Why some weeks feel harder than others

If you are a woman with ADHD (diagnosed, self-identified, or in the “this explains a lot” stage), you may recognise this pattern.

Some weeks you can plan, focus, and cope reasonably well.
Then, without an obvious reason, everything feels harder. Your mind feels noisier. You feel more reactive. Your confidence dips. You lose words, lose track, lose patience, and start to feel as though you are failing at things you could manage only a week ago.

If this sounds familiar, you are not imagining it.
For many women, hormones can be part of this picture.

I’m writing this as a counsellor, not a medical professional. My role is not to diagnose or advise on treatment, but to help people make sense of their experience. What I can do is share what research and UK health guidance are beginning to suggest, alongside what I am hearing more often from women in the counselling room.

Why this is coming up more in counselling

More and more, women are bringing this topic into sessions themselves.

They talk about patterns they have slowly started to notice:
times when they feel more capable and grounded, followed by periods where focus drops, emotions feel closer to the surface, and everyday tasks suddenly take much more effort.

Some are newly exploring ADHD.
Some were diagnosed years ago.
Others are wondering whether hormonal changes, such as perimenopause, might be part of what they are experiencing.

These conversations are not about labels or self-diagnosis. They are about trying to understand what’s happening, and often about easing the self-blame that comes with feeling inconsistent or “not like myself anymore”.

The short version, gently put

Research in this area is still growing, but studies and reviews increasingly suggest that female sex hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, can influence ADHD symptoms.

This influence seems more noticeable during:

• different phases of the menstrual cycle
• perimenopause and menopause
• other times of hormonal change, such as puberty, pregnancy, and the period after birth (where the research is more limited)

A 2025 systematic review found evidence suggesting a relationship between ADHD symptoms and sex hormones in females, while also noting that more research is needed.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145478/

Why hormones might affect ADHD symptoms

ADHD affects how we focus, plan, organise, regulate emotions, and manage impulses.

Some researchers suggest that hormonal shifts may influence the brain systems involved in these areas, including dopamine related pathways that are often discussed in ADHD research.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0018506X23001642

This does not mean hormones cause ADHD.
It means that if you already have ADHD traits, hormonal changes may make symptoms feel louder or quieter at different times.

The menstrual cycle: when capacity dips for some women

Research suggests that ADHD symptoms can feel stronger during parts of the menstrual cycle where oestrogen drops, particularly in the days and week leading up to a period.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0018506X23001642

In day-to-day life, this can look like:

• feeling overwhelmed more quickly
• struggling to concentrate or remember things
• feeling more emotionally sensitive or reactive
• a louder inner critic
• disrupted sleep, which then makes everything feel harder

Not every woman experience this, but it is common enough that it shows up repeatedly in research.

Noticing your own pattern, without pressure

You don’t need to track everything or become overly focused on your cycle.

For a couple of months, you might simply notice:

• when focus feels harder
• when emotions feel closer to the surface
• how your sleep is

Marking the week before your period can sometimes reveal a pattern that helps things make more sense, rather than feel more frustrating.

Perimenopause and menopause: when things can shift again

Perimenopause can bring changes that overlap strongly with ADHD, including brain fog, memory lapses, anxiety, mood changes, sleep problems, and lower resilience.

The NHS recognises that menopause and perimenopause can affect mental wellbeing, confidence, and concentration, as well as physical health.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/

A 2025 study found that women with ADHD were more likely to experience stronger perimenopausal symptoms than women without ADHD.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12538516/

In the counselling room, this stage of life is often accompanied by worry and grief:

• “I don’t feel like myself anymore”
• “I can’t cope the way I used to”
• “Everything feels heavier than it should”

For many women, this isn’t about getting worse. It’s about needing different support than before.

NICE guidance on both ADHD and menopause can be useful when speaking with healthcare professionals.

ADHD guidance (NG87):
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87

Menopause guidance (NG23):
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

A gentle note about hormonal contraception and mood

This is an area that needs careful, individual conversation rather than sweeping statements.

A 2023 study found that young women with ADHD had a higher risk of depression when using oral hormonal contraception, compared with those without ADHD. The authors highlight the importance of informed and shared decision making.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36332846/

This doesn’t mean hormonal contraception is wrong. It means noticing mood changes and feeling able to talk about them matters.

What can help, without expecting yourself to cope perfectly

The aim isn’t to “fix” yourself. It’s to work with your energy and capacity more kindly.

Plan with compassion

If you know certain weeks are harder, that’s not failure. It’s information.

You might choose to:

• keep those weeks lighter where possible
• delay non urgent tasks
• ask for support sooner

Make life easier on low-capacity days

When your internal resources are stretched:

• write things down
• break tasks into small steps
• aim for “good enough” rather than perfect

Medication questions belong with prescribers

There is early research exploring ADHD medication adjustments around hormonal changes, but this should always be discussed with a qualified clinician.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38152361/

If perimenopause may be part of your story

Perimenopause can start earlier than many people expect. If focus, mood, sleep, and coping have shifted over time, it may help to explore this alongside ADHD, using NHS and NICE guidance as a starting point.

A closing thought

If your capacity changes across the month or across different life stages, it does not mean you are unreliable or failing.

It often means your nervous system is responding to changing internal conditions.

Understanding this can soften self-judgement and help you find steadier, more realistic ways of supporting yourself.

Important note

This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about ADHD, hormonal changes, or your mental health, please speak with an appropriate healthcare professional.