Neurodiversity News | February 2026
February 2026 Neurodiversity Newsletter Issue #5 The February 2026 Neurodiversity Newsletter (Issue No. 5) is presented as a warm, informative roundup that celebrates, supports, and empowers neurodivergent adults and their communities. It brings together lived-experience stories, practical strategies, assessment guidance, and professional learning opportunities focused on ADHD, autism, and neuro-affirming care. Please click this button to find the PDF of the latest issue READ THE LATEST ISSUE Welcome and overall focus In this issue, readers are invited to explore how ADHD shows up in everyday life, including workplace dynamics, emotional regulation, and relationships. The publication highlights lived experiences, practical strategies, and learning opportunities, while continuing to emphasize collaboration across the Adult ADHD Centre, Adult Autism Centre, ADHD Training Academy, and the BEST Program. “ADHD and Management Models” The first featured story, “ADHD and Management Models” by Naïma Laraki (MSc, CPCC, PCC, MCAC), explores how traditional workplace expectations often do not align with how ADHD brains function. Systems built around consistency, rigid schedules, and linear productivity can create barriers rather than support.The article explains that focus in ADHD is not constant but occurs in waves, shaped by interest, stimulation, and emotional safety. It highlights how energy management plays a more critical role than time management, and how outcome-based approaches, flexible workflows, and supportive leadership can better support neurodivergent individuals. “Dopamine Menu” The second featured story, “Dopamine Menu” by Andrea Dasilva (MEd, RCC), explores the role of dopamine in ADHD and how it affects motivation, behaviour, and emotional regulation. Lower dopamine levels can lead to impulsive behaviours and a constant search for stimulation.The article introduces the idea of creating a personalized “dopamine menu” to support regulation. Activities are organized into categories such as quick boosts, longer activities, supportive add-ons, and occasional indulgences. This approach helps reduce overwhelm and makes it easier to choose supportive actions during moments of low energy or dysregulation. Building lasting friendships with ADHD Another major feature, “Building Lasting Friendships with ADHD,” focuses on how ADHD can impact relationships. It explains that challenges with consistency, time awareness, and emotional regulation can create friction, even when connection and care are strong. The section highlights patterns such as time blindness, working memory challenges, and rejection sensitivity, which can lead to misunderstandings or withdrawal. It emphasizes that these are neurological patterns rather than personal shortcomings.Practical strategies include using external supports, simplifying communication, and focusing on relationships that are reciprocal and sustainable. The article reinforces that meaningful, lasting friendships are possible when connection is shaped around how the ADHD brain works. Team recognition and staying connected The newsletter concludes by encouraging readers to stay connected with the Adult ADHD Centre and its partner organizations for future resources, events, and updates. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
‘The Trauma of Money’ by Chantel Chapman
The ADHD Centre for Women is excited to announce the book launch of Advisory Board Member Chantel Chapman’s new release, “The Trauma of Money: Mapping Compassionate Pathways to Healing Financial Trauma and Disempowering Financial Shame.” This much-anticipated book will be available in stores and online beginning September 23, 2025. Discover how financial wellness and mental health intersect, and explore resources that support women with ADHD in overcoming financial shame. About the Author: Chantel Chapman Chantel Chapman is an influential voice in financial education and trauma-informed practices. As an Advisory Board Member and CEO, her work empowers women to better understand the emotional and psychological sides of money management, aligning with the ADHD Centre for Women’s mission to support holistic well-being. Book Overview: The Trauma of Money “The Trauma of Money” presents compassionate strategies for healing financial trauma and breaking cycles of financial shame. The book is especially relevant for women with ADHD, who may face distinct challenges around money and self-worth. By mapping compassionate pathways, Chantel provides actionable insights to help readers foster healthier relationships with their finances and themselves. Why This Book Matters for Women with ADHD Financial stress is a common struggle among adults with ADHD. This book offers targeted pathways to address financial trauma, build resilience, and create empowering habits. If you or someone you know is managing ADHD and wants a fresh perspective on financial healing, this launch shines a light on essential resources. How to Purchase and Learn More Grab your copy in stores or online starting September 23, 2025. For more details about the book and the author, visit: Optimize your financial health journey and support the ADHD Centre for Women’s commitment to empowering women today!
