Read this in some article. What do you think? With some of the menopause problems with my skin I am inclined to believe it.

I know that when I hit puberty my ADHD symptoms were much less problematic. Now as I'm in perimenopause they're back with a vengance. I've been reading Thomas Brown's book on Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults and he describes how many women have ADD type symptoms emerge at menopause and those who were already diagnosed frequently have worsening symptoms. He discusses a neuro study that seemed to indicate that estrogen modulates the release and reuptake of dopamine. If true, that would explain a lot for me. Although I understand that most ADHD girls gets worse at puberty, so I don't know for sure.

Scattered

dhey scattered tha twould make sense. I remember always having a learning disablitiy buthe frustration and emotional crying and screaming is not me. If estrogen has something to do with adhd or mimic adhd then that would explain a lot about my behaviour this semester and the frustration.

Hey, I need to chime in here-My peri menopause is bad and getting worse, mine is in the form of being attracted to younger guys-like teenagers!! I think what can be wrong with me, or maybe that is a mid life thing, you know the last hurrah before wrinkles and wheelchairs? Maybe a combination of both, I have lost like 10 lbs, but I am happily married with 2 kids-teenagers, but to me they are so fun, and impulsive like, and I like the wildness of some of them, they seem to just have fun doing nothing, it is just refreshing to me to be with them. Anybody else relate?

A child's energy is great.
they see things in an innocent way,
and say what they think.
I dont get attracted to young guys,
and I an still single. How old are you?
I get more hotflashes than anything.
I think I am taking after my mom.
I am jealous of my sister she has no symptoms
of the change of life yet and she is only 21/2 years younger.

As I recall prior to puberty, certain parts of my body didn't dimple, sag, pooch or crease. When I got down on the floor, I just got right back up, without assistance from AAA. I certainly don't recall any times of which I could hardly keep from ripping my clothes off regardless of who was in my presence- because I was on fire and my red face proved it.

Menopause-reverse puberty? hardly... I only wish. How hormones play with ADD...I'm sure they do- but so does so many other things... B-12, Omega-3, zinc, exercise etc.

Hey, yeah yall'
I think I can relate to the reverse puberty, with ADD as a teenager, not yet diagnosed or anything, but I am a classic, shy-backward, didn't want any attention at all-very low self esteem, really it does make sense-because now, I can relive it, I can feel very energetic and flirty with boys that come over to see my daughter, is it sick, I don't think so, I just feel more alive and vital, and like I need reassurance that I am still a little attractive to someone like that, I am over it now, I think. My husband all of a sudden looked older and yuck totally unattractive, and I was actually jealous of this boys attention to my daughter, that is when I woke up and said, wait a minute, something is not right here-I am intelligent, with my degree in special ed-I am mature and wise and have a wealth of common sense-this does not fly. So it is hormones I guess, rearing their ugly heads, trying to prove that I am old and useless-but I am not, getting back on track I am going to look for teaching jobs around my area-maybe I need to stay away from high schoolers. Tell me I am not crazy!!!!

I've read that for most gals -- puberty made their ADD worse. For me it was just the opposite -- my symptoms dropped way off and my grades sky rocketed. At the other end of the spectrum with my estrogen levels falling off (especially during PMS) my ADD symptoms are SIGNFICANTLY worse. I'm sure their observed effect on serotonin and dopamine utilization have to be impacting my ADD experience.

Scattered

Yeah, I heard increased dopamine is a good idea during those "fuzzy" brain moments, which I get a lot especially around the monthly thing-How can you get it, is there a way to buy like a capsule form of it, I am just really curious, I think that might help me to connect better. So foggy lately-so easily-before you know it, I am in it again, when I need to be doing other things. It is hard to listen in that condition to what people are telling you-and what to do. thanks.

Ways to increase dopamine would of course be more meds (Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, etc); exercise; and tyrosine (sp?)-- but it's always prudent to check with your doctor first.

Serotonin levels also drop and cause mood problems. I take something to boost my serotonin levels and found that I'm doing much better and have less PMS symptoms, headaches, and less general fogginess and irritability. (SSRI's, St John's Wort, and 5-HTP boost serotonin -- but you should check with your doctor for drug interaction issues).

Scattered

haven't brought that up with my doc yet-the ADD thing, so no meds for me as of yet-just using epinephrine every once in awhile-that and strong coffee, thanks so much for the info. Is serotonin a hormone related thing? Or a brain thing? Just curious. thanks scattered-it does help-Oh I have lost a bunch of weight which also should help, I exercise about every other day-fast walking!! It does help.

