ADHD in Midlife and What to Do About It

Any woman who gets to live a long life will experience menopause and possibly all the disruptions that come with it. However, some women will go through menopause (and possibly before) with more pronounced symptoms than others due to ADHD. This may seem surprising since ADHD is a common diagnosis in children, not adults. Further, the diagnosis is more often associated with male gender. If you feel like the disruption is just too much to bear, this information may be what you need to manage your symptoms effectively and navigate this phase of life without having to feel like you’re broken and alone.  In today’s podcast episode, I welcome Diann Wingert. Diann is a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience and is also a coach who helps driven but distracted women who are audacious enough to start their own business at midlife and beyond. We discuss how ADHD is the underlying core problem for anxiety and depression and the common misconceptions around ADHD and midlife. She discusses the gender bias in identifying ADHD and what a woman who thinks she has ADHD can do now.  Tune in to this episode and learn more about what ADHD is in midlife and menopause.  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction and Opportunity 3:06 Dian shares her story 5:50 ADHD as the underlying core problem for anxiety and depression 6:06 Gender bias in the identification of ADHD 9:25 Menopause and identity crisis 15:25 Common misunderstandings of ADHD and midlife 21:07 Menopause makes you pay attention 23:37 Recommit, reinvent, or reject25:15 Radical self-acceptance 26:19 Neurotypical and neurodivergent 29:05 Dr. G shares how she created the life that aligns with who she is 32:52 Rejection sensitivity and its effects41:33 What a woman can do if she thinks she has ADHD41:54 ADHD and ADD  About the Guest: Diann Wingert had been a psychotherapist for over 20 years, who, like most clinicians, knew little about ADHD in girls and women. It was only after her midlife diagnosis of ADHD that Diann learned that the fastest-growing group of adults being diagnosed with this condition are women over 40 and that menopause has a lot to do with it.   Now in her 6th decade, Diann is continuing to learn, evolve, and defy her limits while helping others do the same. She has a particular fondness for coaching driven but distracted women who are audacious enough to start their own business at midlife and beyond.  Diann’s website is www.diannwingertcoaching.com, and her podcast is The Driven Woman on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and all popular platforms.  Resources: Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.drmichellegordon.com/podcasts/)  Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon) Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleGordon) Join in on the next beta group (https://www.menopausemovement.com/hormones)   The Driven Woman Podcast (https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/podcast)  Visit Diann Winger’s website (https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/)  Like and follow Diann on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/diannwingertcoaching/)  Follow Diann on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/)  Check out Diann’s LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching/)  6 Steps to ADHD Mastery (https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/6-steps)  ADHD for Smart Ass Women Podcast (https://www.tracyotsuka.com/podcast)  Books mentioned in this episode: The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt (Paid link: https://amzn.to/3jhP8Ma)  Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder (Paid link: https://amzn.to/3oUfpRL)    For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in! If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.