Sophie Cartledge joins Catherine in this episode to talk about her autism discovery via an ADHD diagnosis in perimenopause at the age of 44.
After researching why so many women were being diagnosed ADHD in perimenopause, for her work and simultaneously really starting to struggle with a number of things in her own life, she put two and two together and sought a diagnosis.
Looking back now, she can see how the years of not knowing, have taken their toll both mentally and physically, leading her to a place of extreme burnout and feeling broken that have made perimenopause and her early 40’s such a rough ride.
She can also see how perimenopause wasn’t just about her hormones changing, they were the catalyst for the ‘unmasking’ process.
Discovering she is AUDHD has made so much sense of her life. Sophie always knew she was different somehow, often described as quirky, creative, sensitive and caring too much.
And with this, she had always carried this feeling that something was ‘off’, she just couldn't place what. She had put a lot of it down to trauma, yet despite therapy, much of these feelings remained.
Sophie is really passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge to raise more awareness of the intersection that exists between Autism, ADHD & perimenopause in the hope that it might help others make sense of their combined hormone and neurodivergent journey’s too.
::::Sophie is a Menopause and Hormone health educator & founder of Hormones on the blink. Delivering CPD accredited menopause and hormone health training to workplaces and support to communities. Recipient of the Inspirational women of Portsmouth award, for the Emerging Business category in 2022.
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