Is serotonin a hormone related thing? Or a brain thing? Just curious. thanks scattered-it does help-Oh I have lost a bunch of weight which also should help, I exercise about every other day-fast walking!! It does help.Yes, it's a hormone related things and a brain thing. Serotonin levels typically drop before a woman's period. Since it is a neurotransmittor it effects brain functioning, mood regulation and such. Some women actually take an SSRI or supplement for a week or two prior to their periods if it's creating problems. A woman's menstral cycle also influeces dopamine (another neurotransmittor). According to Thomas Brown in Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults, research indicates that estrogen effects the release and reuptake of dopamine. Dopamine as you know effects focus and other ADD symptoms. Congratulations on the exercise program and weight loss -- WTG!:)

..He discusses a neuro study that seemed to indicate that estrogen modulates the release and reuptake of dopamine. If true, that would explain a lot for me. Although I understand that most ADHD girls gets worse at puberty, so I don't know for sure.ScatteredThat's the first time I've heard about an alleged link between estrogen and dopamine, but I agree with you it sounds plausible. When we get to that age and stage it's so hard to sort out what is due to the ahem, maturing, brain and what might be due to hormonal change, isn't it?

I have always been the type who had few estrogen issues of the PMS kind. And yet other things, like acne, are getting worse at this time of life (that's not reverse puberty but a repetition of it! {g}). I would also say I need increasingly more Post-Its and more self-discipline and even more caffeine to push myself to face things mundane, so maybe there is a dopamine/estrogen link hapening there as well. It's just real hard to tell!

You have given me much to think about-interesting to watch what happens to our bodies-I notice I am starting to get jowls along the jaw area! I hate that, so I am constantly stretching my face-It almost seems too, like you can spot a Menopause tummy-sort of slightly lumpy and round-I hate it from the side view-so I am going to try some tummy flattening exercises in addition to walking-I am fighting this so hard, it seems like all of a sudden, I see the other side of my life and it ain't pretty. L.

Menopause? I hate to think I'm headed down that road but I definitely think I'm headed that way. I never realized I had ADD until this last year when I started going through a divorce and noticed I was having a more difficult time staying focused on one task and getting it completed before I would start 3 more. I work in accounting and it was nothing for me be working on one bank reconciliation and before I knew it I had started another without finishing the first one. I had known for years that I couldn't even get through my prayers at night without drifting off to something else and not even finish praying most of the time. My assistant was quick to point it out to me. I get so irritable every month that I don't even want my children to touch me. I started taking Adderall about 3 months ago and have seen a great improvement in my concentration and ability to finish tasks. I always knew I would multitask but I guessed I never realized how bad. I have noticed the last few years that my body is changing which seems totally implausible at the age of 39. I also tend to think that the Adderall makes me more irritable as well. As for acne, I never really had a problem until I was diagnosed with ADD and started trying the different medications. I blame it on the medication and would love to know if anyone else has had this problem.

