Women with ADHD: The Complete Guide to Stay Organized, Overcome Distractions, and Improve Relationships. Manage Your Emotions, Finances, and Succeed in Life by Sarah Davis

Women with ADHD: The Complete Guide to Stay Organized, Overcome Distractions, and Improve Relationships. Manage Your Emotions, Finances, and Succeed in Life Reviews

• 
  Sara Swauger

  I don’t know how this has so many good reviews- if you know anything at all about adhd this will be a repeat. The author tried to include everything which made the information too general and broad to be useful. So many broad sweeping statements- “when you’ve answered these questions you’ll find your problem spots. Then you can resolve some of the money related issues you’ve had with spending and saving.” The author recommends an app to track all spending- except that people with adhd know that “out of sight out of mind” is a huge thing and remembering to open my phone and then an app and then track my spending is exactly the out of sight out of mind, multi step thing I cannot do because of my adhd.
  
• 
  Dannie Lynn Fountain

  "Women with ADHD" by Linda Hill is a fantastic read, especially as an adult woman recently diagnosed with ADHD. Women are experiencing a surge in diagnoses, between ADHD being previously labeled an adolescent condition and one underdiagnosed in women. This book provides strong guidance and support not only in terms of what to do re: the diagnosis, but ongoing care, side-conditions (such as RSD), and how to implement support into other areas of your life beyond the medical or physical. It's a must-read for numerous reasons.
• 
  Daniel Hardy

  This was a book i wanted to like a lot. As an afab (assigned female at birth) clinician who spent the better part of 30 years being seen as a woman and undiagnosed adhd, I recognize that there are far too many books out there that are detailed on atypical adhd presentation.
  I typically take notes as I read books- both things I like and things I don't. My notes were 3.5 pages back and front before i realized it was pointless keeping notes- each chapter was going to have similar notes.
  Here are the highlights:
  the intro starts with something like - you don't have to wait until your diagnosis to get started on things that will help you- but for almost the entire rest of the book, all advice (including self-management techniques) include "once you're diagnosed with adhd"- to the extent it looks like someone used [ctrl+F] to replace an alternate phrasing indiscriminately- leading to phrasing like "being diagnosed with adhd makes doing x harder" rather than "having adhd makes x harder" (the first implying that undiagnosed adhders have an easier time, and the diagnosis process somehow makes you less effective at doing x).
  The book makes regular use of citations- which are overwhelmingly "clickable links" to common ADHD orgs and pop-science websites. Several times, searching the website (or the internet as a whole) doesn't turn up anything titled per the citation, which is an issue because these were also the ones with the information that sounded the least credible. (for example- "the DSM doesn't consider other factors and the criteria are basically worthless to anyone who works with 12+ age"- that's cited but the citation is unfindable- and the information is simply factually incorrect. The DSM 5TR (the version in use at the time of writing, it came out in 2021) AND the DSM-5 both had rich and specific criteria for those 16+ (with different rules than for those under 16), and the DSM 5 TR specifically including age-related information about job, driving and family impact. This highlights the issue with the research only going so far as an opinion-based article- it may be outdated or simply incorrect. The authors also struggle with knowing the proper time to use "xx have found that..."- (this has been studied and the evidence shows) vs "xx believes that..." (someone's opinion)- so that the book cites a business advertising website, sharing that "business-owner has found that ADHD is a superpower." The authors will state things like "the information states..." without even attempting to citing what information, and where it's found.
  The co-authorship should be a benefit- as one can look over the other's work, but the book really suffered from lack of editor, to the extent that I was looking to see if it was written out of the USA where different grammar rules and spellings would be appropriate. Two people shouldn't have missed "psychical (psychic) movements of the body." (and i recognize the irony of my review also containing grammar and spelling errors- the difference here is i'm not trying to write this for money.)
  The authors talk about ADHD (and all mental health concerns) from a deficit model, despite professing it's a superpower- paraphrased examples: some (adult) problems come from living with ADHD and not setting the proper coping skills early in life. (it's our fault that we weren't /taught/ proper coping skills); something to "win the battle with," and particularly with respect to RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria), which the authors aren't sure if it's a "symptom" of ADHD or a standalone thing to itself. it's described as "a disorder" "a symptom" "an informal footnote fo adhd" "an element of adhd" "adhd and RSD interact" "rsd is chemical" "rsd is hystrionic, but viewing them as overly emotional and melodramatic will invalidate feelings" "RSD is not caused by trauma, (followed by an explanation of it as a response caused by lower resilience from trauma)" and an acknowledgement that RSD isn't "a formal diagnosis or disorder... It's not recognized by the US as a formal manifestation" but concludes the chapter with "once you are diagnosed with RSD."
  
