Psychiatrist’s Insights to ADHD, Focus & Brain Fog in Midlife Women
Uncover the complexities of diagnosing ADHD in women
Psychiatrist’s Insights to ADHD, Focus & Brain Fog in Midlife Women
Uncover the complexities of diagnosing ADHD in women
Are you struggling with focus, memory lapses, or feeling mentally scattered? In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson and reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Cox explore whether these challenges stem from menopausal brain fog or undiagnosed ADHD.
“Many women come in saying, ‘I feel like my brain just isn’t working’.”
While hormonal shifts naturally impact cognitive function, true ADHD often begins in childhood but may go unnoticed until midlife. “Sometimes the symptoms were always there, but life just wasn’t as overwhelming before,” Dr. Cox explains.
Watch The Conversation!
Key Takeaways:
🌸 Menopausal brain fog or undiagnosed ADHD
🌸 Treatment options range from stimulant and non-stimulant medications
🌸 Insights on regaining focus and mental clarity
Are you struggling with focus, memory lapses, or feeling mentally scattered? In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson and reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Cox explore whether these challenges stem from menopausal brain fog or undiagnosed ADHD.
“Many women come in saying, ‘I feel like my brain just isn’t working’.”
While hormonal shifts naturally impact cognitive function, true ADHD often begins in childhood but may go unnoticed until midlife. “Sometimes the symptoms were always there, but life just wasn’t as overwhelming before,” Dr. Cox explains.
A proper diagnosis is key, and treatment options range from stimulant and non-stimulant medications to lifestyle interventions such as movement, balanced nutrition, and better sleep. ADHD-friendly tools like time management apps or executive function coaching can also help. If you feel like you’re not in the driver’s seat of your own mind, there are solutions. Tune in to this episode for expert insights on regaining focus and mental clarity.
Quotes:
- “A stimulant can help some women, but for others, it can make anxiety worse—getting the right diagnosis is critical.” – Dr. Elizabeth Cox
- “Having a little bit of poor recall is different than a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder.” – Dr. Elizabeth Cox
- “My patient told me, ‘My phone is robbing me from investing in myself, my family, and my community,’ and that really stuck with me.” – Dr. Polly Watson
Resources:
Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources
Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer
Meet the host!
Dr. Polly Watson is a board certified OBGYN who has additional training in menopausal medicine, sexual medicine and functional medicine.
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to help find a solution to address the imbalance in your system and restore your health.
In 2019 I left my job as an employed physician with a large organization and started Hormone Wellness MD. I started with no staff working out of a single room. Since then, my staff has grown to a team of 5 and we’ve helped over 1,100 people on their health journey.
Meet the Guest Speaker!
Dr. Elizabeth Cox, MD is an expert in reproductive psychiatry and women’s mental health treatment, and is well-versed in treating women’s mood and anxiety disorders, as well as other psychiatric disorders, during times of hormonal fluctuation and change (pregnancy, postpartum, menstruation, menopause and infertility). She was previously the Medical Director for UNC Women’s Mood Disorders at Wake Med North and Residency Education Director for Women’s Mood Disorders at UNC.
Dr. Cox has studied alternative treatments for depression, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). She believes in a holistic approach to treatment that includes nutrition, exercise, sleep, therapeutic interventions and pharmaceutical intervention when indicated.
I believe in treating the full person through a comprehensive patient-centered care model.
Meet the host!
Dr. Polly Watson is a board certified OBGYN who has additional training in menopausal medicine, sexual medicine and functional medicine.
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to help find a solution to address the imbalance in your system and restore your health.
In 2019 I left my job as an employed physician with a large organization and started Hormone Wellness MD. I started with no staff working out of a single room. Since then, my staff has grown to a team of 5 and we’ve helped over 1,100 people on their health journey.
Meet the Guest!
Dr. Elizabeth Cox, MD is an expert in reproductive psychiatry and women’s mental health treatment, and is well-versed in treating women’s mood and anxiety disorders, as well as other psychiatric disorders, during times of hormonal fluctuation and change (pregnancy, postpartum, menstruation, menopause and infertility). She was previously the Medical Director for UNC Women’s Mood Disorders at Wake Med North and Residency Education Director for Women’s Mood Disorders at UNC.
Dr. Cox has studied alternative treatments for depression, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). She believes in a holistic approach to treatment that includes nutrition, exercise, sleep, therapeutic interventions and pharmaceutical intervention when indicated.
I believe in treating the full person through a comprehensive patient-centered care model.
