Unraveling the Mystery: My Journey with ADHD, Hormones, and Finding Balance

Hi, I’m Becca Jean—30, a mom of two boys, and let me just say—things are getting real. ADHD, anxiety, depression, hormones… I’ve been checking off the health mystery bingo card for a while now, and it’s been one wild ride. Honestly, it feels like I’ve been peeling back the layers of an onion I didn’t even know existed. Tears included.

The ADHD Chronicles

Let’s rewind a bit. I was diagnosed with ADHD in fifth grade. Back then, ADHD wasn’t talked about the way it is now. People just thought I was hyper or couldn’t sit still—definitely not that I was trying to survive in a world that wasn’t made for my brain. They put me on meds right away, but guess what? I hated it. Stimulants made my heart race, and with my pectus excavatum (a sunken chest that made me hyper-aware of my heartbeat), it felt like I was ready to launch into space every time I moved. Not exactly the vibe I was going for.

Fast forward to adulthood: kids, marriage (and divorce—oh, don’t worry, that’s a whole other story), and years of being unmedicated. My ex used to say ADHD and depression were made-up things and people just needed to “try harder.”“Lazy?!,” I’d think. If only he knew how much energy it takes to pretend like I’m functioning when my brain is doing cartwheels inside my head.

A year ago, I went back to therapy, and my therapist asked if I’d ever been diagnosed with ADHD. I told him, “Oh yeah, since fifth grade, but I haven’t been on meds in years.” He gave me this look, like, “Why not?” Suddenly, I had a lightbulb moment. Maybe it was time to give meds another try.

So, I did. I went to the doctor, got back on Vyvanse, and let me tell you—those first few weeks were like upgrading from dial-up to Wi-Fi. My brain was finally able to focus. I wasn’t bouncing off the walls anymore. Was it perfect? No. Were there side effects? Absolutely. But progress? Definitely.

When ADHD Meets Hormone Mystery Theater

Just as I was getting a grip on my ADHD, something else started to go haywire: my hormones. It all started about two years ago with random night sweats. At first, I brushed it off, thinking it was just a fluke. But they started getting worse.

I did what any self-respecting adult does in a crisis: Googled it. Naturally, Dr. Internet told me it could be a side effect of SSRIs, and I thought, “Okay, no big deal. This will pass.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

The night sweats kept coming and going, but by February, they got bad enough that I finally told my gynecologist. We did hormone testing, and guess what?“Normal.” Everything looked “normal.”

Cool... except things were definitely not normal. By August, I was getting two periods a month. That was my “I’ve had enough” moment. Back to the doctor I went for a pelvic ultrasound and more blood work. Still “normal.” How was this “normal” when my body was clearly hosting its own personal drama series?

Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

That’s when I decided to become my own advocate. I started tracking my cycle like I was training for the Olympics. I dove into learning about cycle syncing—basically aligning your diet, exercise, and habits with your menstrual cycle.

Mind. Blown.

I’ve always believed that everything in our bodies is connected—mind, body, and soul. But learning how deeply things like diet, exercise, and hormones affect each other? It’s like unlocking the cheat codes for life.

The Sweaty Saga: Connecting the Clues

For the past two years, I’ve been living in what feels like a permanent sweat lodge. Not the

zen, spa version. More like a “did I just run a marathon in a sauna?” version. Not cute.

Here’s what I’ve pieced together so far:

• Hormonal fluctuations are likely playing a big role, even if my tests came back “normal.”

• Stress and anxiety have probably turned my body into a furnace.

• Diet choices matter way more than I thought (looking at you, late-night snacks).

• And of course, general life chaos doesn’t exactly help.

What’s Next in the Mystery?

I’m still in the thick of figuring it all out. Next steps include:

• More hormone testing (because one test is like taking a selfie and calling it a photo album).

• Paying closer attention to my diet (because apparently, my body runs better on whole foods than coffee and chaos).

• Listening to my body, even when it’s yelling at me at 3 a.m.

But the biggest thing I’ve learned? Advocate for yourself. If your doctor says “everything’s fine” but your body feels anything but fine, keep pushing.

To anyone out there dealing with their own health mystery: you’re not alone. Stay curious, ask questions (even the weird ones), and remember that your body is worth fighting for.

Love and chaos,

Becca Jean