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If you are a new mom and you are “off” — almost like you have fog in your brain, your body is hurting even more than you thought it would, and the label “catch 22” feels almost impossible to comprehend — you are definitely not alone. The postpartum period involves a lot of changes, both physically and emotionally, and it is and always will be normal for things to go up and down. But for some moms — especially those with ADHD — the hormonal changes along with neurological differences can make all of those things even harder to deal with.
Let’s dive in to see why many moms feel this way post-birth, and how underlying ADHD/comorbidities with hormones can affect new mom recovery more than you think.
Feeling “Not Quite Yourself”? You’re Not Alone
When you have a baby, your body and brain are often thrust into unknown territory. Many moms report that their brains and their bodies just do not feel right, and they experience lost keys, mood swings, neck or joint pains, and horrible exhaustion that transcends the normal new-mom exhaustion.
This feeling of being off is often directly attributed to the extreme hormonal fluctuations during the postpartum period. However, if you have ADHD (either diagnosed or undiagnosed), the changes in hormones can also intensify the symptoms of ADHD and pain sensitivity.
In other words, your body is under a lot of pressure, and if ADHD is involved, may amplify the challenges of new motherhood in ways that people may not often describe.
The Role of Estrogen in the Postpartum Brain
One of the most dramatic hormonal changes following delivery is the fall in estrogen levels. Throughout pregnancy, estrogen is high and supports various functions in your body and regulating mood and cognition. When you deliver, estrogen declines rapidly, which can really throw your brain chemistry out of whack.
Estrogen has a working relationship with neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, both of which play a role in keeping attention, regulating mood, and evaluating pain. For moms with ADHD, dealing with the crash of estrogen can exacerbate things such as challenges focusing, mood swings, and challenges with remembering things; especially since gaseous ADHD brains already manage dopamine differently.
That postpartum brain fog and rollercoaster of emotions that often accompany birth? It’s not all in your head. It has a biological reason; especially if you also deal with ADHD.
ADHD and Heightened Pain Sensitivity: What’s the Connection?
If you have ADHD, you may have noticed that you tend to feel pain more intensely or more often than other people. This is not solely in your head. Scientific research is now demonstrating that people with ADHD have differences in their nervous systems, and that active nervous system characteristics can activate and lower their pain tolerance or pain threshold, resulting in increased sensitivity to pain.
When you factor in your post-partum hormone drop of estrogen, that may increase inflammation and sensitivity to nerve endings, you are more likely to experience headaches, muscle tension, and achy joints. Several new moms have reported neck pain, shoulder tension, or tension-type headaches — all common complaints in postpartum women , but tend to be worse for women with ADHD.
This indicates that the aches and pains are may not only be about carrying a baby and lack of sleep. They may also be an indicator of your brain and body’s unique responses to the postpartum hormonal shifts.
Why You Might Be Getting More Headaches or Migraines
Migraines and tension headaches can be all too common for new moms; from sleep deprivation, stress, and sensory overload as some of the pain trigger factors for migraine episodes, are magnified for moms with ADHD.
ADHD impacts sensory regulation, stress regulation and is a documented risk factor for migraines. Hormonal fluctuations are important in the postpartum period, making moms even more susceptible to headaches.
For many moms, fast-acting relief is essential. Being able to use natural, non-invasive options like topical cold therapy and specially formulated products rather than another point of medication has its own distinct benefits. Many moms have found our instant migraine relief bundle, which includes quick-acting targeted pain relief options, an important way to get comfort during those times.
The Invisible Struggle: ADHD Often Goes Undiagnosed in Moms
It’s not uncommon for many women to live with ADHD until adulthood, and realize it, sometimes after the demands of motherhood start to reveal their ADHD symptoms. The mental load of parenthood combined with interrupted sleep and new responsibilities certainly reveal the challenges the mother faces in terms of attention, organization, and emotional control that, before being a mother, she may managed.
While men and women face similar symptoms of ADHD, women often present differently with ADHD symptoms related to inattentiveness or emotionality, not hyperactivity. This may lead to an even greater challenge recognizing or accepting but often require professional assistance.
Why Diagnosis Can Be a Turning Point
Gaining an understanding that ADHD is part of the way you’re feeling could be a huge relief. It shifts from, “I’m failing” to “This is why my brain works this way, and this is how I can start to do something about it.”
If you suspect ADHD is contributing to your postpartum struggles, an online ADHD diagnosis can be an easy first step. There are numerous reputable sources that make it easy and give you an accessible form of assessment that helps sort out if ADHD is part of your experience and opens up possible strategies and assistance tailored to your circumstances.
What You Can Do to Ease the Load
When it comes to managing ADHD, and the pain that comes with it after birth, it really is about small, Mindful changes that put your needs first. Here are some tips that many moms have found practical to adopt into their situations:
- Reflect about short, restorative rest breaks. Even a few short pauses of rest can calm and reset your brain and body.
- Gentle stretching or yoga to relieve muscle tension and promote circulation.
- If you have seen a doctor or midwife, and oral medication is no longer a safe option, explore safe and effective topical pain relief options if and when the aches become overwhelming.
- Diminish sensory overload – turn down the lights, turn down the noise, and turn down the screens.
- Use lists, reminders, or visual planners to help manage the forgetfulness and overwhelm associated with ADHD.
- Self-compassion is necessary – your hardships are recognized, and it takes time to adjust.
You’re Not Broken — You’re Navigating a Real Neurological & Hormonal Shift
If you are a mom feeling “off” after having your baby, it is important to know that you are not broken and you are not failing. You are dealing with a perfectly normal, albeit challenging, mixture of hormonal changes and neurological differences which can impact your attention, someone’s mood, and your perception of pain.
Knowing this can give you permission to seek support, find coping skills, and advocate for your health in a way that acknowledges your experience.
Motherhood is hard, and harder when your hormones and brain chemistry are out of alignment. However, you can get through this season more easily and with more confidence with acknowledgment and care.
Final Thoughts
Postpartum is full of complexities and touches every area of body and mind. For mothers with ADHD, perinatal hormonal fluctuations can exacerbate focus issues and pain sensitivity, making this period feel especially challenging.
As you learn more about these connections and explore available supportive tools – whether it is a gentle online ADHD assessment or to look into natural relief options for migraines and other tension headaches – you are on your way to feeling like yourself again.
You are not alone, and “off” does not equal something is wrong with you. It means you are human, adjusting to the beautiful, hard, transformative journey of motherhood.
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