The Truth About Perimenopause, ADHD, and Brain Health - with Dr. Saara Haapanen

This time, I talk to performance and wellness expert Dr. Saara Haapanen to uncover why so many high-functioning women feel like they are losing their focus and motivation during perimenopause. We explore the fascinating and often overlooked link between hormonal fluctuations and neurodiversity, specifically how the drop in oestrogen can unmask ADHD traits or cause existing coping strategies to crumble.  Dr. Saara shares her powerful "13 M's" framework to help us understand the various factors affecting our performance, moving us away from all-or-nothing thinking and toward small, sustainable wins.  It’s a conversation that’ll leave you feeling validated, informed, and hopeful, equipped with practical tools like movement-based regulation and mindset shifts to help you reclaim your sense of self and thrive through this transition Saara Reveals Why oestrogen levels fluctuate wildly during perimenopause before eventually declining, and how these shifts can significantly impair motivation, focus, and emotional regulation. How many women discover they have ADHD during perimenopause because the hormonal support they relied on to mask their symptoms disappears. How you can physically grow the part of the brain that handles difficult tasks by making and keeping small promises to yourself Why sustainable wellness isn't about massive overhauls; it is about timeline splits, where making a choice that is just 1% better for your future self can create a trajectory for long-term success. BEST MOMENTS "If you would never utter these words to your best friend or to another human being, why are you uttering them to yourself?" "There's no wagon. You're not on or off the wagon. You have every single day of your life... it’s about making a choice for your future self in that moment." "ADHD is a superpower as long as you know how to work with it." "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you, but your ACC is the part of your brain that you can grow every time you do something hard." SHOW RESOURCES https://drsaara.com/  https://www.moveatworkchallenge.com/ADHDhabits  HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops.  A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk