ADHD and Women - by Jolene Brighten (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A revolutionary guide to understanding the hormone-ADHD connection, with practical guidance on optimizing your hormones and thriving with ADHD, from the bestselling author of Beyond the Pill and Is This Normal?

Many women unknowingly live their entire life with ADHD (often highly masked and quietly overwhelmed) until hormonal shifts in their late 30s and 40s make symptoms impossible to manage. In this transformative guide, board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and leading voice in women's medicine Dr. Jolene Brighten uncovers the real reason ADHD symptoms often get worse during transitions like perimenopause, pregnancy, or even the pre-menstrual phase of your cycle: hormones.

Drawing on clinical research, patient experience, and her own lived journey as a neurodivergent woman, ADHD and Women reframes ADHD not as a static diagnosis, but as a dynamic brain-body condition shaped by hormones, immune health and nervous system regulation. Anxiety, PMDD, low mood, focus and memory struggles, lack of motivation, brain fog, sleep disruption, sensory sensitivity, and emotional dysregulation are not personal failures--they are symptoms of dysregulation that ADHD women are more likely to report when hormones fluctuate.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Dr. Brighten's program is tailored to each reader's unique ADHD-Hormone profile, a groundbreaking framework that helps readers pinpoint which hormonal systems are driving their symptoms. With this clarity women can finally understand why they're dysregulated and follow Dr. Brighten's clear, realistic steps to regain focus and end the overwhelm.

Inside, readers will find:

• A 14-day reset meal plan designed to optimize hormones
• Comprehensive hormone strategies, including guidance on hormone replacement therapy specific to the neurodivergent woman's needs
• Movement and sleep strategies tailored to the neurodivergent nervous system
• Mind-body tools to improve emotional regulation and support mental health
• A personalized ADHD blueprint to manage each hormonal phase of a woman's life

ADHD and Women is your guide to learning how your brain and hormones work together, so you can finally make them work for you--not against you.

About the Author

Dr. Jolene Brighten is an internationally recognized expert in hormones, women's health, and ADHD across the female lifespan. A board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, nutrition scientist, certified menopause specialist, and sex counselor, she is widely known for translating complex hormonal science into clear, clinically relevant care for patients and the doctors who treat them. As the founder of Dr. Brighten Essentials, she leads the development of rigorously formulated, science-backed supplements addressing real world hormone challenges women face. She is the bestselling author of Beyond the Pill and Is This Normal, books that have reshaped conversations around birth control, menstrual health, perimenopause, and sexual wellness. Dr. Brighten is the host of The Dr. Brighten Show, a top rated women's health podcast. A clinical educator, she trains healthcare practitioners to deliver nuanced, evidence-based care--especially for women navigating ADHD and chronic conditions. Through her work, she is redefining healthcare for women worldwide.