Here at Aspiga, we believe in sharing real stories about mental health and neurodiverse conditions to encourage open discussion and connection.

It’s ADHD  Celebration Month, and our founder Lucy Macnamara is sharing her journey with ADHD, to help raise awareness and empower women to recognise their own experiences.

ADHD, Menopause & Me: Our Founder Lucy Macnamara Shares Her Story for ADHD Month

What Is Neurodiversity and ADHD?

Neurodiversity refers to the natural differences in how people think, learn, and process the world around them. It includes a range of conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia.

ADHD isn’t just about being “distracted”- it’s about how the brain regulates attention, motivation, and emotion. For many women, it goes unnoticed for years, only becoming clear during midlife when hormonal shifts and menopause make existing challenges more visible.

When Everything Clicked

When Lucy Macnamara read an article on ADHD in midlife women and thought, “Oh my god, that’s me,” she had no idea it would reframe her understanding of years of chaos. Today, she speaks openly about how discovering ADHD in her 50s reshaped her relationship with work, self-worth, and the business she built.

“I’m like a swan, swimming along fine, but my legs underneath are all over the place.” - Lucy Macnamara

Like many other women diagnosed with ADHD in midlife, Lucy has struggled to unpick where menopause symptoms end and ADHD symptoms begin - a challenge that so many women are only just beginning to understand.

How ADHD Has Both Fueled and Challenged Her

Lucy now recognises that her ADHD has been both a superpower and a struggle. She credits it with some of her boldest decisions and her drive to build Aspiga into a pioneering sustainable fashion brand.

The upsides: * The quick decision-making and spontaneous risk-taking that helped launch Aspiga. * The high energy, creativity, and ability to juggle many ideas at once, which drive innovation across the brand.

The challenges: * Leaving saucepans boiling when distracted. * Losing keys, missing appointments, forgetting what she started in the first place.

Lucy says she’s learned to celebrate the upsides to her neurodivergence:

“Sure, I’m a bit all over the place sometimes, but I’m also brave, a risk-taker, intuitive and passionate - and there’s a lot to be said for that in life.”

What Aspiga Stands For

At Aspiga, we’ve always believed in sustainability that goes deeper than fashion. Yes, we champion ethical materials and fair-trade partnerships, but we also believe in sustaining people - especially women. That means supporting open conversations about mental health and neurodiversity, and creating a brand rooted in honesty, inclusion, and real life. It means using our platform to break stigmas and promote self-acceptance, helping women feel seen, valued, and understood.Lucy’s story embodies that ethos. 

Her willingness to speak openly about ADHD, menopause, and mental wellbeing reflects what Aspiga stands for at its core - authenticity, empathy, and courage.We aren’t just building beautiful clothes; we’re building a community of women who are brave enough to speak out and take action. Because true sustainability isn’t only about our planet - it’s about sustaining ourselves, too.

Key Takeaways

* ADHD often goes undiagnosed in women - especially until midlife or menopause.

* Self-understanding brings power: diagnosis can reframe decades of confusion.

Neurodiversity isn’t a weakness - it’s a different way of thinking, often full of creativity and courage.

* Speaking openly changes everything: Lucy’s story reminds us that honesty can help others recognise their own.

* Aspiga’s mission extends beyond fashion - we stand for wellbeing, equality, and empowering women to thrive exactly as they are.

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Join the Conversation

As we celebrate ADHD Month, we invite our community to continue the conversation. Whether you identify as neurodivergent or not, understanding and compassion help all of us grow.Because at Aspiga, sustainability isn’t just about the planet - it’s about sustaining ourselves, too.

Learn more about Lucy's Adhd journey in her interview with Woman and home https://www.womanandhome.com/life/inspirational-women/adhd-is-my-superpower/