I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 50, after having gone through 5 years of difficulty with focus and attention. I went through a period of “grief”, because I had lived so many years in turmoil without knowledge of ADHD or treatment. Now, however, I am moving to a place of hope and gratitude, as I begin treatment.
My message is this: If you are a women aged 45-55, or so, and you are experiencing symptoms such as brain fog, irritablility, memory problems and trouble focusing, you may assume that the symptoms stem from perimenopause and/or menopause. However, it’s possible that you have undiagnosed ADHD. Women who have ADHD overwhelmingly report that the symptoms of ADHD grow worse during menopause. If you are having a particularly difficult time with the above symptoms, consider getting tested for ADHD. If you are diagnosed with ADHD, your doctors can help you with a treatment plan that focuses on alleviating ADHD symptoms while you go through perimenopause and menopause.
Lisa Uotinen