  This is the big stuff, before we get to the content- which was advice like "simplify your home by decluttering everything you can't "take care of" defined as dusting it weekly and ironing your clothes weekly, or to ask your friends which are of (neurotypical, assumedly) "social norms and customs" you miss out on (assumedly again, so that you can better fake neurotypicality). another part suggests we force eye contact.
  Defining "women" symptoms of ADHD (specifically as different than "typical" symptoms), yet listing several DSM diagnostic criteria or well-studied risky behaviors common in all genders (gambling- men typically experience this for longer periods but neither have a higher severity or fast driving- more common in men with adhd than women).
  
  I was surprised to see that the authors were familiar with neurodiversity, they don't use the ND paradigm (all brains are good brains), but have phrases like "struggling with a form of diversity." sharing "when you have a bad memory you leave a bad impression on your friends"- without any suggestion on how to improve this problem, just making sure you're aware that your innate self, as you are- your friends have a bad impression of you, just in case you didn't know.
  
  I wouldn't suggest this book in general but if you're feeling inclined to read it, I would suspect you're someone who doesn't like to get their information from websites with an ADHD focus (where most of this information is drawn directly, but in a "playing telephone" kind of way), that you're white (really didn't address any racial disparities here), cisgender and heterosexual, and in or planning to be in a wife-and-mother type relationship, and don't really care too much if the information you receive is accurate or up to date.
  If you've read the common sources (Chadd, ADDitude), this book is unlikely to provide you with any accurate information you've not already heard before.
  And again, this is a reminder that this LONG post is me giving up on taking notes because there was too much to write about, and just hitting the highlights of these. I could talk for a long, long time about this book.
• 
  Harriet Shearsmith

  Didn’t really enjoy this, there were some useful facts and ideas, but mostly it didn’t inspire or grab me.
• 
  Amanda Gill

  Largely unhelpful with a few good bits scattered in. Most of the book felt judgmental rather than helpful or reassuring. When advice starts with, “Set goals based on where you see yourself in 1, 3, and 5years,” I’m completely lost. I have no idea how to do that, and there’s no guidance in this book.
  
  I listened to the audiobook, and I don’t know if this was an error from the author, the editor, or the narrator, but every time she mentioned work by Ari Tuckman, she called him Ari Tucker. It’s a seemingly small thing, but it made me question the reliability of the information given in the rest of the book.
  
  Overall, I’d say skip it. There are many better, more helpful books on the topic of women with ADHD.
• 
  Aprisa

  As someone who’s recently diagnosed with ADHD (at 38), the book gave me an overview of ADHD diagnosis and how it manifests in different people. Yes I’m a medical doctor myself, but ADHD looks different now from this side 😆
  
  As ADHD looks and feels different to different people, some of the descriptions in this book, particularly the friendship and career don’t resonate with me (or maybe because I have been working on my mental and emotional resilience so much).
  
  My problems at work (when I was working for corporate) wasn’t fear of rejection, disorganisation (I experienced this but not debilitating), but more on laziness, inconsistency, and the impulse to start things over, even when my career was going well. For this though, I advise people to read The Big Leap by Guy Hendrick instead. I felt highly regarded at my jobs, so the RSD wasn’t a problem, I skipped this part.
  
