102: Is It ADHD or Your Hormones? The Thyroid & Perimenopause Connection with Dr. Jolene Brighten

What if the brain fog, forgetfulness, emotional overwhelm, anxiety, or difficulty getting things done isn’t simply stress—or even your thyroid?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson, PA-C sits down with Dr. Jolene Brighten, women’s health expert and bestselling author, to explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD in women, thyroid function, hormones, perimenopause, inflammation, and brain health.

Dr. Brighten explains why so many women reach adulthood without an ADHD diagnosis and why hormonal transitions can suddenly make symptoms that were once manageable feel impossible to ignore.

She also explains an important overlap for thyroid patients: hypothyroidism itself can create ADHD-like symptoms, including brain fog, low mental energy, working-memory problems, changes in neurotransmitter function, and difficulty with executive function.

In This Episode:

Why ADHD in women is often missed or misdiagnosedHow female ADHD can look different from stereotypical hyperactivityAnxiety, depression, and undiagnosed ADHDHow hypothyroidism can mimic ADHD symptomsEmotional dysregulation, time blindness, and executive dysfunctionADHD, Hashimoto’s, PMDD, endometriosis, POTS, histamine issues, and other co-occurring conditionsDr. Brighten’s brain-immune-hormone modelWhy puberty, postpartum, birth control, perimenopause, and postmenopause can change ADHD symptomsEstrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, insulin, and brain energyWhy perimenopause can make ADHD much harder to manageGut health, sleep, exercise, protein, omega-3s, fiber, and polyphenolsHow to work with your healthcare provider instead of trying to DIY everything

ADHD or Hypothyroidism?

One of the most important conversations in this episode is the overlap between ADHD and low thyroid function.

Dr. Brighten explains that hypothyroidism can affect brain energy, memory, attention, neurotransmitters, and executive function. Her approach is to address hypothyroidism first when it could be contributing to new ADHD-like symptoms.

If difficulties with planning, organization, emotional regulation, focus, or executive function persist—especially when similar patterns have existed since childhood—it may be worth investigating another layer.

Why Hormones Matter

Dr. Brighten discusses important hormonal windows when ADHD symptoms may change or become more obvious: puberty, postpartum, the pill, perimenopause, and postmenopause.