How My Period Turns Up the Volume on My ADHD Rollercoaster

Layla is a 30-year-old teaching assistant who has lived with ADHD since she was a child. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition that makes it difficult for people to concentrate, control their emotions, and stay still. To help herself get through each day, Layla relies on a series of phone alarms. She has alarms for waking up, getting dressed, and packing her work bag. Layla says these reminders help her keep track of what she needs to do, even though it might seem like too much to other people. However, when her period is about to start, she feels like she loses control. She describes it as trying to hold on to a rolling ball and feeling frustrated with herself and the world.

Many women with ADHD have noticed that their symptoms get worse during their menstrual cycle, especially right before their period. This has become a popular topic on social media, where women share their experiences and look for advice. Now, researchers at Queen Mary University and Kings College in London are studying this connection. They are asking 50 women with ADHD who take medication to track their menstrual cycles and record how their symptoms change. The goal is to find out if there is a pattern between hormone changes and ADHD symptoms.

In the UK, about 2. 5 million people are thought to have ADHD, but many are still waiting for an official diagnosis. More women are being diagnosed now because there is greater awareness of how ADHD affects them. NHS data shows that more people are being prescribed medication for ADHD than ever before. However, a government report found that ADHD is still under-diagnosed and under-treated. Some clinics have even stopped taking new patients because they cannot keep up with the demand.

Héloïse is a 19-year-old university student who takes medication for her ADHD. She says her medicine helps her focus for a few hours, which is important because she is studying for three degrees. But during her period, the medicine does not work as well. She says it feels like losing a walking stick that helps her get through the day. By tracking her symptoms for the study, she realized that her ADHD gets worse when her hormones change. Other women in the study said they felt "disabled" by their symptoms at certain times of the month.

The women in the study keep an electronic diary of their hormone levels and ADHD symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and impulsive behavior. The researchers are looking for patterns in how the women feel and how well their medication works. Dr. Sally Cubbin, a psychiatrist who worked on the study, believes that hormones and ADHD are closely linked. She explains that when oestrogen is low, just before a period, it affects dopamine, the brain's "feel-good" chemical, making ADHD symptoms stronger.

These hormone changes can make it harder for women to focus and manage their daily tasks. Dr. Cubbin says women are also more likely to make risky decisions, like binge eating, spending money, or forgetting to take contraception. Layla says she often eats too many pickles during her period, not because she is hungry, but because she cannot resist the urge.

Dr. Jessica Agnew-Blais, the lead researcher, says that studying ADHD in women is important because it was once thought to only affect boys. Now, more women are recognizing their symptoms and asking for help. The study could also help women understand how menopause and other hormone changes affect their ADHD. Layla says being part of the research has helped her feel less alone. She now knows that many women go through the same struggles every month, and it is okay to ask for help.