Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Podcast Episode 121: ADHD, Hormones, and Perimenopause: Why Your Brain Feels Different in Midlife With Dr. Jolene Brighten

121: ADHD, Hormones, and Perimenopause: Why Your Brain Feels Different in Midlife With Dr. Jolene Brighten

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, I interview my dear friend, Dr. Jolene Brighten. Dr. Brighten is an internationally recognized hormone expert, nutrition scientist, board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, certified menopause specialist and sex counselor, and bestselling author of Beyond the Pill, Is This Normal?, and the forthcoming book ADHD and Women.

Dr. Brighten and I discuss why ADHD is frequently missed in women, how hormonal fluctuations can influence symptoms, and why some women don’t recognize their neurodivergence until midlife. We also talk about the connection between ADHD and hormonal transitions, including puberty, starting or stopping hormonal birth control, postpartum, the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopause.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was the reminder that ADHD isn’t simply about what’s “wrong” with the brain. There can also be tremendous creativity, passion, problem-solving ability, and other strengths that come with a neurodivergent brain. The goal isn’t to change who you are, but to understand how your brain works, and find tools and strategies that help you work with it rather than against it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why ADHD is often missed in women: We often picture ADHD as something that a hyperactive little boy has, but girls are often taught to sit still, follow the rules, and take care of others. Girls and women with ADHD may mask symptoms because they are trying to fit in with social norms or just trying to manage a busy life. Dr. Brighten explains how people-pleasing and overachieving can hide ADHD symptoms for decades.
  • Why perimenopause can bring ADHD symptoms to the surface: Hormonal transitions can change the amount of energy women have available to maintain the strategies they’ve relied on throughout their lives. For some women, this may be when longstanding difficulties with focus, organization, time management, or executive function become much more noticeable.
  • Why estrogen isn’t the whole story when it comes to ADHD symptoms: If your focus or memory seems to change before your period, there may be more going on than an estrogen dip. Dr. Brighten connects the dots between progesterone, brain chemicals, and the patterns women may notice throughout their cycle.
  • What if the traits you’ve been trying to “fix” are also strengths? An ADHD brain can bring creativity, passion, and an ability to see possibilities others miss. Dr. Brighton talks about how to make room for those gifts while getting support with the tasks that take more out of you.
  • Can certain supplements and hormone therapies help ADHD? Dr. Brighten discusses the research around omega-3s, saffron, creatine, and hormone therapy, along with how these tools can fit into a more personalized approach that also considers nutrition, lifestyle, and other options.

Check Out Dr. Jolene Brighten’s New Book!

Written for every woman who’s been told her ADHD is just anxiety, burnout, or bad time management, ADHD and Women: A Guide to Optimizing Your Hormones and Thriving with ADHD uncovers the real reason ADHD symptoms often get worse during transitions like PMS, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. Anxiety, PMDD, focus and memory struggles, lack of motivation, brain fog, sleep disruption, sensory sensitivity, and emotional dysregulation are not personal failures – they are symptoms of dysregulation that ADHD women are more likely to report when hormones fluctuate.

Dr. Brighten draws on clinical research, patient experience, and her own lived journey as a neurodivergent woman. This book is your guide to understanding how your brain and hormones work together, so you can finally make them work for you, not against you. The book is now out – you can get your copy here!

Pro-tip: Dr. Brighten suggests jumping to chapter two, taking the quiz to figure out what’s going on with your unique symptoms, and then you can jump right into the program, which is a 14-day reset.

Connect with Dr. Jolene Brighten

Supplements Mentioned

  • Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind – A supplement formula from Dr. Jolene Brighten’s line designed to support cognitive function, mood, and brain health.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids – Essential fats, particularly EPA and DHA, that play important roles in brain, cardiovascular, and overall health. While omega-3 can be found in wild-caught seafood, nuts, and seeds, taking a high-quality fish oil supplement like EPA/DHA Essentials by Pure Encapsulations, OmegAvail™ Synergy by Designs for Health, or Dr. Brighten Essentials Omega Plus can ensure you’ll get sufficient levels of both EPA and DHA.
  • Saffron – A botanical ingredient that has been studied for its potential effects on mood and emotional well-being. It can be taken as a standalone supplement, and it’s also found in Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind.
  • Creatine – A naturally occurring compound involved in cellular energy production that has also been studied for potential cognitive and brain-health benefits. Consider Seeking Health Optimal Creatine.
  • Hormone therapy – An individualized therapeutic approach that uses hormones to address symptoms and physiological changes associated with hormonal transitions such as perimenopause and menopause. Learn more about HRT in my podcast Hormone Replacement Therapy Myths and Truths With Dr. Anna Garret.

Articles and Resources

Get the Full Episode Transcript

Let’s Connect!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂

About Our Host

Dr. Izabella Wentz

Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is now out in the world, and available here!

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About Our Guest

Dr. Jolene Brighten is an internationally recognized hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and founder of Dr. Brighten Essentials, a supplement company creating science-backed solutions for women’s health. Board-certified in naturopathic endocrinology, a certified menopause specialist, and sex counselor, she’s the bestselling author of Beyond the Pill, Is This Normal?, and ADHD & Women – empowering women to optimize their hormones and enhance sexual wellness. A passionate advocate for uncovering the root causes of hormonal imbalances, Dr. Brighten combines clinical expertise with evidence-based education to empower women to optimize their hormones, brain health, and sexual wellness. Through her writing, speaking engagements, and global educational platforms, she has inspired millions of women to better understand their bodies and reclaim vitality.

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