Hormones, Health, and the ADHD Brain with Dr. Anupriya Gogne

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Mar 16, 2026

Dr. Anupriya Gogne, a perinatal psychiatrist at Brown University Health who treats ADHD during pregnancy and postpartum, joins to unpack hormone-driven symptom changes. She explains why pregnancy and sleep loss amplify ADHD, how medication decisions are evolving, and why women often experience internal hyperactivity and emotional overload. Practical framing and support strategies are highlighted.

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INSIGHT

Pregnancy And Postpartum Create A Perfect ADHD Storm

Pregnancy and postpartum create a hormonal and sleep-triggered perfect storm that worsens ADHD by destabilizing dopamine, norepinephrine, and memory consolidation.
Estrogen fluctuations alter dopamine signaling; steep postpartum hormone drops plus months of sleep loss impair working memory and executive function.

INSIGHT

Transitions Expose Hidden ADHD Demands

Life transitions reveal ADHD when environmental demands exceed compensatory systems rather than the brain suddenly changing.
New roles like caring for a baby disrupt routines (e.g., consistent key spots) so previously reliable strategies fail and symptoms emerge.

ADVICE

Talk To A Perinatal Specialist Before Stopping Medication

Reassess medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding rather than automatically stopping it; untreated ADHD or sudden withdrawal can worsen functioning and stress.
Discuss risk tradeoffs with a perinatal psychiatrist because many ADHD meds have newer safety data and maternal stress can harm fetal development.

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Hey team!

This week, I'm talking with Dr. Anupriya Gogne, a psychiatrist at Brown University Health in Rhode Island. Dr. Gonge works at the crossroads of addiction psychiatry and neurodevelopmental disorders, with a specific focus on treating ADHD during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She's dedicated to clearing up the misinformation surrounding medication safety during pregnancy, which can be seen in her book, Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Adult Women: Special Considerations in the Perinatal Period.

In our conversation, we dive into why hormonal fluctuations turn ADHD symptoms into a "perfect storm," the actual science behind "mom brain," and why your internal systems for keeping your life together tend to implode the moment a baby enters the picture. We also get into the nuances of how ADHD presents in women versus men, specifically regarding internal hyperactivity and emotional regulation.

If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at HackingYourADHD.com/281

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y835cnrk

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HackingYourADHD

This Episode's Top Tips

1. When ADHD symptoms suddenly appear or worsen, it's often not because the brain has changed, but rather that the environment's demands have finally exceeded the brain's compensatory systems. When life transitions occur, such as having a child, external chaos disrupts the systems that previously helped keep the ADHD in check.
2. Chronic sleep deprivation isn't just being tired; it's also a failure of the memory consolidation system. While we are in deep sleep, our brain is encoding the day's events. If you aren't getting those stages, your working memory cannot function properly. These memory issues then compound with ADHD symptoms which can make it feel like you are experiencing early-onset dementia.
3. In many adults, and especially in women, hyperactivity often isn't physical; instead, it's mental. It can manifest as negative self-talk on a loop, racing thoughts, or just feel like you have too many tabs open in your brain. Shifting the mental model to see internal ruminating as a form of hyperactivity helps identify the need for mental breaks rather than just physical outlets.