The Mechanics of ADHD and the Menopause. Why It is the Perfect Storm
Women: Have you spent your life keeping all the plates spinning, only to feel them suddenly crashing down in midlife? If you are experiencing intense brain fog, emotional swings, or feeling like your lifelong coping mechanisms are suddenly failing, you are not alone.
In this episode, we explore the powerful and often misunderstood intersection of ADHD and menopause. We break down exactly what is happening in the brain when hormone levels shift, why so many women are getting late-diagnosed with ADHD in their 40s and 50s, and most importantly, how to reclaim your focus and executive function without relying solely on medication.
In This Episode, We Cover:
The Estrogen-Dopamine Connection: Why estrogen is the brain's "master regulator" for dopamine, and how the sudden drop in hormones during perimenopause drastically amplifies ADHD symptoms.
The Unmasking of Midlife: How women successfully "mask" their ADHD for decades using anxiety, perfectionism, and estrogen—and why the transition into menopause strips those coping mechanisms away.
Brain Fog or ADHD? How to tell the difference between typical menopausal cognitive changes and underlying executive dysfunction.
Actionable, Non-Medical Management: Practical strategies to support your changing brain, including:
Cognitive therapies: How CBT and ADHD coaching can help you build new executive function skills.
Sleep repair: Why Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and strict sleep hygiene are game-changers for a neurodivergent brain.
Physiological hacks: The undeniable power of aerobic exercise to naturally boost dopamine and serotonin.
Structural support: How to lower your cognitive load using techniques like "body doubling," visual time-blocking, and meal planning.
Join the Conversation: Did this episode resonate with your midlife experience? Subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who might be navigating their own "perfect storm."
koppertadhd@gmail.com
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Thank you for listenng
5 Jul 2026
The Three Reasons ADHD Kids are Struggling in Education Now More Than Ever
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5 Jul 2026
Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Turning Defiance into Thriving Collaboration
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterised by a persistent pattern of angry, irritable mood, argumentative and defiant behaviour, and vindictiveness. Rather than being a simple matter of "bad behaviour," ODD stems from an intricate interaction between genetic vulnerabilities—such as variations in the MAOA and COMT genes that affect neurotransmitter regulation—and environmental stressors, particularly coercive family dynamics. Accurately diagnosing ODD is critical, especially when differentiating its anger-driven defiance from the anxiety-driven panic responses seen in Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Fortunately, ODD is highly treatable through evidence-based psychosocial interventions like Parent Management Training (PMT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), which focus on repairing relationships, building emotional regulation skills, and replacing punitive cycles with structured, empathetic support.
Parental Management Training the Oregon Model: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27283222/
Parent Child Interaction Therapy: https://www.pcit.org/about
Incredible Years Programme: https://www.incredibleyears.com/
please email koppertadhd@gmail.com
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https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
21 May 2026
Sugar Addiction and the ADHD Brain
We really struggle with sugar and binge eating. James explains what is happening in the brain and also how to try and beat it.
koppertadhd@gmail.com
9 May 2026
PDA: Strategies to Support a ADHD or Autistic Child with a Pathological Demand Avoidance Profile
If you are a caregiver, parent or teacher, helping a child with PDA is a tough job. This podcast looks at the methods proven to make a difference to make your life easier and your child happier.
6 Jan 2026
Shocking Links Between ADHD & Alzheimer's/Dementia and The Hope To Fight It
As requested, here is a show about the huge link between ADHD and issues such as dementia and Alzheimer's. But fear not. There is hope for us.
Tune in to hear James discuss these conditions.
If you want to support the costs of this show or just fund James a coffee please go to https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
19 Dec 2025
New Neurodiverse Lens on Past Lives: William Wilberforce
In the new series called New Neurodiverse Lens on Past Lives, James explores people from history and asks, "Were they neurodiverse?"
In the first epsiode James looks at William Wilberforce.
Please support the show here https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
And if you want to read the article it is here https://jameskoppert.substack.com/p/new-neurodiverse-lens-on-past-lives
5 Dec 2025
Streeting Dances to Reforms War Drum In a Ballet of Lies About ADHD and Over-diagnosis
Please share the Substack article everywhere you can https://open.substack.com/pub/jameskoppert/p/streeting-dances-to-reforms-war-drum?r=3wmilr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
James challenged Wes Streeting's views on ADHD and overdiagnosis
19 Nov 2025
Is Richard Tice Right in Saying the UK has an Over-diagnosis of Neurodiversity?
This week Richard Tice of reform stated that we have an over-diagnosis of Neurodiversity. James shares the reality
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776223000455
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/life-expectancy-and-years-of-life-lost-for-adults-with-diagnosed-adhd-in-the-uk-matched-cohort-study/30B8B109DF2BB33CC51F72FD1C953739
please support the show https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
emailed Koppertadhd@gmail.com
11 Nov 2025
The Hyperfocus and the Heart: Ryan's ADHD Journey from Being Demonised to Advocacy
"The Hyperfocus and the Heart: Ryan's ADHD Journey from Being Demonised to Advocacy" Join us for a powerful episode as James sits down with Ryan for a candid conversation about their shared experiences with ADHD. Ryan opens up about growing up in North Yorkshire, the challenges of hyperactivity that initially led to covering up a near-fatal condition, and how his life was transformed by an unexpected passion: skateboarding. This isn't just about challenges; it's about finding strength in neurodiversity, understanding the power of hyperfocus, and the vital role of advocacy. Tune in to hear why understanding ADHD is crucial in every part of life—from the classroom to the entertainment industry.
Find Ryan here: https://www.ryanswain.co.uk/
And if you want to buy James a coffee and support the running costs you can through his other podcast page here: https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
27 Sept 2025
Thriving on Disorder: Reshaping ADHD in an Education Setting
James delivers his keynote talk from the recent safeguarding conference on how we work better to enable pupils with ADHD to thrive and why it is so important that we do
Email: koppertadhd@gmail.com
if you want to support this, and James' other pod, please visit https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
Thank you so much for listening
23 Sept 2025
Response to Trump. stating Paracetamol/Tylenol causes autism
James Koppert has an informed rant as to why Trump is talking utter nonsense and why actually it is dangerous Trump is saying this
25 May 2025
When ADHD and OCD Collide
Koppert ADHD explores the intersection of ADHD and OCD, highlighting how individuals with ADHD are more prone to developing OCD.
22 Jan 2025
ADHD and OCD: Your Questions
please email koppertADHD@gmail.com
17 Jan 2025
An ADHD Response to Hadley Freeman's Times Article
James Koppert dissects Hadley Freeman's Times article on ADHD and neurodiversity, exposing its outrageous act of ableism and revealing a more nuanced understanding of ADHD.
6 Jan 2025
Saving Billions. The ADHD argument you need to hear
James argues how by making a few changes now we can save billions in the economy and more importantly improve people's lives.
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Support James here: https://ko-fi.com/forteannewspodcast
5 Jan 2025
Introduction: Why are we here?
Please email questions to koppertadhd@gmail.com
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