The ADHD–Perimenopause Overlap Is REAL
ADHD and perimenopause share nearly identical symptoms — and when they happen together, everything intensifies.
Shared symptoms include:
brain fog
trouble focusing
forgetfulness
emotional overwhelm
sudden irritability or low tolerance
anxiety
impulsive decisions
low motivation
“I can’t start” paralysis
sensory overload
sleep changes
executive dysfunction
This is why so many women say:
“I used to manage my ADHD… and then perimenopause hit like a freight train.”
Part 2: Why Perimenopause Feels Like ADHD Got Worse
Starting in your late 30s or 40s, estrogen begins to rise and fall unpredictably.
This matters because:
Estrogen = dopamine support.
And dopamine is the main neurotransmitter involved in ADHD.
So when estrogen fluctuates, you may experience:
difficulty concentrating
trouble organizing
emotional reactivity
trouble with working memory
feeling scattered
overwhelm from normal tasks
procrastination
trouble switching tasks
impaired verbal recall
Women describe it as:
“My brain used to be messy… now it feels scrambled.”
Part 3: The 5 Most Confusing Overlaps
Let’s make it simple.
1. ADHD Forgetfulness vs. Perimenopause Memory Fog
ADHD forgetfulness = losing track of small steps.
Perimenopause forgetfulness = losing words, names, sentences.
Together?
You walk into a room, open your phone, forget why… and forget what you were supposed to remember.
2. ADHD Emotional Sensitivity vs. Perimenopause Mood Swings
ADHD emotions come fast and strong.
Perimenopause emotions come in waves that change daily.
Combined, you get:
sudden rage
random crying
deep irritability
overstimulation
“short fuse” reactions
3. ADHD Sleep Issues vs. Perimenopause Night Waking
ADHD = irregular sleep cycles.
Perimenopause = cortisol surges + hot flash wakeups.
The combo = feeling hungover without drinking.
4. ADHD Task Paralysis vs. Perimenopause Motivation Crashes
ADHD paralysis = overwhelmed brain pathways.
Perimenopause motivation dips = hormonal dopamine drops.
Together =
“I want to do it… I just can’t start.”
5. ADHD Anxiety vs. Perimenopause Fight-or-Flight
ADHD anxiety = racing thoughts.
Perimenopause anxiety = hormonal adrenaline spikes.
Combined =
catastrophizing
worrying about small things
feeling unsafe for no reason
overthinking choices
“waiting for something bad to happen”
Part 4: How to Tell What’s Causing What
Here’s a simple self-check:
If symptoms have been lifelong, it’s ADHD.
(e.g., procrastination, distractibility, task paralyis)
If symptoms are new in the last 1–3 years, it’s likely perimenopause.
(e.g., anxiety, rage, insomnia, hot flashes, memory slips)
If symptoms suddenly got significantly worse, it’s the interaction of both.
Women with ADHD feel perimenopause symptoms more intensely — because your brain already requires more dopamine support than average. Sound familiar??
