Is It ADHD, Hormones, or Stress? (& What Is ADHD, Anyway?)

Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of chatter about ADHD right now. And for many women, it could be the first time they’re realizing that these lifelong struggles with focus, forgetfulness, emotional overwhelm, or just doing life might actually be part of a bigger picture.

But when you’re constantly asking yourself...

• Do I have ADHD?
• Is this just stress?
• Could it be my hormones?
• Am I just terrible at coping?

…it can feel like you’re drowning in mental malfunctions and no one’s handing out the right user manual.

So, let’s break it down. 



What is ADHD?

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how your brain regulates attention, emotion, time, and memory.In women, it often doesn’t show up in the ways you would think (like hyperactivity).

What are ADHD symptoms in Women?

In women, ADHD often doesn’t show up in the ways you would think (like hyperactivity).

ADHD can show up as:

• Constant mental noise or static
• Starting 17 different things and finishing none of them
• Emotional sensitivity or sensitivity to rejection
• Constantly being late, forgetting appointments, and losing things
• Feeling like everyone else got the instruction manual for adulthood except for you!



The good news is that these kinds of symptoms are not just signs of being lazy or unmotivated; they signal a brain that’s wired differently. Since women are so good at masking and managing, many of us who might actually have ADHD can go undiagnosed for years. 

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Is it Stress?

Chronic stress and burnout can mimic ADHD symptoms, and people often get them confused. If life has felt heavy lately with work, family, kids, etc., it’s completely valid to feel:

• Foggy
• Forgetful
• Irritable
• Unable to focus
• Like your brain just won’t “boot up”

But here’s the difference: if these symptoms come and go with your high-stress periods, it’s probably just stress. If they sound like lifelong symptoms that worsen under pressure, then that’s a clue for you to dig a little deeper.



Hormones & ADHD

The elusive world of hormones! Here's where things get really interesting.

What’s the connection between hormones and ADHD? It all comes back to estrogen, a hormone that supports dopamine activity in the brain. Dopamine is the MVP for focus, mood, and executive functioning, all things that can be tricky when you have ADHD. 

When estrogen dips right before your period, during postpartum or during menopause, your dopamine can drop too. Suddenly, you feel like a fog has fallen over you. You could start to believe that you’re just an emotional, forgetful mess. Do these feelings sound familiar? 

How ADHD Can Fluctuate Across the Cycle

1. Puberty: The First Wild Ride

Hormones are all over the place during adolescence. For girls with ADHD, that can make things feel incredibly extra. Emotional sensitivity, rejection, and social anxiety can all ramp up simultaneously, but often get dismissed as “teenage hormones”. It’s no wonder that so many women don’t get diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood¹.



2. The Luteal Phase (Before Your Period)

This is the big one. The week before your period, estrogen drops, and ADHD symptoms often flare up². You might feel more:

• Distracted
• Impulsive
• Unmotivated
• Emotionally reactive

Sounds like PMS, right? But if you have ADHD, it’s like PMS… on steroids.

3. Pregnancy & Postpartum

Pregnancy can go either way. For some, increased estrogen in the second and third trimesters improves ADHD symptoms³. For others, the sudden crash after birth can hit hard. Combining that crash with broken sleep and the demands of motherhood can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not supported or don’t know what’s going on inside⁴.



4. Perimenopause & Menopause

This phase is often when women start to worry: Could I have early dementia? Memory problems, brain fog, and procrastination all spike as estrogen tanks⁵. At this stage, these symptoms are often written off as “just getting older,” but it’s absolutely connected to hormonal changes and may be compounded by undiagnosed ADHD.



What Can You Do About ADHD?

The good news is that knowledge is power! Once you start tracking your symptoms in line with your cycle, you’ll probably notice patterns. And that gives you more control to support your body and brain.

Here are some practical tips:

• Track your symptoms across your cycle for a couple of months
• Consider working with a healthcare provider (bonus points if they understand hormones + ADHD)
• Look into treatment options. Sometimes, hormonal support — whether that be holistic or the more traditional route — may help
• Build in more rest, prep time, or support before your period starts
• Prioritize reducing your mental load where possible. Even small tweaks can help!

If you’ve ever felt like you're constantly trying but somehow still dropping the ball, you're not alone! And it’s not all in your head. There are real, biological reasons why ADHD symptoms can ebb and flow through your cycle. Take our practical tips and reference articles and start easing your mind! References:

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