Motherhood and ADHD: A Naturopathic Perspective on the Mental Load and Burnout

The burnt out ADHD mum, flops into bed, tired but thoughts still spinning.

Motherhood is mentally and emotionally demanding for any woman. But for mothers with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), the invisible mental load can feel relentless, overwhelming, and deeply isolating. From chronic overstimulation and emotional exhaustion to guilt, shame, and burnout—many ADHD mothers are silently struggling.

As a naturopath, I see this daily: intelligent, capable women who love their children deeply, yet feel they are constantly falling short.

The mental challenges involved in running a household, looking after often multiple children, and having the 9-5 work on top, can overload the systems/coping mechanisms once put in place to get through life, now pushing them to the limit and finding them fall short.

ADHD women, from childhood, have set themselves up with coping strategies. Writing notes and having alarms to remember things, having time out for self when life got busy. However, once a family comes along, there are multiple people to keep tabs on, no time to recoup the nervous system, and finally this can flow over into burnout.

Naturopathic medicine is beautifully placed to gently and effectively support ADHD mothers in reclaiming their balance, clarity, and renewed resilience. Maybe it's time you reached out......

ADHD in Mothers: The Mental and Emotional Strain No One Talks About

ADHD in women—especially mothers—is still widely misunderstood and under-diagnosed, though finally we are seeing more advocating. Women are often only diagnosed after becoming mothers, when they feel they are collapsing under the demands of parenting.

From a mental health perspective, ADHD motherhood often looks like:

• Constant mental overload – racing thoughts, difficulty prioritising, decision fatigue

• Emotional dysregulation – intense emotions, irritability, frustration, or tearfulness

• Chronic overwhelm and burnout – feeling “on” all the time with no mental rest

• Shame and self-criticism – feeling like a “bad mum” despite trying harder than most

• Anxiety and depression – often secondary to unmanaged ADHD and nervous system exhaustion

• Sensory overload – noise, mess, touch, and demands can feel physically unbearable

  
  

Mothers with ADHD must use significantly more mental energy to complete everyday tasks—remembering appointments, managing routines, regulating emotions, and staying organised. Over time, this leads to nervous system depletion. Mothers are the glue that keeps a family running. They know who eats what, when sports training is on for each child, and knows exactly what food is in the pantry. All this extra information can create too much 'noise' in an already full head.

Why ADHD Motherhood Is So Mentally Exhausting

From a naturopathic lens, ADHD is not just a “brain disorder”—it is closely connected to almost every system in the body. Both brain and gut health determines neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) balance, as does stress hormones, nutrient status, and blood sugar regulation.

To have nervous system resilience, the whole body needs to be in homeostasis (balance). Motherhood intensifies every underlying imbalance the body has. Little health problems can become big health problems, adding to the stress an ADHD mum goes through.

Factors Contributing to Mental Burnout

1. Dysregulated Nervous System

Many ADHD mothers live in a near-constant fight-or-flight state. Parenting demands, lack of downtime, and sensory overload keep cortisol elevated, leading to anxiety, poor sleep, and emotional reactivity.

2. Neurotransmitter Imbalances

ADHD is associated with lower dopamine and noradrenaline activity. These neurotransmitters are essential for:

• Motivation

• Focus

• Emotional regulation

• Mental clarity

Chronic stress, poor gut health, lack of sleep, and nutrient depletion further impairs neurotransmitter production.

3. Nutrient Deficiencies

Mothers with ADHD are commonly deficient in:

• Magnesium

• Zinc

• Iron

• B vitamins

• Omega-3 fatty acids

These nutrients are critical for brain function, mood stability, and stress resilience.

4. Blood Sugar Instability

Skipping meals, relying on caffeine, or forgetting to eat (common with ADHD) can cause blood sugar crashes—leading to fatigue, irritability, brain fog, anxiety, and emotional meltdowns.

Supporting Mothers with ADHD

Naturopathic care does not aim to “fix” ADHD—but to support the whole woman, reduce mental suffering, and improve daily functioning in a sustainable, compassionate way.

Supporting the nervous system is foundational and there are many ways in which individualised support is provided.

• Herbal nervous system tonics and adaptogens

• Breathwork and vagus nerve support

• Sleep optimisation protocols

When the nervous system feels safer, emotional regulation improves and overwhelm decreases.

As mentioned, many women with ADHD skip meals to 'get things done', or they simply forgot to eat. With food providing us with energy and nutrients needed to make our motivating and calming brain chemicals, nutrition is a good place to focus on. Providing tips that don't over complicate life even more, is at the foremost front of my mind when helping mums with nutrition. Having your own personalised nutrition plan helps stabilise your mood, energy, and focus. This leads to:

• Fewer emotional crashes

• Improved mental clarity

• Better stress tolerance

• Reduced anxiety and irritability

The Gut–Brain Connection

There is consistent research showing a strong link between gut health and ADHD symptoms. With so many neurotransmitters made in the gut, this is an area that requires some love and attention.

Naturopathic gut treatment focuses on:

• Reducing gut inflammation

• Improving digestion and absorption

• Supporting the microbiome

A healthier gut can mean better mood regulation and cognitive function.

Many mothers notice worsening ADHD symptoms at Postpartum, during perimenopause and during times of high-stress. Support through these times address not just the hormone changes but the mood, focus, and emotional resilience needed to get through these major life stages.

You Are Not Failing—Your Nervous System Is Exhausted

ADHD mothers are not lazy, disorganised, or inadequate. They are often highly sensitive, deeply caring women operating with depleted reserves. We all can recognise our child when he/she is 'hangry', or cranky because its sleep time and you are still out. Stepping back and taking the time to look inwards, often reveals ADHD mums are also tried, hangry and needing 'rest time'.

With the right support, many mothers experience:

• Reduced mental overwhelm

• Improved emotional regulation

• Better sleep and energy

• Greater self-compassion and

• A renewed sense of capability and calm

Motherhood with ADHD is genuinely hard—mentally, emotionally, and physically. A naturopathic approach offers evidence-informed, whole-person support, that honours both the science and the lived experience of women.

If you are a mother with ADHD feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or emotionally exhausted—know this:

You are not broken. You are depleted. And support can change everything.