This is 50: Reflections on a Roller Coaster Year of Sobriety, Menopause and ADHD

If you'd like to be part of a community that supports this season of life, visit thrivewithchristy.comIn this episode of RTDB, Christy shares the unfiltered reality of 50 becoming one of the hardest — and most transformative — years of her life. What began as a season of exhaustion, brain fog, emotional overwhelm, and feeling like she was “falling behind” eventually led to deeper answers: menopause, hormonal shifts, an ADHD diagnosis, and a complete reevaluation of work, identity, and success.Christy reflects on how her 8th year of sobriety felt like year one because of the chaos of perimenopause and post-menopausal changes that affected her focus, emotional regulation, confidence, and ability to perform in high-pressure corporate environments the way she always had before.This episode is an honest conversation about what happens when high-achieving women suddenly realize they can no longer “push through” symptoms that are biological, neurological, and deeply intertwined. Christy discusses the grief of leaving a career she worked hard to build, the fear and shame that can come with executive dysfunction and burnout, and why so many women are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or silently struggling during midlife transitions.She also shares why seeking support matters — from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) conversations to finding qualified mental health and psychiatric care that understands the intersection of hormones, ADHD, anxiety, burnout, and women’s health.If you’ve ever felt like you suddenly stopped recognizing yourself, this episode is a reminder that you are not lazy, broken, weak, or failing. Sometimes your brain, body, and nervous system are asking for support — not more pressure.In This Episode of RTDB:What 8 years of sobriety has taught Christy about resilience and self-awarenessThe unexpected ways menopause impacted focus, mood, motivation, and emotional regulationHow ADHD symptoms became impossible to ignore during hormonal changesThe reality of struggling professionally after years of high performanceWhy leaving a corporate role can feel both devastating and freeingThe connection between hormones, executive function, anxiety, and burnoutWhy women deserve informed conversations about HRT and psychiatric supportHow midlife can become a starting line instead of an endingListen If You’ve Ever:Felt like your brain changed overnightWondered if menopause was affecting your mental healthStruggled to keep up at work despite trying harderBeen diagnosed with ADHD later in lifeFelt ashamed of burnout or emotional overwhelmQuestioned your identity after leaving a careerNeeded permission to ask for helpBecause sometimes “This is 50” isn’t about slowing down — it’s about finally understanding yourself clearly for the first time.Resources:Dr. Mary Claire Haver, thepauselife.comAshleigh Auth (FL only), Pausitive Women's CareHormones by Design (TX only), https://hormonesbydesign.com/She Recovers, https://sherecovers.org/