TL;DR: Menopause became the catalyst for discovering my ADHD and autism, helping me understand myself in ways I never had before. Self-employment allows me to work in alignment with my values and support people navigating late discovered neurodivergence, though it comes with challenges and uncertainty. My Indie Crone resource explores the connection between menopause and neurodivergence, helping people feel less alone and more empowered in their self-employment.
I am the founder of Sharon Worth Coaching, supporting people who discover ADHD, autism, or both later in life, often during perimenopause or post-menopause.
Self-employment gives me the freedom to build a business around my values and work in a way that feels authentic. I have the privilege of helping people make sense of experiences that may have felt confusing or isolating for years.
It also comes with challenges. Visibility can feel uncomfortable, income is rarely guaranteed, and as someone who is both ADHD and autistic, I have had to learn how to work with my energy, capacity, and nervous system rather than constantly pushing beyond them.
For me, success is about creating a business that supports the human running it.
My biggest menopause nugget is this: menopause was not the beginning of things going wrong. It was the beginning of things making sense.
When perimenopause arrived, many of the coping strategies I had relied upon for decades stopped working. I became more overwhelmed, my tolerance dropped, and keeping all the plates spinning felt increasingly difficult.
What I didn’t realise at the time was that menopause would ultimately lead me to discover both my ADHD and, later, my autism.
Looking back, so much of my life suddenly made sense. Menopause became an invitation to understand myself more deeply and create a life that worked with my brain and body rather than against them. In many ways, it felt like coming home to myself.
My Indie CRONE resource is for people who have found themselves wondering why everything suddenly feels harder than it used to.
Many people experience increased overwhelm, burnout, sensory sensitivities, emotional intensity, concentration difficulties, and changes in their ability to cope during peri-menopause. For some, this becomes the catalyst for discovering previously unrecognised ADHD or autism.
The resource explores why this can happen, including the impact of hormonal changes on the brain and nervous system. It also acknowledges the grief, relief, and self-discovery that often accompany a late diagnosis or self-identification.
Above all, I hope it offers reassurance, validation, and curiosity. There is nothing wrong with working differently, honouring your capacity, or rethinking old expectations. Sometimes understanding yourself more fully is the first step towards creating a more sustainable way forward.
Find out more about the work Sharon does over on her website [Sharon Worth Coaching]
The Indie CRONE resource library will open for members in the latter part of 2026.
