Therapy for Perimenopause, Menopause, ADHD & Autism
Dr. Christine Henry is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She provides online therapy for adults with ADHD, autism, or AuDHD, including those discovering their neurodivergence later in life, who are finding that perimenopause or menopause is making everyday life harder to manage.
Available throughout Texas and PSYPACT states.
When Perimenopause or Menopause Makes Everything Harder
Maybe you've spent years working twice as hard to keep up with everyone else. You've developed routines, reminders, and ways to push through. But lately, those strategies aren't working as well, and you're wondering what the heck is going on.
For ADHD and autistic adults, hormonal changes can make it harder to manage things that already take extra effort, like executive functioning, sensory overload, and emotional regulation. And if you've spent years masking or pushing past your limits, you may be finding that you just don't have the energy to keep doing it anymore.
You might be experiencing:
Executive functioning difficulties. Starting tasks, staying organized, remembering appointments, or following through takes more effort than it used to.
Brain fog and memory problems. Losing your train of thought, forgetting words, or worrying about how much your memory has changed.
Sensory overwhelm. Sounds, lights, clutter, or other people's needs feel unbearable. You may be more sensitive to things that have always bothered you, or suddenly find yourself overwhelmed by things you used to tolerate.
Anxiety, depression, or irritability. Feeling constantly on edge, angry, emotionally flat, or overwhelmed by things that used to be manageable.
Sleep problems and exhaustion. Trouble falling or staying asleep, including those lovely 3 a.m. spirals when your brain decides to review every life decision you've ever made.
Relationship difficulties. Increased rejection sensitivity, difficulty setting boundaries, or less patience for things you've tolerated for years.
Changes in how you see yourself. Struggling with changes in your body and brain, questioning your intelligence or abilities, or finding that your values, priorities, and what you're willing to put up with are changing, too.
Masking and burnout. Keeping up appearances and meeting everyone else's expectations takes more energy than you have. You need more time to recover, and pushing through isn't working anymore.
Maybe you've recently been diagnosed with ADHD or autism, or you're just starting to recognize traits that have been there your whole life. Things you once attributed to anxiety, depression, trauma, or just your personality are starting to look a little different.
And now you're wondering how much of what you're experiencing is hormonal, how much is ADHD or autism, and where burnout fits into all of this.
What Therapy Can Help With
Therapy can't make menopause disappear, but it can help you understand what's changed, recognize patterns that have been there for years, and figure out what might make everyday life easier now.
In our work together, we may focus on:
Understanding how hormonal changes, ADHD, autism, and past experiences may be affecting your daily life
Exploring masking, people-pleasing, and the expectations you've spent years trying to meet
Processing the grief, anger, or relief that can come with discovering your neurodivergence later in life
Working through relationship difficulties, setting boundaries, and adjusting expectations of yourself
Finding accommodations and practical supports that work with your brain and your current capacity
Processing the frustration of having your concerns dismissed and finding ways to advocate for yourself with healthcare providers.
This isn't about becoming more disciplined. You've probably tried that.
What's It Like to Sit With Me in Therapy?
My approach is conversational, curious, and collaborative, with some humor mixed in. As someone with ADHD who's also been through menopause, I understand what it's like when your brain stops cooperating.
You don't have to sit still, maintain eye contact, or worry about communicating the "right" way. Feel free to fidget, move around, or take a break when you need one. You don't need an agenda, organized thoughts, or even remember what you wanted to talk about when the session started.
And if I need to turn on a fan in the middle of a session because of a hot flash? You'll know you're in good company. We'll figure things out as we go.
Interested in Working Together?
If this sounds familiar and you're wondering whether therapy could help, I'd be happy to talk with you.
Schedule a free 20-minute video consultation. No phone call needed to get started!
When Another Type of Support May Be More Helpful
Prescribing or managing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other medications
Comprehensive neuropsychological testing
Highly structured coaching, worksheets, or step-by-step treatment protocols
Crisis intervention or a higher level of care
Therapy focused on reducing autistic traits, masking more effectively, or meeting neurotypical expectations
I focus on the emotional and psychological aspects of perimenopause, menopause, ADHD, and autism. Medical concerns and hormone treatment should be addressed with an appropriate healthcare provider.
Explore Resources
Still trying to make sense of how hormonal changes may be affecting you?
I've put together resources exploring the relationship between hormones, ADHD, and autism. You can read through them at your own pace or share them with partners, family members, or healthcare providers who want to better understand what you're experiencing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Perimenopause can affect sleep, mood, memory, focus, motivation, sensory tolerance, and emotional regulation. So when several of those things change at the same time, it can feel deeply unsettling.
You may feel more anxious, more forgetful, more reactive, more exhausted, or less able to recover from everyday stress. If you are ADHD, autistic, AuDHD, gifted, highly sensitive, or someone who has spent years masking and pushing through, those changes can feel even more intense.
Feeling like you are losing your mind does not mean you are broken. It may mean your brain, body, hormones, and nervous system are asking for support in a different way than they used to.
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Yes, perimenopause can be connected to anxiety, depression, low motivation, irritability, and feeling emotionally flat. Hormone shifts can affect sleep, mood, energy, focus, and stress tolerance, which can make everyday life feel much harder than it used to.
For ADHD, autistic, AuDHD, gifted, or highly sensitive people, this can be especially confusing. You may know what you “need” to do, but still feel like you cannot make yourself start. You may feel burned out by basic tasks, overwhelmed by normal demands, or frustrated that your usual systems are not working anymore.
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Yes. Changes in estrogen during perimenopause may affect attention, memory, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. You might find yourself struggling with things you've managed for years, even with medication or routines that used to work well. It doesn't necessarily mean your ADHD is getting worse. Hormonal changes, disrupted sleep, and increased demands may be making it harder to manage symptoms that were already there.
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Yes. Some autistic adults report increased sensory sensitivities, more difficulty managing everyday demands, and less energy for masking during perimenopause and menopause. Things you once tolerated may suddenly feel overwhelming. This doesn't necessarily mean you're becoming more autistic. You may simply have less capacity to push through discomfort or hide struggles that have been there for years.
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Possibly. A history of hormone related mood difficulties may increase your vulnerability to mood changes during perimenopause. The relationship between PCOS and menopause is less clear. Your hormonal and mental health history is worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
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Therapy cannot diagnose or medically treat brain fog, but it can help you cope with the fear, shame, and identity disruption that often comes with memory changes. It can also help you build more realistic supports and communicate clearly with medical providers.
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Absolutely. Autism and ADHD are lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions, but they aren't always recognized in childhood. Some adults begin questioning whether they're autistic or AuDHD when hormonal changes, burnout, or increasing demands make lifelong traits harder to overlook.
You Do Not Have To Make Sense Of This Alone
You don't need to know exactly what's hormonal, what's ADHD or autism, or what's burnout before reaching out.
Therapy can be a place to sort through what's happening, talk about the frustration of not feeling like yourself, and figure out what kind of support makes sense for you now.
If you're looking for a therapist who understands both neurodivergence and the challenges of perimenopause or menopause, I'd be happy to talk with you about whether we're a good fit.
Schedule a free 20 minute consultation to talk through what you are looking for.
Information for Referring Providers
Are you a therapist, healthcare provider, or other professional considering a referral for someone navigating perimenopause or menopause, particularly alongside ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergent traits? Visit my Who I Help page to learn more about the clients I work with, my therapeutic approach, and who may be a good fit for my practice.