50. HORMONES: When Hormones Hijack the Mind: ADHD, Perimenopause & Emotional Burnout with Dr Sunita Chelva

⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains a brief discussion of suicidal ideation at 17mins.

🚛 You survived pregnancy. You survived newborn chaos. You survived years of exhaustion.

Then perimenopause hit — and it felt like your ADHD exploded overnight.

If perimenopause has made your ADHD feel impossible — you’re not broken, and you’re definitely not the only one.

In this raw and relatable episode, Jane sits down with Dr. Sunita Chelva (Hero Menopause & Women’s Health) to unpack what happens when fluctuating hormones collide with ADHD brains. From brain fog and rage to misdiagnosis and burnout, this conversation shines a light on what women are really experiencing — and why it’s not “just Mum life.”

What We Cover in This Episode

• How estrogen and progesterone shifts in perimenopause impact dopamine and ADHD symptoms
• Why burnout, brain fog, rage, and emotional reactivity spike in the late 30s–50s
• The overlap between ADHD and PMDD — and why up to 70% of ADHD women are affected
• Why women are often offered antidepressants instead of hormone support
• How masking, multitasking, and guilt fuel emotional depletion
• Red flags when seeking help — and why you may need second or third opinions
• Practical steps: symptom tracking, seeking hormone-aware providers, and building support

This Episode Is For You If

• You feel like your ADHD has worsened in perimenopause
• You’ve experienced brain fog, rage, exhaustion, or guilt that doesn’t feel like “just Mum life”
• You’ve been told to try antidepressants but suspect hormones are playing a role
• You want to understand why PMDD and perimenopause hit ADHD women so hard
• You need validation, language, and next steps to advocate for yourself

References & Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Sunita Chalva — Hera Menopause & Women’s Health
• Hero Menopause Symptom Scorer - https://www.heramenopause.com.au/herasymptomscore
• Australasian Menopause Society — symptom tracking tools
• ADHD Mums Recommended Provider Tool — find GPs & specialists who understand ADHD + hormones
• Suggest your own Women’s Health Provider if you have had a good experience. https://form.jotform.com/242630327577863

Related ADHD Mums Episodes

• 🎧 The Perimenopause Crash — Progesterone, Stress, and the Rage Nobody Warned Us About
• 🎧 HRT, ADHD & Perimenopause: What No One’s Explaining to Women
• 🎧 Histamine + Hormones — Why You Feel Like You’re Falling Apart

✨ Listen now: HORMONES: When Hormones Hijack the Mind — ADHD, Perimenopause & Emotional Burnout — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au — because hormones may hijack your brain, but they don’t get to define your life — and you deserve support that actually works.

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