Interesting thread, as for the link between estrogen and dopamine, I find this to be extremely interesting. Hormones are message carriers to all parts of the body, and when they are imbalanced, all things can become a mess. I have found this out the hard way. Since June 04, after a total hysterectomy, I have had to cope with sever sudden menopause, Foggy headed, ****, more like the lights went out and I was lost inside, in the dark, small doses of estrogen helped little, after 7 months, I am on bio-identical hormones, its natural, two estrogens, progestrone, and testostrone. Its crazy and confusing because, we all have different levels of these hormones in us. And it is the IMBALANCE of them that will cause problems. and trying to figure out what your lacking is tricky, Progestrone is are calming hormone, when we start into that time of the month and estrogen drops, progestrone rises, this is where pms comes in...low progestrone...My lady doc. feels about all women need progestrone, (it comes in a cream, found at gnc's, drug stores, I heard walmart has some) She said progestrone is the first hormone we start to lose as we grow older. That probably explains why are fuse seems to get shorter with age...lol... anyway, when we start becoming short of progestrone, we can become estrogen dominate, and this is what puts the extra weight on you, especially around the mid section. I have put on 40 lbs, over the last year, myself.
I did a lot of research on the subject, but sorry, if I can't relate it so well, you see, my memory went with the uterus...
After I finally got on the bio-identical hormones, which I found out from reading Suzanne Somers book "The Sexy Years" going to 3 female doc.'s (the one that done my surgery, said he didn't have any other patients have problems like I was describeing and brushed me off) I got tired of getting a pat on the back saying it was going to be all right these problems would pass...Heck no it wasn't alright, I couldn't think straight, hold a conversation with anyone, I would forget how to do simple things, I had moments I litterly thought I was losing my mind and I am not kidding, couldn't read more than a paragraph or draw when I am an avid reader and artist.
Through research on the internet trying to find out about the problem, I have always felt the best way to fight something is through knowledge on the subject, seeing the ball kept landing back in my lap...it was like I was meant to figure it out myself. I came across the subject of adult adhd on web md. Well one click lead to another, and things started clicking in my head about my whole life. I am a text book subject, and have fought problems all my life because of it, always wondering why I was the only one in my family that walked and talked to a different beat. I told a girl at work about it and found out about my Doc. (whom after a few visits, I seen he had adhd too) He said with a laugh there was no hope for him but there still was for me, he put me on adderall, it helped a huge amount. But after 2 months, I still had bad problems, easpecially with racing thoughts, after going on about what was going on in my head to him, a light went off in his, and he said he thought I was also bi-polor. I thought he was crazy, but he asked me to just bear with him and trust him.
Turned out he was right, I went right home and researched the subject, I am what they call hypo-mania. I don't swing to the extreame either way, and I am not suicidel. I can tell you I have had mania episodes with sex, which I mean I have done some crazy and dangerous things. I understand where your comeing from fuzzy..
I am not saying I went and had sex with teenagers, but it has been tempting...Could it be that raising the dopemine level getts harder and harder, there fore you look at new and exciteing things to interest you...hmmm. Heck the real sorry part is that I totally lost my libido, I could care a less if I ever get any...I think I need more testostrone. Fuzzy your testostrone level maybe higher now with the loss of other horemones...just a thought... Through reasearch I thing my test. level is higher then normal, I have to do a saliva test at the end of the month, to see where my levels are before, they will adjust my script.
I am taking symbrax for my bi-polor which they can't explain how it works for bi-polor they just know it does, it works on the serotonin, dopamine and neorephadrine, levels. I really have a hard time trying to keep up with these drugs, I am 40 and never have taken anything everyday like this. Put my hormone cream on, take an adderall take another, and try not to go to sleep before I take the Symbrax. If I forget my hormones which I do... I can tell the difference right off the bat, and so can my boyfriend. I have to take everything on a timely basis. My pharmaset asked me how I was doing last time I got my symbrax. I told him pretty good as long as I stay on track, he said I was the most extreme case he had ever seen. To tell you the truth I am the most extreme case I have come across, trust me I asked everybody I know that had had a hysterectomy about their experience.
I had started realizing something was wrong with me several yrs. before I had the big H, but landing in sudden menopause, will intensify adhd symptoms severally. And I have learned that every thing in the body and mind relates to another, like a huge spiral graph diagram.
I hope I haven't gone on and on, and I know my spelling stinks, another problem since the surgery. I hope I have not lost ya'll in my rambling...Kim

I went through forced, instant menopause in my mid 30s due to severe endimetriosis causing the need for a radical hysterectomy. Within a few days I was done with menopause. My mood swings that I (and those around me) suffered from all my life were gone. When I went on hormones they came right back, so I chose to go off hormones.
I still get just as many pimples as I ever did after my teen years, no more, no less. I've never gone through an attraction for teens.
Stress = worsened ADHD symptoms for me so menopause in itself didn't effect it.
Menopause didn't seem to effect my sex drive any, like I feared it would, but it did bring about long bouts of insomnia.
I think menopause calmed me a lot, which I desperately needed.

Hey Kim, that's lousy -- sorry so much unexpected stuff went with you hysterectomy. I unexpectedly got pregnant at 45 and lost the baby two months later. I told my OB/GYN about my mood swings and how my ADD was worse and he suggested he give me some medicine that would put me into instant menopause for six months at a time -- no thank you! I change doctors. I prefer to make that adjustment a little more gradually, since I don't know how much worse it might make things. I love the stories about menopause making it better, but since my ADD improved so dramatically when I went through puberty and when I was pregnant I'm afraid I'm in for more fog and mood swings.

What's helping me right now is taking 5-HTP for about 10 days before my period -- no more migraine the day before, softer mood swings, and better cognitive functioning than otherwise. I expect I'll have to keep tinkering with the medication/supplement balance with my doctor as I transition from peri-menopause to full menopause. Fortuantely he's a DO and looks more holistically at things.

