The Intersection of ADHD, Anxiety and Perimenopause: My Journey of Self-Discovery
- Megan Devito
- Oct 14, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 19, 2024
** As a 48-year-old woman in perimenopause, this post is my journey of self-discovery regarding anxiety and ADHD, and how they can intersect during perimenopause. Do not take this as medical advice.
Are you tired of feeling constantly distracted or overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list? From balancing work and home life, increased anxiety, brain fog, and hot flashes due to perimenopause, and the stress of trying to achieve your goals, it can feel overwhelming and impossible to get things done. If you can relate, you're not alone. Many women in their 40s are discovering they have ADHD, and it's time to talk about it.
My Story
I grew up a typical GenX kid; born in the 70's, raised in the 80's, high school and college in the 90's. It was a Care Bears and Nirvana dream topped with the AIDS epidemic and the threat of nuclear war. If you lived through it too, you understand the nostalgia and the fear.
As a smart and sensitive little girl who was curious, had a brain that went 100 miles per hour, and a teen and young adult who was chronically anxious, I often felt trapped inside my head.
For almost 30 years, I struggled with Generalized Anxiety disorder that consumed way too much of my time and attention. My worries kept me hyper-focused on the triggers and intrusive thoughts and I had no idea how to manage how I felt or how to stop overthinking. Conversely, when I wasn't anxious and overwhelmed, my brain was a near-constant stream of song lyrics, creative stories, and dreams that were always in the running background. This back-and-forth battle between anxious hyperfocus and a struggle to turn my daydreams into a functioning plan continued until I was forty when I finally regulated my nervous system and recovered from disordered anxiety. I learned how to regulate my nervous system and ignore my intrusive thoughts but being able to plan and do details was still impossible.
Recently I've been looking back over my life, trying to remember who I was and how I was as a kid. I got in trouble for interrupting but was that one time I that stuck in my memory or was it all the time? Am I imagining that I've never been able to do details? After all, I've never been a procrastinator and I don't forget things - quite the opposite. I get things done as fast as I can without worrying about mistakes and I remember most things. This exploration which really requires a time machine all began because of the brain fog and lack of focus that come with perimenopause and too much time scrolling Threads.
The Intersection of ADHD And Anxiety
This is what I know for sure. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and was overwhelmed by anxious overthinking and somatic symptoms, and it controlled my life for far too long. And my brain has always gone fast and I can't focus at this point in my life.
ADHD and anxiety often share similar symptoms and experiences, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Perimenopause makes them both worse. The overlap between these symptoms of ADHD, Anxiety and perimenopause can make it challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of why I was anxious in the past and why I can't focus now.
Understanding the Connection between ADHD, Anxiety and Perimenopause
Since learning more about ADHD and the algorithms flooding my social media feeds with stories other women shared about their own experiences with anxiety, ADHD, and perimenopause, I decided it was time to find a legitimate adult ADHD assessment and see where I landed. I chose the Vanderbilt ADHD assessment, noticed that I had some definite traits, and called my doctor. However, even after making the appointment, getting a prescription, and reluctantly but curiously trying the medicine, I still wonder how this was potentially wrapped up in my anxious brain as a kid and how much of it is simply worse now due to my hormone levels.
Perimenopause: Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can exacerbate existing anxiety and contribute to cognitive challenges.
ADHD: Symptoms of ADHD, such as difficulty concentrating, impulsivity, and procrastination, can be amplified during perimenopause.
Anxiety: Anxiety can further complicate the picture, leading to a cycle of overthinking, worrying, and avoidance.
My Experience With ADHD Medication
I was nervous. My doctor prescribed a fast-acting medication (10mg) to be taken twice a day or as needed. I chose the "as-needed" route and started with half a pill. I wasn't sure what to expect and was surprised that I didn't feel wired or keyed up. Instead, I felt like that constant need to go fast that I had felt my entire life went away. I was calm. It didn't take me four hours to edit my podcast transcript. I didn't stop what I was doing to organize the silverware drawer or scroll on social media. I wrote a blog post and an email.
Not long after finishing my work, the medication wore off. I felt hungry, a little spacey and had a dull headache. Those symptoms lasted about an hour; then everything went back to normal. I've taken the medication several times over the past month, still as needed, and it's helped keep me focused and productive. Will I take it forever? I don't know. But for now, it's helping me run a business, raise teenagers, regulate my emotions, and not feel rushed and stressed.
And Still, I Wonder....
What was I really like as a kid and does it truly matter?
I don't think so.
Nothing truly changes from me trying to retroactively diagnose or NOT diagnose myself. I was anxious regardless, and I'm not in that place anymore. I know how to regulate my nervous system, and how to break the anxious thought loop, and I know how to help other people do it too.
Essential Coping Skills You'll Gain Through Coaching To Manage ADHD, Anxiety, Overwhelm and Overthinking
As your coach, I'll help you:
Create habits that help you manage your time so you stay organized and productive
Calm your nervous system so you can break the cycle of anxious overthinking
Identify negative thoughts that keep you feeling anxious and stuck
Manage overwhelming and difficult emotions
And find the steps that work for you so you feel confident, calm, and have time for fun
I hope my journey helps you feel understood and encouraged. I am cheering for you.
<3 Megan
Comentários