BLOOM – My ADHD Menopause

In this short video, Nutritional Therapists Sarah Osborne and Faye Thompson, the creators of Bloom, give a brief introduction to their work and background.

Learn about how Sarah became interested in working with neurodivergent clients following her son and husband's diagnosis of ADHD and associated traits and symptoms.

Faye talks about her journey through perimenopause and shares her views about the role diet and nutrition can play in supporting hormone health.

In this short video, we cover the course overview and outline the lecture programme.

Bloom is an online, self-guided course created by nutritional therapists and designed to support and empower you on your ADHD menopause journey. In this video, we outline the module content.

In this module, you will be introduced to the core values and beliefs that underpin the content.

This course has been created with care for women experiencing menopause and ADHD symptoms. You may be perimenopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal. You may have a diagnosis of ADHD, be on the long list for an official diagnosis, self-diagnosed, or you may be curious and wondering if your symptoms match those of ADHD.

Sarah is an ADHD Nutritionist, and Faye is a female hormone specialist. We have combined our specialist knowledge in this course, which aims to provide you with information about ADHD in females and the impact of hormonal fluctuations.

We do not aim to “treat’ or “reduce” ADHD – we have a very positive view of neurodivergence - whilst at the same time recognising that some of the co-occurring symptoms can be problematic, especially during menopause, and we aim to provide a practical toolkit to offer support.

Download your Bloom Workbook and complete each module section as you watch the accompanying video lecture. 

In this module, we introduce the topic of ADHD in women and girls.

ADHD is a neurotype that affects many people around the world. ADHD is characterized in the medical model by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity and is often discussed in terms of how it affects focus and behaviour.

However, for those with ADHD, the relationship between ADHD and attention and focus is different. When someone with ADHD is interested in a topic or project, they often don’t have a lack of attention at all.

It’s important to recognise that women and girls can exhibit symptoms of ADHD that are just as impactful as those seen in men and boys. However, these symptoms can manifest differently, which has led to underdiagnosis in females. While ADHD is often associated with hyperactivity and impulsiveness in males, girls may display symptoms such as inattention, excessive sociability, forgetfulness, talkativeness, or difficulties with time management. These behaviours are sometimes attributed to other causes or societal expectations, leading to the underrecognition of ADHD in girls and women.

Many women may only realise they have ADHD later in life when their symptoms worsen due to certain stressors like entering perimenopause or menopause. Research suggests that ADHD in girls and women may be overlooked due to a bias in diagnostic criteria that are more oriented around a typical male presentation.

It's important to acknowledge that ADHD can affect various aspects of an adult’s life, such as appetite control, gut health, sleep, and mood. This can occur for many reasons, including genetics, physiology, psychology, biochemistry, environment, and social factors.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to ADHD, hormone balance, appetite, cravings, or nutrition.

Throughout this course, we'll use the term ‘people with ADHD.’ Although this course focuses on the challenges women with ADHD may face regarding emotions, focus, hormone balance, food choices, appetite, and cravings, we aim to frame ADHD positively by considering both the challenges and the benefits of a neurodivergent way of thinking in a neurotypical world.

In this module, we focus on the biochemistry and lived experience of perimenopause and menopause and the intersection of hormonal transition and ADHD.

‘Menopause’ is medically the term for one day, 12 months after your last menstrual period. Before that, it is called perimenopause, and after that is post-menopause. Natural perimenopause for some women can last up to eight years.

The average age of natural menopause in the UK is 51, typically between 45–55 years old – although many women don’t fit into this bracket for various medical & genetic reasons.

Our monthly fluctuating sex hormones govern our menstrual cycle: oestrogen (oestradiol), progesterone & testosterone. But it’s the changing fluctuations as we enter and move through perimenopause that are responsible for symptoms.

There are many similarities between the symptoms of the menopause transition & ADHD. However, understanding how these are linked is critical to developing effective support strategies.

In this module, we learn about the importance of metabolic health during and after menopause.

Maintaining a balanced blood sugar level throughout the day will help you reduce excess weight and reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease.

Insulin controls our blood sugar levels, and we become more insulin-resistant during perimenopause. Combined with increased dopamine dysregulation, our cravings for sugary-tasting foods can also increase, making it extremely challenging to cut back on.

Faye shares her ‘top tips’ for maintaining a healthy weight and heart.

In this module, we explore the relationship between appetite and ADHD.

This topic can be complex and is experienced differently by different people. It is important to consider the connections involving executive functions, dopamine and oestrogen, as well as the gut-brain connection. Environmental factors such as stress and sleep also play a role.

The executive functions are essential for self-regulation and planning and can significantly influence the eating habits of women with ADHD. Furthermore, the pivotal role of dopamine, our key neurotransmitter linked to reward and pleasure, can dramatically shape cravings and food choices.

Fluctuations in oestrogen levels can impact appetite and mood, adding another layer of complexity to eating behaviours with ADHD.

In this favourite module, we share our toolkit for success.

Sarah shares her top four nutrition tips for achieving balanced appetite, sleep, mood, and focus through practical, easy-to-follow steps.

Faye shares her top four lifestyle tips to create hormone balance and optimal wellbeing.

You will now have access to recipes and some additional handouts to help you implement the changes you have been following in your workbook.

Congratulations on completing our course. We hope it’s helped you to understand what’s going on during this challenging time of life and how it relates to you. Use the tools you’ve learnt to go and bloom brighter!

We’d love to know if you found this course helpful and if it inspired you to make positive changes to your diet and lifestyle.