Scattered

PS: Don't take 5-HTP without talking to your doctor if your taking meds -- it converts to serotonin and could give you serotonin syndrome if you're already taking a med that effects serotonin levels.

Just curious, what is seratonin syndrome? I am sorry about your baby, that had to be very hard-I am 45 right now, and couldn't imagine being pregnant at this stage in life-poor thing wouldn't have a chance with me. anyway-I walk after 4 pm and that seems to help with seratonin-I feel much sleepier during night time when I should be sleeping. Is it too much seratonin? thanks for helping me. L.

I forget all the symptoms -- I'll try and look it up later when I have more time -- but basically when you get too much serotonin from too many outside sources it starts creating problems.

Walking is great -- I need to start back to exercising in the evening again -- I know it keeps some folks up, but it alwasy helped me sleep. And yes, it definately improves serotonin levels assuming your getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.

Scattered

Reverse puberty? Nah, not for me. I don't remember growing a beard when I was 13...!

his is all fascinating to me. I'm 49 and have been going through menopause for the last 2-3 years (only about 5 or 6 perids in all that time, but every once in awhile ...) It wasn't until just a few years ago (after having my oldest two diagnosed with ADD) that I really looked at my own symptoms and felt like they were getting way worse.

At first I thought that it was just an increased awareness. But then I really started to see that, yeah, these are symptoms I've had all my life -- just at a manageable level. Then suddenly, menopause hit (and a boatload of other unexpected stress in my life), and the symptoms became a much bigger problem.

I've been on Adderall (though not for a few months now, and I miss it) and am still on Prozac. That really seems to help with the menopause symptoms, oddly enough -- even the hot flashes and night sweats, which are the most troubling for me. (I'm not emotionally any more squirrelly than I already was!)

I've also started taking an OTC supplement called Estroven that I'm hoping will entirely wipe out the hot/cold/sweating thing. Anyone have any experience with Estroven? (or anything else they'd recommend? I'm not interested in HRT, and my symptoms don't feel bad enough to warrant it.)

Thankfully I haven't really had any problems with night sweats, but oh the hot flashes! I tried Estroven a couple of times but it didn't help me. Black Cohosh Root capsules help me the most. I've been taking them for about 3 years now and wish I'd discovered them sooner. My poor sister is 5 years younger than I am and started having hot flashes at about the same time, but then she's always been a smoker and I wasn't/am not.


I started peri-menopause at about the age of 40, young I know, but it does seem to run in my family that we, we also start our menses young at age 9 on the average. Early symptoms were lethargy, memory loss, sagging skin, but compared to the hormonal surges and wacky mood swings that I'd been having every 23 days since age 9 I thought menopause was a blessing. Around the age of 51 menopause kicked into high gear - I also had a lot of stress in my life at that time - and I figured the increased forgetfulness and such was a combination of those factors. But at that age I didn't realize that the reason I've had trouble all my life was that I have ADD. Now I look back and I can tell that my ADD symptoms were worse during that time, which I still attribute to a combination of menopause and stress.

Seems like there was something else I wanted to write, but things are too noisy and chaotic here now. Maybe I can check back later or tomorrow when it's quieter and see if my brain can remember anything else. ;)

I just got home it's almost 7 in the morning,(I do 6-6 nites) just sqirted on my hormones that I forgot to do before I left yesterday, It's a ***** to remember everyday, though I try. Early menopause started with me in my early 30's, no one really thinks about that kind of thing at that age, so when I started haveing all these weird symptoms it never crossed my mind, let alone adhd, I thought I was just losing it. I think I was, but at least I can now put a symptom with a cause.
I had been having nite sweats before my period for years I thought it was just a sign that it was coming, I didn't realize it was because of the drop in estrogen. Soy is real good for this, I drink alot of silk, it is pretty good, though I have always bought the chocolate it's like in between choclate milk and yohoo. between that black cohosh and yams these are good ways to raise your estrogen levels. but it is more then just raiseing your estrogen levels to get rid of menopause syptoms. You have to be balanced, with your estrogen, progestrone and testostrone levels. Plus the inbalance of these can cause a inbalance of more things such as thyroid and andreal. It is such a complex subject then when you add the adhd syptoms to it... like wheee... we are on a heck of a ride.

