E115: Does your menstrual cycle affect your ADHD? Hormones, periods, and ADHD symptoms

All right, today we're talking about the elephant in the room: MENSTRUAL CYCLES. I know, I know - not everyone's favorite subject! But it's something we all deal with so we might as well discuss how our hormones and our periods affect us as mamas with ADHD. When you think about hormones, think about HOW MUCH your body has evolved through your life. Adolescence, puberty, pregnancy, postpartum...there's no denying everything's in flux pretty much all the time. So, the question is what do we REALLY need to know and how can we navigate our ADHD symptoms while our bodies are on a constant hormonal roller coaster? Sadly, there isn't a lot of research on the topic but there are a few really great resources that I'm excited to share in today's episode! Don't worry mama...I got you! I did a looooot of digging and I think you'll love the tools and resources I'm sharing. They'll shed some light on how our bodies work and what to do to be even MORE successful and gracious with ourselves as a woman with ADHD. Plus a big thank you to my friend and mentor, ADHD Coach Elizabeth Brink, for the research help! @coachelizabethbrink Want to dive in more? This topic comes up sometimes during our weekly group support calls for Daily Planning for ADHD Moms course. It's currently open for enrollment! Let's get your calendar crap and to-do list organized one step at a time, so you feel confident + capable in your day, even when your ADHD hijacks your plan. Click here to sign up --> bit.ly/adhdplan Join us in the Motherhood in ADHD Community Support Group on Facebook!  Next week we're diving into cycle syncing! When I first understood how cycle syncing worked and started implementing it into my life...it was a GAME CHANGER! Links to things we talked about on today's show: The ADHD Enclave Glowing Period Tracking App Hormones for Life Article PubMed Article - Prevalence of hormone-related mood disorder symptoms in women with ADHD Healthline Article - How to Work with Your Period, Not Against It YouTube Video - Your Menstrual Cycle Is More Than Just Your Period OurBodies Ourselves Article Medical News Today Article - How can your period affect bowel movements? Links Use these links to save on products I mentioned today: $10 Toward your purchase of Thinx Period Panties $5 Off Flex Click here for transcription.

Om Podcasten

Productivity, Parenting, and Education for Moms with Adult ADHD Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder... Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house. Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard! We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me? Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out. How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was. What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT. Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash. Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life. We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane. When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well. At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom. If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama! You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on! With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com