ADHD Experiences Across the Lifespan: A Gender Perspective
This chart compares male and female experiences with ADHD throughout life, acknowledging the unique journeys they often face. While there are recognized patterns and themes in how ADHD manifests across genders, it’s important to remember that each person’s experience is unique. These findings are not absolute, and individual experiences may differ significantly. It’s important to note that the studies reflected here are based on binary data and do not fully represent the experiences of non-binary or transgender individuals. Research in these areas is still limited, and more comprehensive studies are needed to better understand ADHD in diverse populations.
Navigating the Intersection: ADHD and Menopause
Both ADHD and menopause can profoundly affect women’s lives, often in overlapping ways that can make it difficult to distinguish between the two. While ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and executive dysfunction, menopause brings hormonal shifts that impact mood, memory, and cognitive function. These changes can exacerbate ADHD symptoms or even mimic them, leading to a unique set of challenges for women experiencing both. This diagram highlights the distinct symptoms of ADHD and menopause, while also illustrating the significant areas of overlap, offering insight into the shared struggles many women face.
How Life Stages Affect Women’s Focus
For women with ADHD, the hormonal changes that come with various life stages can significantly impact how symptoms present and how manageable they feel. From the menstrual cycle to pregnancy and postpartum, hormone fluctuations can lead to challenges in focus, mood regulation, and emotional balance. Understanding how these shifts affect ADHD can help women develop strategies to navigate these changes more effectively. The Menstrual Cycle and ADHD The menstrual cycle plays a key role in influencing ADHD symptoms. During the first two weeks of the cycle, rising estrogen levels are associated with improved mood, cognitive function, and focus. Many women with ADHD feel more in control and find it easier to manage their symptoms during this phase. However, the story changes after ovulation, when estrogen levels drop, and progesterone levels rise. This hormonal shift leads to a decline in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in attention and executive function. As a result, many women experience a worsening of ADHD symptoms in the premenstrual phase, including increased difficulty with focus, emotional regulation, and impulsivity. These changes can feel frustrating, as the ebb and flow of hormones can make it seem like symptoms vary drastically throughout the month. Puberty and ADHD Puberty brings another significant wave of hormonal change, particularly with the surge of estrogen and progesterone. For girls with ADHD, these changes can intensify symptoms. Emotional volatility, mood swings, and increased difficulty with attention and impulse control are common during this time. Puberty also coincides with social and academic pressures, which can make managing ADHD symptoms even more challenging. Parents and educators play a critical role during this period by offering understanding, support, and potentially adjusting treatment strategies. It’s important to recognize that ADHD management may need to evolve as a girl transitions through puberty, as the combination of hormonal changes and environmental demands can complicate symptom control. Pregnancy and ADHD Challenges Pregnancy presents unique challenges for women with ADHD. The dramatic hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can affect mood and cognitive function, often leading to worsened ADHD symptoms. Many women also face the dilemma of whether to continue ADHD medications during pregnancy due to concerns about their safety. Balancing the benefits and risks of continuing medication can be difficult, and decisions should be made in close consultation with healthcare providers. For those who choose to pause medication, non-pharmacological strategies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and lifestyle adjustments can be particularly helpful. It’s important to stay flexible and explore alternative treatments to manage symptoms during this time. The Postpartum Period and ADHD The postpartum period is an especially challenging time for women with ADHD. Hormonal fluctuations, combined with sleep deprivation and the demands of caring for a newborn, can significantly exacerbate symptoms. Focus, organization, and emotional regulation may become even more difficult, making the early months of motherhood overwhelming. Support from healthcare providers, family, and friends is crucial during this period. Establishing routines, seeking help with childcare, and leaning on a support network can all help mitigate some of the stress that comes with being a new mother while managing ADHD. Open communication with healthcare professionals about any changes in symptoms can also ensure that appropriate treatment plans are in place. Managing ADHD Across Life Stages No matter the life stage, managing ADHD effectively often requires a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments. Regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and good sleep hygiene are essential components of overall brain health and can help reduce the impact of hormonal fluctuations. