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/Shout-outs:

  • Dr. Jen Gunter on hormone literacy and emotional dysregulation; Rage as valid emotional data. Get her book The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism : https://tinyurl.com/fheca53j

• • Dr. Louise Newson on midlife mood and HRT; emotional regulation during hormonal decline, cortisol/serotonin impact. Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor

• • Rebecca Traister’s book Good and Mad : The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger https://tinyurl.com/34mp8b6d
  • Shout-out to ADHD Coach Meredith Carder, author of the book It All Makes Sense Now: Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colorful Life : https://tinyurl.com/wy9939ez and Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hummingbird_adhd
  • Shout-out to Neuropsychologist, Dr. Jen Wolkin, author of Quick Calm: Easy Meditations to Short-Circuit Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroscience : https://tinyurl.com/ysny2y3y and Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/drjenwolkin
  • See podcast episodes linked here as well for more commentary and perspectives from these badass rebel women!

• 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

  • www.balance-menopause.com

  • 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!