In this episode, neurodivesity coach Elizabeth Brink joins me to talk about navigating the postpartum period.
Elizabeth shared her experience of going into early menopause in a previous episode.
ADHD & Postpartum
Elizabeth shares she wasn't prepared for the challenges she faced during the postpartum period following the birth of her first child. Looking back, she says she had increasing anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and her cognitive functioning was impacted.
Wading through the information
Moms will know there is a lot of information for new parents, one of the issues can be figuring out what is helpful and what is predatory on new parents.
Elizabeth says when you're over-tired, undernourished, and already prone to overwhelm going on Google late at night may not be the best idea!
She recommends figuring out who your safe people are and leaning on them when you need support.
Sensory issues & early motherhood
Many people with ADHD struggle with sensory issues, Elizabeth found once she had kids some of these were amplified. If she was under stress, making dinner, felt hot, or there was a lot of background noise she found it very hard to cope.
Prioritizing when you're a new parent with ADHD
The hormonal changes we experience post-partum can be even more of a challenge with ADHD. Elizabeth explains with the hormonal shifts on top of challenging cognitive functions, a person with ADHD might experience depression and anxiety.
She points out there is nothing wrong with needing extra support during this time to make sure you have everything you need.
Check out the full episode for a great conversation on the postpartum period.
Elizabeth’s links
https://twitter.com/ADHDmamacoach
https://www.thrivingsistercoaching.com/
About The Adulting With ADHD Podcast
It’s not just you – we aren’t talking enough about ADHD and hormones. There are so many things I wish I had known about hormones and ADHD earlier. They play such a fundamental role in the human body, deeply impacting a person’s life at all of their life stages.
As a former journalist and current ADHD’er, I unpack this topic through patient stories, expert interviews, and personal narrative.
With new episodes biweekly on Wednesdays, The Adulting With ADHD Podcast covers a variety of ADHD hormone topics including puberty, menopause, perimenopause, PMS, PMDD, and more. Why aren’t we talking about this more? What do you do if you find yourself struggling with ADHD and hormones? We discuss this and much more.
Need basic info about ADHD and hormones? Get the free quick guide at https://adultingwithadhd.com/hormones.
Show highlights
2:30 the impact of ADHD on the postpartum period
5:00 dealing with fear-mongering and misinformation
8:15 ADHD & sensory issues as a parent
14:00 adjusting to parenting
Show edited by HK Productions