As for crazy chin hairs, the first time I found out that I had one, I was 16 and working at Hardees and one of the guys working there laughed at me at told me I had a hair on my chin. Not funny at the time, now I think I pluk hairs daily, I can look at that and my body type and think that I am one that was always higher in testostrone then others. I have told this to my pharasist, wanting more test. in my script to help with libedo. back to the thing what works for one may not be enough for another, you just really have to know yourself, and understand the syptoms, to know where to begin, with finding the balance that works for you.
I think at puberty we just go crazy with the new things in life that can bring us such satisfaction that raises that dopamine level for us, then by the time we go through menopause, we done been there done that, and are head starts spinning and the smoke start rising and we are in a fog before we know it, wondering what the heck is going on....peace out

Soy doesn't help me at all. Isn't it fun to experiment and figure out what works best for each of us. :(

I tired plucking my chin hairs and extra eyebrow hairs, but since I have to shave my mustache - it's easier to shave my chin as well. And I take one swipe with the safety razer from the bridge of my nose upwards as well.

It's not so strange that I have more hot flashes in the summer than in the winter, but I've also noticed that I only have to shave about half as often (if that) during the winter as I do during the summer. :cool:

My take: Menopause = reverse puberty as much as senior years = infancy. Can't wait to hear Van Halen fill the halls of my nursing home...

Hey, Gypsysway! I just got a book about women and testosterone so I can convince my new gynecologist to put me on it. Let me know if you're able to up your dose without raging too much, and if it helps with the old libido.

Dear Fuzzy; Please be careful about your attraction to teenagers! Besides the Legal ramifications, an error in judgement could cause a great deal of HURT to your own children & spouse, as well as to yourself. I know you know this, but sometimes it helps to see it in black & white. You are experiencing what men feel when they begin to feel 'old' and start chasing younger women. It is fleeting and nothing to ruin your marriage or life over. Just mho.

Yeah, ADD<\
That was just weird, a lot of stuff going on then, I am over it, I am out of it completely. I am hoping that was just an awful phase of my life-I am making the decision to be smart about things. I think "OOOH " like cooties or something when I think of it. What was I thinking-obviously-I was not. L. Maybe was it hormones? The middle age thing-I completely understand that it is a serious thing-the ramifications-are horrifying. On the news there is a 37 yo woman having a 15yo teenager's baby-that is just weird. It is unthinkable. And yet, there I was,.....thanks for throwing coffee on my face, think I will lick it off now, thanks so much.

Fuzzy...

We've all entertained inappropriate actions at times so don't worry about it. You were smart to post and get the feelings 'out there'. We can't fix things until we own them.

Fantasy is great and that is just what your poor hormone confused body is doing to your libido & brain! You are on the estrogen rollercoaster Fuzzy! Last stop is Menopause, so enjoy it for as long as you can...just keep the guys over 21... and be discreet and 'safe' so this phase of your life won't come back to bite you in the tush!

Addeline...

P.S.....Life really is wasted on the young isn't it???

Lisa, in answer to your question about acne... YES!!! I'm 37.. breaking out like a teenager all over my face with acne. More capillaries are breaking around my nose also, even though I quit smoking 2 mos ago and I don't have sinus problems. I look like I have hickies all over my neck now and nobody's been kissing me!! I don't understand.. I think it must be the medication!!

Uh.. GypsyWay.. you've scared me a bit.. I've been worried I'm in perimenopause at 37. After all, I've had uneven periods for the past 2 years.. more moodiness and migraines, spaciness, etc. during PMS. Lots of my symptoms that had gone away for a decade came back in a different form. I don't want my periods to stop early, because I don't want to age faster. Is that what happens?

Wow.. and then I just read Chameleon's post that getting a hysterectomy helped moodiness.. Do you feel older? You seem so extremely young in your posting!!

Thanks all..

I voted no. I have been in peri-menopause for last several years, and IMO puberty is evolving into one level of adulthood and menopause is another level of evolution entirely.

I miss the ways of the Old World when post-menopausal women were highly revered as extremely wise.

Crazy

Menopause (http://www.mymenopausecommunity.com/articles/menopause-symptoms/menopause-symptoms.html) is the point in a woman’s life when no more eggs are released from her ovaries and her period or menstrual cycle stops. The medical definition of menopause is no period for at least 12 months that is not due to any underlying medical condition. It is a normal part of the changes a woman’s body goes through as she gets older, and is caused in part by decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones.