ADHD, Perimenopause, and Navigating Change | Lin Kayton
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How a late ADHD diagnosis and hormonal shifts revealed our true selves.
In this episode, host Briony Liber is joined by friend and fellow late-diagnosed ADHDer, Lin Kayton. Together, they dive into their lived experience of their late ADHD diagnoses in their fifties, the identity shifts that follow, and the powerful (and sometimes messy) intersection with perimenopause. Expect honesty, laughter, and plenty of “me too” moments for women on a similar journey.
This episode is a must-listen for women navigating the double whammy of perimenopause and late ADHD diagnosis, offering validation, practical strategies, and hope.
Key Takeaways:
- Masking and Identity: Many women with late-diagnosed ADHD have spent decades performing, people-pleasing, and adapting to fit in, often losing sight of their authentic selves.
- The Grief of Late Diagnosis: There’s real grief in realising what might have been if you’d known sooner, but also liberation in finally having language for your experience.
- Perimenopause as a Catalyst: Hormonal changes can unmask ADHD symptoms, disrupt old coping strategies, and force a reckoning with identity and self-care.
- Shame and Self-Compassion: Understanding ADHD helps replace shame with self-compassion, allowing for kinder self-talk and more realistic expectations.
- Accommodations and Recovery: Briony and Lin share practical tools to support their neurodivergent brains and what Briony refers to as The Potato Daze.
- Community and Belonging: Finding a “tribe” that just gets you brings immense relief, validation, and a sense of belonging.
- Embracing Neurodiversity: ADHD is not just a challenge - it’s a source of creativity, resilience, and unique perspective. The journey is about integrating all parts of oneself, not just surviving but thriving.
This episode offers inspiration, practical strategies, and a sense of solidarity for women navigating the complex intersection of late ADHD diagnosis and perimenopause.
In this episode, host Briony Liber is joined by friend and fellow late-diagnosed ADHDer, Lin Kayton. Together, they dive into their lived experience of their late ADHD diagnoses in their fifties, the identity shifts that follow, and the powerful (and sometimes messy) intersection with perimenopause. Expect honesty, laughter, and plenty of “me too” moments for women on a similar journey.
This episode is a must-listen for women navigating the double whammy of perimenopause and late ADHD diagnosis, offering validation, practical strategies, and hope.
Key Takeaways:
- Masking and Identity: Many women with late-diagnosed ADHD have spent decades performing, people-pleasing, and adapting to fit in, often losing sight of their authentic selves.
- The Grief of Late Diagnosis: There’s real grief in realising what might have been if you’d known sooner, but also liberation in finally having language for your experience.
- Perimenopause as a Catalyst: Hormonal changes can unmask ADHD symptoms, disrupt old coping strategies, and force a reckoning with identity and self-care.
- Shame and Self-Compassion: Understanding ADHD helps replace shame with self-compassion, allowing for kinder self-talk and more realistic expectations.
- Accommodations and Recovery: Briony and Lin share practical tools to support their neurodivergent brains and what Briony refers to as The Potato Daze.
- Community and Belonging: Finding a “tribe” that just gets you brings immense relief, validation, and a sense of belonging.
- Embracing Neurodiversity: ADHD is not just a challenge - it’s a source of creativity, resilience, and unique perspective. The journey is about integrating all parts of oneself, not just surviving but thriving.
This episode offers inspiration, practical strategies, and a sense of solidarity for women navigating the complex intersection of late ADHD diagnosis and perimenopause.
Chapters
- 00:01 Introduction to The Eminence Project and ADHD Discovery
- 01:36 Paths to ADHD diagnosis
- 04:42 Breaking Stigmas and Finding Validation
- 08:27 Masking and Identity Formation
- 13:02 Questioning Identity and Authenticity
- 18:46 Shame, Vulnerability, and Growth
- 23:19 Learning New Tools and Finding Liberation
- 29:29 Body Doubling and Practical Accommodations
- 32:42 Time Management Strategies
- 45:05 Balancing Hyperfocus and Recovery
- 47:21 Processing Grief and Finding Freedom
- 56:23 Overcoming Shame and Embracing Strengths
- 01:02:08 Celebrating Neurodiversity and Finding Balance
- 01:14:13 ADHD Challenges and Coping Strategies