  My key takeaway if could be summarised is: I have the power to manage my ADHD. Through:
  🍀 creating support system, organisation systems, lots of reminders
  🍀 simplifying life and responsibilities, getting people on board
  🍀 managing my well being first & foremost, and forgiving the times I forget, miss on things, make mistake, and being emotional 🤗❤️
  
  Here’s to all other ADHD people! 🥂 @dear.aprisa
• 
  Erin

  This is a good beginners guide to ADHD if you know nothing about managing it. It’s a good first step, but if you’re looking to go deeper with working w your brain, you will probably need something else in addition.
  
  What I did really like:
  1) The focus on women specifically and ADHD & how it affects us differently with social elements.
  2) The emphasis on positive self talk that you have to keep telling yourself. Many people w ADHD have been mentally beating themselves up for so long with their internal dialogue that they don’t even realize they’re doing it. Constantly telling themselves they are lazy, unproductive, stupid, etc. The mindset shift is SO important & almost has to come before anything else.
  3) Repeated reminders that you have to figure out how to work with your brain & not the ideal version of the brain you wish you had.
  4) The reiteration that is still SO much we don’t know about ADHD in adults, especially adult women. Most of what we know via research and criteria to assess is based on studies with 12 year old white males. There’s so much room for more extensive research on this disorder that is finally starting to happen. I found all the ways the authors illuminate how ADHD can affect adult women very enlightening. There was so much I hadn’t considered.
  
• 
  Karlee

  I wouldn’t say my 3 stars is indicative of the quality of the book itself, rather it’s more telling of my expectations not being fully met.
  
  I expected this to be a deep dive into specifics on coping strategies for women and studies exploring how ADHD presents itself in women and while this book did dive into some of this, it functioned more as an introduction and overview than it did a deep dive. And that’s okay! Had I been earlier in my journey of understanding my ADHD when I picked up this book I think it would have been a great launching point for further exploration, but as someone who’s done even some brief research, this book mostly rehashed information that I already knew.
  
  Would recommend as a brief survey over ADHD or as a first read for someone looking to learn more.
• 
  Amy Latta

  Super hard to rate this book, so I’m gonna err on the side of benefit of the doubt.
  If you’re brand bee to adhd for women, this book is GREAT. It covers basics you haven’t considered, makes connections,
  and provides tons of “oh, wow, that’s why!”
  I’ve never heard of Rejection sensitive dysphoria, and that alone was worth it. WOW. So many things clicked into place.
  And also,,..the author repeats a lot of the same sentences snd phrasings.
  And if you have more advanced knowledge, this will be boring.
  I like how you can go to one section and get some basic actionable ideas.
  
• 
  Rose The Hat

  I love Hill’s enthusiasm for her subject. It is great to read a book written by someone who knows exactly what it’s like to live with ADHD. In this book, she gives brief outlines of ways in which women with ADHD may organise their lives to great effect. I would recommend it as a first-step read for delving into self-help ADHD literature. This is a self-published book, which would have benefited from a more thorough and professional editing, but I’m glad I read it anyway and wish Hill every success in the future.
• 
  Amy Latta

  Super hard to rate this book, so I’m gonna err on the side of benefit of the doubt.
  If you’re brand bee to adhd for women, this book is GREAT. It covers basics you haven’t considered, makes connections,
  and provides tons of “oh, wow, that’s why!”
  I’ve never heard of Rejection sensitive dysphoria, and that alone was worth it. WOW. So many things clicked into place.
  And also,,..the author repeats a lot of the same sentences snd phrasings.
  And if you have more advanced knowledge, this will be boring.
  I like how you can go to one section and get some basic actionable ideas.
  
