The Dr. Brighten Show

If you’ve ever wondered why your ADHD feels manageable one week and completely unhinged the next—why your medication suddenly feels useless, your focus evaporates, your emotions feel impossible to regulate, and even simple tasks like making dinner feel overwhelming—this episode was made for you.

In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down what a major scientific review confirms: ADHD symptoms in women do not remain stable across the menstrual cycle. Instead, attention, executive function, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and even medication response shift predictably in response to cyclical hormone changes. And for women with ADHD—especially those with PMS or PMDD—these shifts are often dramatic, disabling, and consistently dismissed.

Drawing from nearly a decade of research, this episode explains exactly how your periods affect your ADHD, why progesterone can feel like your brain’s kryptonite, and what women and clinicians need to understand to finally stop gaslighting ADHD symptoms in women.

If your ADHD feels unpredictable from week to week, this episode will finally explain why. Visit the episode webpage to see all links and sources mentioned in this podcast https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/adhd-the-menstrual-cycle/

This Episode Is Brought to You By

Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. 

Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/

Sunlighten Saunas

Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals.

Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna

Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten

Fygg — a dentist-developed oral care brand on a mission to “Feed Your Good Guys.” Fygg makes science-backed, microbiome-friendly oral care products — like fluoride-free toothpaste and remineralizing varnish — that support a balanced oral microbiome without harsh chemicals, foam, or unnecessary ingredients. Developed by dentists and grounded in research, Fygg helps strengthen enamel, maintain oral health, and promote a healthier mouth for the whole family.

Use code DRBRIGHTEN for 15% off of their products (both one-time and subscription)

Shop now https://fygg.sjv.io/ragbBv

👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten:

💻 Website:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drbrighten.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📸  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎥 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧵Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬
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When your ADHD sex drive doesn’t match what you “think it should,” it’s easy to assume something is wrong with you—or that you’ve fallen out of love. But in this episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with Leann Borneman to unpack a radically different truth: for many women with ADHD (and many women in perimenopause), the problem often isn’t a lack of desire—it’s a lack of access to desire. If you’ve ever wanted intimacy… but your brain felt overloaded, your body felt “nope,” or you couldn’t even figure out how to start, this conversation will feel like someone finally turned the lights on.

In this episode, you’ll learn why spontaneous desire is largely a myth, how executive function can quietly “gatekeep” intimacy, why common advice like “schedule sex” can backfire hard for neurodivergent women, and what to do instead. You’ll also hear why lube can be a relationship-saving tool (not a failure), how sensory issues can shut down arousal without you realizing it, what ADHD medication can change (in both directions), and why certain structured intimacy frameworks—including ethical kink and BDSM—can be uniquely supportive for ADHD brains because they combine novelty + safety.

This Episode Is Brought to You By

Dr. Brighten Essentials 

Want science-backed supplements formulated by a doctor who actually understands women’s health? 🌿 At Dr. Brighten Essentials, every product is crafted to support your hormones, boost your energy, and help you feel your best—inside and out. From targeted nutrients for glowing skin to essentials that fuel your daily vitality, you’ll get the highest-quality ingredients in forms your body can truly use.

Exclusive for podcast listeners: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off your order.

Shop now https://drbrightenessentials.com

Coconu

Want body-safe, hormone-friendly intimacy products you can trust? 🥥 At Coconu, everything is made with organic, plant-based ingredients and free from hormone disruptors, harsh chemicals, and synthetic additives. From luxurious lubricants to intimate essentials, Coconu is designed to support comfort, confidence, and connection — helping you feel your best in your most personal moments.

Exclusive for podcast listeners: Use code DRBRIGHTEN15 at checkout for 15% off your order.

Shop now https://coconu.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooMIqrz83hshHQKhKgBI10ExK2Q2Erh3DUCLJ-BTwC79XgO4WrL

Connect with Leann

Leann Bourneman’s Tik Tok: @bournemanpsycotherapy

Leann Bourneman;s Instagram: @bournemanpsycotherapy

Leann Bourneman’s Website: bournemancoaching.com

👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten:

💻 Website:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.drbrighten.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📸  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎥 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧵Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬
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If you feel like your ADHD symptoms exploded in your late 30s or early 40s—your focus vanished, your sleep fell apart, your body started hurting, and your brain felt like it stopped working—you are not imagining it. And you are not failing.

