Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD
Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD

Brilliant Brains, Hidden Struggles- Decoding ADHD and Hormones for Professional Women

September 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Dr. Jolene Brighton, a late-diagnosed ADHDer and board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, reports that while fewer than 20% of all adults with ADHD are diagnosed and treated appropriately, the situation is far worse for women: more than 50% (some estimates say up to 75%) reach adulthood before receiving a diagnosis. The most common time for that delayed diagnosis is perimenopause, typically after age 35. Perimenopause, she explains, is a "huge neurotransition" involving a remodeling of the brain, and for women with ADHD, it arrives a decade earlier with twice the symptom severity. Even more concerning, 25% of these women go on to experience severe ADHD for the rest of their lives after menopause. This is not a minor oversight — missed medical visits, missed mortgage payments, and higher rates of car accidents make this, in Brighton's words, "a health crisis."

Why Female ADHD Looks Different — and Gets Missed

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:06) **Introduction and Guest Welcome** - Dave introduces Dr. Jolene Brighton, an expert in hormones, women's health, and ADHD.
  • 2 (05:54) **Why Female ADHD is Overlooked and Misdiagnosed** - Dr. Brighton explains the scale and timing of missed diagnoses in women.
  • 3 (08:36) **How Female ADHD Presents Differently After Puberty** - The shift from external to internal symptoms and the role of the menstrual cycle.
  • 4 (11:48) **The Masking Professional: Silent Screaming on the Inside** - What ADHD looks like in a successful businesswoman or entrepreneur.
  • 5 (14:05) **The Exercise Hack for Focus and Brain Energy** - A practical intervention for cognitive performance.
  • 6 (15:08) **Shutting Off the ADHD Brain at Night** - A cognitive filing system for better sleep.
  • 7 (16:33) **The Female Experience of Masking and Social Survival** - Why masking is an evolutionary adaptation, not a deception.

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Show Notes

How does ADHD manifest uniquely in women across their lifespan, and why are so many high-achieving professionals being missed or misdiagnosed?

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave talks with Dr. Jolene Brighten, naturopathic endocrinologist, nutrition scientist, and author of "ADHD and Women" to unpack the often-overlooked nuances of neurodivergence in female professionals.

Dr. Brighten shares her insights as a late-diagnosed "AuDHDer," explaining how hormonal shifts, cultural expectations, and internalized hyperactivity create distinct challenges for women in business, health, and daily life.

**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave's calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min

Dr. Jolene and Dave Discuss:

  • The Entrepreneurial Advantage: Why ADHD brains excel at creativity and problem-solving, yet often struggle within rigid corporate structures.
  • The Diagnosis Gap: How up to 75% of women reach adulthood undiagnosed, often receiving their diagnosis during perimenopause when changing hormones amplify symptoms.
  • Hormones & Executive Function: The impact of fluctuating estrogen and progesterone across the menstrual cycle, including the connection to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
  • Masking & Internalized Hyperactivity: Why female ADHD presents as internal restlessness, overthinking, and burnout rather than overt physical hyperactivity.

Find Dr. Brighten on her website: https://drbrighten.com/

Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD

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