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly helpful for women dealing with stress and emotional regulation challenges that arise from hormonal changes. This type of therapy provides strategies for managing negative thought patterns and improving organizational skills, making it easier to cope with the complexities of ADHD. Tracking symptom patterns in a diary can help women and their healthcare providers identify how hormonal shifts affect ADHD symptoms. Adjusting medication and treatment plans based on these patterns allows for more tailored management strategies, ensuring that symptoms remain under control even during hormonal transitions. The Role of Estrogen in ADHD Estrogen plays a significant role in regulating neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, all of which are involved in attention, mood, and cognitive function. Higher levels of estrogen are often associated with improved attention and executive functioning, while lower levels can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. This understanding helps explain why many women experience relief from symptoms during certain phases of their menstrual cycle or during life stages when estrogen levels are higher. Conversely, periods of low estrogen, such as during the premenstrual phase or postpartum—can lead to more pronounced symptoms. Building a Strong Support System In addition to medical treatments and lifestyle changes, building a strong support system is crucial for women with ADHD. Support groups, whether in-person or online, can provide valuable insight and a sense of community. Women can share experiences, exchange strategies, and learn from others who are navigating similar challenges. Healthcare providers, including ADHD specialists and therapists, offer another essential layer of support. Regular consultations with these professionals ensure that treatment plans remain effective and can be adjusted as needed. Educational resources, such as books and reputable websites, also provide useful information on managing ADHD at different life stages. The impact of hormonal changes on ADHD symptoms is undeniable, but with the right strategies and support, women can navigate these fluctuations more effectively. By understanding how hormones influence ADHD symptoms, adjusting treatment plans, and building a strong support network, women can take control of their health and better manage ADHD across the different stages of life.
ADHD Overview
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 5-7% of adults. As an adult, ADHD is often revealed during major life events such as: Starting post-secondary Career advancement Changes to family dynamics (beginning or separating a family) Menopause Retirement These are a few of life events which may uncover your ADHD. It is important to note that ADHD is not an intellectual disorder; you can have ADHD, a high IQ and still be negatively impacted by ADHD. The underlying symptoms of ADHD are the same, however, the impairments present differently in everyday life from person to person. Adults with ADHD can experience academic failure, occupational difficulties, numerous job changes, relationship problems, financial difficulties, and substance use. In most adults, ADHD is often accompanied by a co-existing condition such as anxiety or depression. Some other ways ADHD might show up in a person’s life: Having difficulty with focus during conversations; my mind is elsewhere Feeling like you are not working to your potential or underachieving Working significantly harder than your peers to achieve the same results Feeling frustrated and impatient, having emotional outbursts Not being able to finish reading an article or book Being easily distracted by the sights and sounds in the environment Over or under estimating time required to complete tasks Hyper-focusing on a task while ignoring surroundings Procrastinating or delaying the start of important tasks Impulsive spending, eating, drinking, or sexual activity Frequent driving accidents or traffic tickets Poor organization Forgetful in daily activities Consistently loses or misplaces things such as keys, wallet or glasses ADHD is highly heritable and if one family member has ADHD, it is likely that another member also has ADHD. The exact cause of ADHD is still unknown; we do know that there are differences in the brains of people who have ADHD compared to those who do not. The ADHD Brain is different than the non-ADHD Brain A Pet Scan illustrating difference between a brain with ADHD and one without. PHOTO: NEUROSCIENCENEWS What is different in the ADHD brain? The ADHD brain structure is different: It is smaller, has less volume in some brain regions, and has less cortical thickness The ADHD brain functions differently: Less activation of networks needed for executive function and attention. Excessive activation of networks causing hyperactivity and impulsivity. The ADHD brain has problems with some pathways: The neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine; brain pathways are not working well. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist is a tool that healthcare providers may use to screen for Adult ADHD. This is not a diagnostic tool but a screener to indicate if a further detailed assessment is necessary. Although we do not use this screener at our Centre, you may download a free Adult ADHD Self-Report scale below. Download ASRS