This episode explains why perimenopause is worse for women with ADHD, why it often begins years earlier than most doctors recognize, and why ADHD women experience a more severe, full-body symptom burden during this transition. Far from being “just stress” or “just anxiety,” the experience of ADHD and perimenopause is a neuroendocrine brain-body collision that modern medicine is largely unprepared to address.

Grounded in a large population-based study and real clinical patterns, this episode reframes perimenopause as a critical neurological and hormonal transition, especially for women with ADHD, and explains why so many women feel blindsided, dismissed, and misdiagnosed during this stage of life.

This Episode Is Brought to You By:

Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. 

Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/

 OneSkin 

Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health.

Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050

👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten:

💻 Website:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.drbrighten.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📸  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎥 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧵Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬
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For years, dietary fiber has been framed as one thing: something you need “to stay regular.” But in this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with registered dietitian Gabrielle Palmeri to unpack why that narrative is dangerously incomplete—especially for women.

This conversation reframes fiber as a metabolic, hormonal, and immune regulator, not a digestive afterthought. The episode explores why most people feel worse when they first increase fiber, how diet culture has distorted the conversation, and why avoiding fiber long-term can quietly sabotage gut health, estrogen metabolism, blood sugar, and inflammation.

If you’ve ever wondered what is a high fiber diet, whether fiber is really necessary, or why “healthy eating” sometimes makes you feel worse, this episode provides the missing context.

This Episode Is Brought to You By

Dr. Brighten Essentials Women’s Probiotic https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/womens-probiotic?selling_plan=995917858 is formulated to support healthy digestion, vaginal microbiome balance, and everyday immune function—simple, daily care for women.A balanced microbiome is foundational for feeling your best—from digestion to confidence. Quality you can trust: third-party tested; manufactured in a cGMP facility

Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code POD15 for 15% offf your order

Shop now https://drbrightenessentials.com/

Sunlighten Saunas

Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals.

Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna

Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten

Fygg — a dentist-developed oral care brand on a mission to “Feed Your Good Guys.” Fygg makes science-backed, microbiome-friendly oral care products — like fluoride-free toothpaste and remineralizing varnish — that support a balanced oral microbiome without harsh chemicals, foam, or unnecessary ingredients. Developed by dentists and grounded in research, Fygg helps strengthen enamel, maintain oral health, and promote a healthier mouth for the whole family.

Use code DRBRIGHTEN for 15% off of their products (both one-time and subscription)

Shop now https://fygg.sjv.io/ragbBv

Connect with Gabrielle

Website (with Fiber Guide & Private Community): https://stan.store/dietitiangabrielle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.gabrielle/?hl=en

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dietitian.gabrielle?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC89lIEaRwW9dL8BftTzK2Tg

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@dietitian.gabrielle

👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten:

💻 Website:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.drbrighten.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📸  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎥 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧵Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re experiencing weight gain that feels sudden, unexplained, and resistant to everything that used to work—especially after age 35—you are not alone. For many women, weight gain in perimenopause begins years before menopause is ever mentioned in a doctor’s office. Alongside changes in weight, sleep often deteriorates, anxiety increases, cravings feel harder to control, and energy becomes unpredictable.

In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down the real hormonal mechanisms behind weight gain in perimenopause over 35—and why this phase of life requires an entirely different approach than “eat less and move more.” This conversation focuses on the biological changes happening beneath the surface, how hormones like progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, insulin, and thyroid hormones interact, and what women can do to support their metabolism, sleep, and overall health during this transition.

This is not about willpower. It’s about physiology.

This Episode Is Brought to You By

Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind — a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. 

Shop now https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/radiant-mind

Sunlighten Saunas — Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals.

Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna

Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten

LUMEBOX

Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 LUME Box delivers professional-grade LED light therapy in a sleek, easy-to-use device that targets fine lines, pigmentation, and dullness at the cellular level. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands.

Shop now → https://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase.

👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten:

💻 Website:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.drbrighten.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

📸  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠

🎥 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧵Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices