Why women with ADHD feel overwhelmingly ‘controlled’ by their hormones
People with ADHD are unusually sensitive to hormone shifts. Psychiatrists have started to pay attention, creating strategies to address the intense emotions and cognitive challenges caused by these changes
The experience of women with ADHD is often described as feeling controlled by their hormones. Writing from personal experience, one author discovered that at 48 years old, she had ADHD, and experienced mood swings from happy to angry, tearful, and overwhelmed since puberty. Despite knowing both of these aspects of herself, she had never connected them together.
Recent research suggests that hormonal fluctuations during key stages like puberty, menstrual cycles, post-pregnancy, and perimenopause can significantly exacerbate ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations can make life chaotic for women with ADHD. While there is still much to learn, understanding how hormones affect both the body and brain offers hope for better treatments that target hormone levels, brain chemistry, or both.
Women with ADHD have often been overlooked in scientific studies due to underrepresentation and the complexities hormones introduce in interpreting results. Additionally, ADHD was historically considered a male condition until the mid-1990s, leading to diagnostic criteria focused on male symptoms. Girls with ADHD tend to exhibit inattentive symptoms that are less noticeable to teachers, often leading to misdiagnosis or inadequate support.
Research examining hormonal fluctuations in women with ADHD has found that they are unusually sensitive to these changes. A 2021 study involving 200 women revealed that almost half met the criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and nearly 60% experienced postpartum depression, which is significantly higher than the general population.
Hormones can also intensify cognitive symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Studies have shown a twofold increase in these symptoms following ovulation and during later stages of the menstrual cycle.
The findings suggest that hormonal fluctuations can affect whether someone meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD from one week to the next, potentially preventing accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. Understanding these fluctuations is crucial for improving the overall well-being of women with ADHD who may not have fully grasped the connection between their hormonal changes and ADHD symptoms.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
