Why Neurodivergent Women Struggle More in Midlife (And What Most Doctors Miss) with Dr Sarah Secor-Jones

Send us Fan MailPerimenopause is hard for most women, but for many neurodivergent women it can feel like someone turned the volume up on everything: emotions, sensory load, anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, sleep problems, and the everyday friction of ADHD or autistic traits. We sit down with Dr Sarah Secor-Jones, an integrative and functional medicine physician and founder of Left Lifestyle, to unpack why this happens and why so many patients are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or treated with a one-size-fits-all plan that never quite fits. We talk candidly about what clinicians often miss when they focus on mental health alone: hormone changes, progesterone and oestrogen sensitivity, neurotransmitter balance, and the role of mitochondrial health in energy, mood, and resilience. Sarah shares practical nuance around HRT dosing, why “standard” protocols can backfire for sensitive nervous systems, and how a root cause approach connects symptoms that look unrelated on paper but are tightly linked in real life. You will also hear what relationship-based medicine looks like day to day: longer appointments, rapid check-ins, and care that adapts as the body responds. We zoom out into the business and systems side too, including the challenge of building a clinic without transactional care, the power of honest patient education, and why platforms like Substack can help create supportive communities for late-diagnosed women asking “now what?”. If you care about women’s health, menopause care, ADHD and autism in adults, functional medicine, and longevity, this conversation offers both clarity and a better standard to aim for. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone navigating midlife, and leave a review so more people can find the support they deserve.👤 GUEST BIOGRAPHYDr. Sarah Secor-Jones, DO, CHSE, FACEP is an integrative and functional medicine physician, founder of Lesh Lifestyle, and former military physician with 25 years of service. She specializes in helping neurodivergent women in midlife navigate hormone changes, brain health, and longevity through a personalized, root-cause approach. Sarah combines expertise in emergency medicine, functional medicine, and women's health to help patients optimize mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter balance, and overall wellbeing. She is also the creator of the rapidly growing Substack Neurodivergent Women in Midlife, where she educates thousands of readers worldwide on health, hormones, and neurodivergence.Website: https://www.leshlifestyle.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sarah-secor-jones-6b8884299/Subscribe on SubstackVoices in Health and Wellness is published on Substack, as part of The Diagnostician. Every episode lands there with written notes and reflections you won't find in the podcast feed. Free to subscribe.👉 https://thediagnostician.substack.com/s/voices-in-health-and-wellnessAbout the podcastVoices in Health and Wellness features conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential, with clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of care.About Dr Andrew GreenlandUK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Trained in both conventional and root-cause approaches, Andrew helps people optimise health, performance, and longevity, with a focus on cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.