• 
  Rhonda

  This is a great introduction for women just learning about their ADHD. It is super high level but normalizing and helps with self assessment of problem areas to continue to explore. As a therapist I appreciate the section related to Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria as this is an area many of my clients have never hear of and can be a game changer in their treatment. Overall this is a solid high level introduction to how ADHD tends to show up in adult cis women.
• 
  Katie Dickerson (DeMaio)

  Definitely informative but almost in a textbook kind of way and it seemed like a lot of repetition; I did appreciate the different subsections and some of the suggestions/tips thrown in, but it kind of stuck to the basics and stayed pretty surface level; I didn’t learn a lot of new information but it was validating at least; I don’t agree that it is a complete guide, but it’s a very decent introduction to the topic.
• 
  Annie

  3.5 stars- some good info
  
  I don't know that any of the information in this book is necessarily new or necessarily groundbreaking, but this was a nice quick dip into some symptoms and solutions for women who are recently diagnosed or suspecting they have ADHD. Some of the writing felt repetitive, but worth the read for some rapid fire tips.
• 
  Ev Milliner

  This book was phenomenal. I could not put it down and read through the first 6 chapters in one sitting. A lot of the information was very helpful and enlightening. Other information was a good reminder (coming from a licensed mental health clinician). I think it format and style is ADHD friendly. My only issue was how the paragraphs were formatted (odd spacing between words sometimes).
• 
  Elizabeth Barto

  A fine intro book if you’re just beginning your ADHD journey. I loved the author’s approach at de-stigmatizing adult ADHD for women who may have seen their symptoms as character flaws before realizing they had ADHD. But I don’t think I personally walked away with much new information—less than what a year of therapy gave me. If you’re not a beginner, another book may be more useful.
• 
  Jade Cadson

  Couldn't finish this book properly. Adhd is different for everyone and I felt there were quite a few whole chapters that I didn't relate to/was bored by. Obviously you can flick to the chapters that are relevant to you. I think it may be good for someone who isn't quite sure if they have ADHD but I feel like I am quite self aware and a long way through my journey where others may not be.
• 
  Erin Vere

  Well-researched and practical
  
  Written by someone who understands that the ADHD brain needs information as quickly and efficiently as possible. Practical and to the point, but still comprehensive and full of examples and empathetic lines that really resonated with me and echoed my own experience. A must read.
• 
  Hanna Belle

  As a young woman recently diagnosed with ADHD, it has been a challenge to figure out what tips and tricks help with navigating my neuro-divergent brain. While not a complete guide, there are parts I found very helpful and parts I will be giving a try in the future.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Christian Sorrell

  A fairly stock standard list is information and tips, much of it quoted from other books. The writing was overly padded with words and repetition throughout (it felt like a school paper with a required word count the student wasn't sure how to hit). A decent first-step read for learning ADHD tips but not much of a deep dive for folks looking for more in-depth advice.
• 
  Anaee

  Felt very informative, and that was good enough for me.
  
  One disturbing thing though: Having Ari Tuckman’s name become “Ari Tucker” really bothered me, and I couldn’t let it go (actually annotated it each time).
  I think that’s my only complaint. Other than that, I’d say this is a good book that could be helpful if you’re discovering ADHD.
• 
  Brittany Osmon

  This book was more of a list of ideas in various categories that women with ADHD might find helpful in managing areas of their lives they struggle in, but I didn't feel it really helped me understand my ADHD any more than I did before I began the book, and many of the ideas were so generalized that it read like a brochure rather than a book.
• 
  Jill

  The book gave some interesting information and has helped me understand the condition a lot better. I definitely have some tendencies and I now can formulate a plan to help myself
  
  A little alongside in places but some solid information to work with
  I enjoyed the read and took lots of notes to help me
• 
  Kim

  Short-ish book with good informative but bare-bones writing. Well-organized and helpful information, but the writing doesn't particularly stand out and I didn't feel like all my questions were answered. Reads like an overview of the data available in other sources. A good entry point to the topic, but I didn't find it particularly engaging.