Have you ever wondered why you suddenly can’t remember names, keep losing your keys, feel emotionally overloaded, or can’t get through a simple task without your brain going sideways? Is it perimenopause… or could it be ADHD you never knew you had?

In this eye-opening episode of Grandma Has ADHD, Jami sits down with UK menopause expert and bestselling author Michelle Rowlinson to talk about the surprising overlap between ADHD and perimenopause—and why so many women don’t get answers until midlife.

Together, they break down why brain fog, decision paralysis, mood swings, overwhelm, chronic disorganization, and exhaustion aren’t “just aging.” For many women over 40 and 50, these are actually signs of ADHD that went unnoticed, unspoken, or misunderstood for decades.

Jami and Michelle both share deeply personal experiences—from years of undiagnosed symptoms to burnout, masking, anxiety, relationship challenges, and the emotional roller coaster of finally connecting the dots later in life.

This episode is validating, funny, honest, and the exact conversation so many women wish they’d heard earlier.

If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “too forgetful,” or “too overwhelmed,” this one will feel like a warm hug and a lightbulb moment at the same time.

Why This Conversation Matters

For generations, ADHD was defined by the image of a hyperactive little boy. Women were overlooked, dismissed, or told they were stressed, hormonal, dramatic, or depressed.

Add perimenopause into the mix—shifting hormones, sleep issues, changes in memory and focus—and suddenly symptoms become impossible to ignore.

This episode helps you finally understand:

• Why women “slip through the cracks”
• How hormones magnify ADHD symptoms
• Why masking leads to burnout
• How ADHD + perimenopause impacts confidence and identity
• And why many women feel relief (and grief) when they finally get answers

You’re not imagining it. You’re not failing. You’re not “too much.” Your brain is simply showing you what’s been there all along.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How ADHD often hides behind perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout
• The most common signs women miss in their 30s, 40s, and 50s
• Why perimenopause is one of the biggest triggers for late-in-life ADHD discovery
• Michelle’s story: seven years of unexplained symptoms before learning it was perimenopause
• Why diets, routines, and clutter systems feel harder with an ADHD brain
• The emotional side: guilt, being “too much,” and masking
• How ADHD and autism overlap (AUDHD)
• The surprising history behind ADHD, including the Salem Witch Trials
• How understanding your brain brings healing, clarity, and self-compassion

Episode Takeaway

Understanding your ADHD—and how your hormones impact it—isn’t about finding excuses.

It’s about finally finding clarity, compassion, and the freedom to live in a way that supports your brain.

Resources Mentioned:

• Michelle’s Podcast: Menopause: The Real Deal (Spotify & Apple)
• Michelle’s Book: You, Me, Conquering Perimenopause and Menopause — available on Amazon
• Michelle’s website: panaceapaws.co.uk
• Jami’s Book: This Explains So Much: Understanding Undiagnosed ADHD by Jami Shapiro — available on Amazon
• Jami’s Website: jamishapiro.me — Join the Black Friday Workshop— the most money you will ever save on Black Friday