Why ADHD often looks different in women
Many women with ADHD don’t fit the traditional stereotype.
Instead, it may show up as:
- Persistent mental overload or racing thoughts
- Emotional sensitivity or reactivity
- Chronic fatigue or cycles of burnout
- Difficulty maintaining consistency rather than a lack of motivation
- Perfectionism, people-pleasing, or masking
- Symptoms that worsen with hormonal shifts
This is one reason ADHD in women is so often missed — and why support needs to account for the whole person and her stage of life.
What we address
When I work with women with ADHD
We explore the parts of your health and daily life that may be making things harder, then focus on the changes most relevant to you.
Micronutrient status
Consider dietary intake and relevant nutrient status, including iron, magnesium, zinc, omega-3s, and B vitamins where appropriate.
Gut health and digestion
Explore digestive concerns and whether they may be affecting food choices, comfort, or nutrient intake.
Stress response
Look at the demands on the nervous system and practical ways to support recovery and emotional regulation.
Sleep and daily rhythms
Identify patterns that may be disrupting rest and build realistic habits for more consistent sleep.
Hormonal changes
Consider how symptoms and support needs may change across the menstrual cycle and during perimenopause.
A note on diagnosis
Whether you have a formal diagnosis, are self-identified, or are beginning to question whether ADHD may be part of the picture — you’re welcome here.
My role is to help you explore nutrition and lifestyle support that fits your needs. An ADHD diagnosis or medical assessment remains the role of an appropriately qualified clinician.
Medication and ADHD
Medication can be a helpful tool for some women, and I take a balanced, non-judgmental view.
Nutrition and lifestyle support can sit alongside medical care, particularly when sleep, regular meals, stress, or other health concerns need attention.
I work collaboratively alongside prescribing doctors where medication is part of the picture.
Functional Testing
Gaining Clarity, Not Labels
When appropriate, testing can help answer a specific question and tailor support more precisely. The choice of test should follow your symptoms, history, and clinical context — testing is never required simply to begin working together.
Where relevant, we may discuss nutrient status, digestive concerns, or hormone assessment, including the DUTCH Test as one possible option. I’ll explain what a test can and cannot tell us before recommending it.
ADHD and Perimenopause
Is your ADHD getting harder to manage in your 40s or late 30s?
Many women first recognise their ADHD during perimenopause or notice that symptoms once felt manageable suddenly intensify.
Perimenopause doesn’t only affect reproductive hormones — it also affects brain chemistry. Oestrogen plays an important role in regulating dopamine, a neurotransmitter central to focus, motivation, and emotional regulation.
As hormone levels fluctuate, many women experience:
- worsening brain fog
- sleep disruption
- increased emotional sensitivity
- greater difficulty with organisation and follow-through
- fatigue and overwhelm
For women with ADHD, these changes can amplify existing patterns and make daily life feel significantly harder.
My work focuses on supporting the intersection between brain health, hormonal change, and nervous system regulation so that women can move through this transition with greater stability, clarity, and resilience.