What Does Perimenopause Have to Do with ADHD & Autism?

In this episode, Michelle talks about why so many women in their 40s and 50s are being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism and what this has to do with perimenopause. She shares why it can take women to hit middle age to realise that they aren’t neurotypical and how getting diagnosed herself this year has quite literally changed her life. She also shares how you can tackle your peri symptoms and get help for ADHD traits and potentially seek a diagnosis. Michelle Reveals • The flaws in the diagnostic criteria for autism and ADHD • How the symptoms of ADHD and ASD in girls were dismissed as personality traits, such as daydreaming, for decades • Why women and girls have spent generations masking their behaviour and finding ways to cope in a world set up for neurotypicals • Why the coping mechanisms and systems women have relied on their entire lives can stop working • The role oestrogen plays in the brain • Dopamine and serotonin are the neurotransmitters responsible for reward, motivation, focus and attention • How the right combination of HRT and ADHD medication has changed her life • Why masking can lead to burnout BEST MOMENTS "Teachers and doctors often dismissed them as emotional or shy, not neurodiverse” “Decades later, those same women are hitting perimenopause and suddenly the wheels are falling off” “During menopause, which can start as early as your mid to late 30s, oestrogen can begin to fluctuate unpredictably” “Perimenopause is unmasking traits that you may have been able to manage, suppress or work around for years” “It felt like my brain wasn’t connecting to my body” “The more you mask, the harder it is to be yourself” EPISODE RESOURCES 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