Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Health, and Science for Women 35+ Ep. 499 ADHD Is Not What You Think – The Most Misunderstood Condition in Women with Shanna Pearson
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Sep 10, 2025 Join Shanna Pearson, Founder of Expert ADHD Coaching and author of Invisible ADHD, as she sheds light on the often misunderstood world of ADHD in women. Discover the significant differences in ADHD presentation between genders, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. Shanna discusses the societal pressures that contribute to misdiagnoses and offers practical strategies to manage ADHD symptoms. Learn about the impact of hormonal changes and lifestyle factors, and gain insights that could transform your understanding of ADHD.
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ADHD Is Lifelong Not Just For Kids
- ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition present from birth and not limited to childhood.
- Many adults diagnosed now have always had ADHD and developed coping strategies to get by.
Low Dopamine Underlies ADHD Behaviors
- Scientific consensus shows people with ADHD have less available dopamine in the brain.
- Many ADHD behaviors are unconscious attempts to create more dopamine or stimulus.
Gender Differences Change Presentation
- ADHD presents differently by gender: men's symptoms are often external and physical while women's are internal and less obvious.
- Female ADHD commonly shows as rumination, catastrophizing, and internal hyperactivity that teachers or peers may miss.