Neurodiversity News | April 2026
April 2026 Neurodiversity Newsletter Issue #7 This edition of Neurodiversity News highlights autism, ADHD, and the diverse experiences of neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan. In April, we are focusing on autism in Canada through the lens: moving beyond awareness toward recognition, inclusion, and meaningful support. Our goal remains to inform, support, and strengthen understanding across the communities we serve. Please click this button to find the PDF of the latest issue READ THE LATEST ISSUE Welcome This edition of Neurodiversity News highlights autism, ADHD, and the diverse experiences of neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan. In April, we are focusing on autism in Canada through the lens: moving beyond awareness toward recognition, inclusion, and meaningful support. Our goal remains to inform, support, and strengthen understanding across the communities we serve. April – Autism Acceptance Month The first featured article, “April – Autism Acceptance Month” by Andrea Dasilva, explores how autism has evolved from being misunderstood to being recognized as a valid and meaningful way of being. It reflects on the shift from deficit-based thinking toward a neurodiversity-affirming perspective that values individuality and lived experience. The article highlights the importance of identity-first language, individualized support, and environments that adapt to the person rather than forcing conformity. It also emphasizes the role of acceptance, inclusion, and listening to autistic voices in building a more supportive society. ADHD & Tax Returns: Don’t Get Trapped This Year Another featured article by Naïma Laraki explains why tax filing can be especially challenging for individuals with ADHD. It frames the difficulty as a challenge of executive functioning and self-regulation rather than intelligence or effort. The section outlines key barriers such as planning, document organization, time management, sustained attention, and completing long, unstimulating tasks. It also provides practical strategies including breaking tasks into smaller steps, using a body double, working in short intervals, creating accountability, and reducing perfectionism. When Emotional Chaos Takes Over: Heart Coherence and the CUT-TRU Method to Navigate ADHD More Calmly Within the same feature, this section focuses on emotional regulation in ADHD. It explains that ADHD is not just about attention, but also about how quickly and intensely emotions can activate. Heart-focused breathing is introduced as a way to regulate the nervous system and create a sense of calm. The CUT-TRU method provides a structured approach: calming the body, understanding internal experiences, taking ownership, and choosing a more aligned response. Neurodivergent Celebration Week This section highlights Neurodivergent Celebration Week and the importance of recognizing and celebrating neurodivergent identities. It focuses on increasing visibility, reducing stigma, and creating spaces where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported. Adult Autism Centre The Adult Autism Centre section highlights a supportive Autism Acceptance Month invitation for adults who have questions about autism assessments. It encourages readers to book a complimentary free 30-minute discussion about the autism assessment as a first step to learn more about the process and explore what feels right for them. ADHD Training Academy The ADHD Training Academy section shares an important update that the ADHD-CEPP™ trademark application is approved. It explains that this brings more confidence to a certification pathway designed to support high standards in ADHD learning and practice, and invites readers to begin the 12-module certification process. BEST Program – community for adults with ADHD The Bold Education Skills Treatment (BEST) Program is presented as a welcoming, judgment-free community for adults with ADHD. Delivered entirely online, it includes two monthly webinars on topics such as sleep, medication, impulse control, organization, and focus, along with opportunities for members to connect, share experiences, and support one another. April 2026 events and webinars The April newsletter includes educational webinars focused on ADHD, autism, and mental health. These sessions provide practical guidance, expert insights, and opportunities for participants to learn and engage. Each event includes details on topics, timing, and registration, continuing the newsletter’s focus on accessible education and community support. Explore Upcoming Sessions Team recognition and staying connected The newsletter concludes by encouraging readers to stay connected with the Adult ADHD Centre and its partner organizations for ongoing resources, updates, and events. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
