Toolkit Episode: PMDD, Sleep, Mood and the PIVOTAL Hormone Connections in ADHD Women and Girls
Gaining more awareness and understanding of the pivotal hormone connections and undiagnosed ADHD is life-changing and life-saving for many of us.
Living for decades not understanding why you have suffered so much with mood dysregulation, sleep issues, mental health crises, and extreme hormonal fluctuations such as PMDD (Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and perinatal depression is exhausting, to say the least. A new understanding of ADHD and how our hormones are interconnected means you can support and empower not only yourself but also the next generation .
My guest on today's Toolkit episode is Elizabeth (Lizzy) Swan, a teacher, coach, and education consultant who focuses on neurodiversity. Drawing on twenty years of experience as a qualified teacher, SENDCo, and headteacher, Lizzy supports children and families with guidance on SEND systems, including EHCPs. She works directly with children, both online and face-to-face, specialising in support for children with ADHD, autism, executive functioning differences and emotional well-being needs.
In this interview, Lizzy talks about the impact of living with undiagnosed neurodivergence on our menstrual cycles, mood, and mental health, advocating for ourselves and our daughters and creating new structures and ways of living to balance our hormones and support our energy.
In this episode of the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, Kate and Elizabeth speak about:
* Elizabeth shares her personal journey with getting diagnosed with ADHD at age 42, as well as her experiences with other conditions like generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD.
* Discussion of Elizabeth’s struggles during puberty and adolescence, including issues with disrupted sleep, migraines, mood swings, and risky behaviours due to undiagnosed ADHD.
* Missing academic potential
* Elizabeth's insights on the connection between ADHD, hormones, menstrual cycles, and conditions like PMDD, endometriosis, and migraines in teenage girls.
* The importance of understanding menstrual cycles and how they impact women and girls with ADHD, and the lack of awareness/support from medical professionals.
* Elizabeth's journey with finding the right ADHD medication titration, treatment plan and HRT, including the challenges of trial and error and advocating for herself.
* The impact of pregnancy, postpartum hormones, and motherhood on Elizabeth's ADHD symptoms and mental health, and the research linking ADHD to increased risk of perinatal and postpartum depression, as well as social anxiety.
* Elizabeth's current work as an ADHD coach and consultant advocating for better understanding, psychoeducation and support for girls and women with ADHD in educational, medical, and social systems.
* Practical tips Elizabeth shares for women and girls newly exploring ADHD, including tracking moods/cycles, dietary changes, and finding the right healthcare providers.
* Resources and ways for listeners to connect with Elizabeth and learn more about her work.
Timestamps of workshop
* Elizabeth’s backstory regarding to her diagnosis and her experience of this process in the UK (0:01)
* Starting to understand our menstrual cycles so that we don't feel disconnected and shamed around not knowing what's going on with us (9:03)
* Treatment of ADHD, including when we have hormonal issues as well such as menopause or post-natal depression (17:27)
* Perinatal depression more likely in women with ADHD (25:22)
* What to include in a holistic treatment plan for ADHD (34:02)
* How to start tracking your mood (39:36)
To connect with Elizabeth, you can visit her website or find her on Instagram.
Try Kate's new Apple podcast subscription, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, here
Have a look at some of Kate's workshops and free resources here.