This document provides survival tips for women living with ADHD, including characteristics of ADHD in women, special issues they face, and specific tips in areas like meals, household organization, relationships, personal health, work, and resources. It outlines strategies like setting reasonable goals, prioritizing tasks, getting professional help, simplifying routines, educating family, and using humor to cope with challenges. The document also lists books, newsletters, organizations, coaches, and online resources for further support.
This document provides survival tips for women living with ADHD, including characteristics of ADHD in women, special issues they face, and specific tips in areas like meals, household organization, relationships, personal health, work, and resources. It outlines strategies like setting reasonable goals, prioritizing tasks, getting professional help, simplifying routines, educating family, and using humor to cope with challenges. The document also lists books, newsletters, organizations, coaches, and online resources for further support.
This document provides survival tips for women living with ADHD, including characteristics of ADHD in women, special issues they face, and specific tips in areas like meals, household organization, relationships, personal health, work, and resources. It outlines strategies like setting reasonable goals, prioritizing tasks, getting professional help, simplifying routines, educating family, and using humor to cope with challenges. The document also lists books, newsletters, organizations, coaches, and online resources for further support.
This document provides survival tips for women living with ADHD, including characteristics of ADHD in women, special issues they face, and specific tips in areas like meals, household organization, relationships, personal health, work, and resources. It outlines strategies like setting reasonable goals, prioritizing tasks, getting professional help, simplifying routines, educating family, and using humor to cope with challenges. The document also lists books, newsletters, organizations, coaches, and online resources for further support.
ADD Consults, Director www.addconsults.com www.ADDactionTeam.com terry@addconsults.com PO Box 2401 Birmingham, Michigan 48012-2401 800-615-9786
1. INTRODUCTION 2. PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION A. Coping with ADHD in daily situations "Tidy" house, “perfect children”, doing it all Shift your strategy Practical tips to lessen stress of living with ADHD
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF AD/HD WOMEN
A. ADHD with hyperactivity Physically restless, too "chatty", impulsive spender, bored in relationships, history of many different jobs B. ADHD without hyperactivity Lethargic, spacey, disorganized, shy, overwhelmed easily, procrastinates
4. SPECIAL ISSUES FACED
A. Expected to be caretakers B. Stress of working and parenting C. Stay at home moms and unstructured days D. Relationships
HOW TO MANAGE LIVING WITH ADD
A. Make your own rules! Lower the notch; enlist paid help, novel ways to do boring tasks B. Educate yourself and your partner (see bibliography) C. Humor Learn to see humor in daily situations, "that's my ADD kicking in" D. Simplify your life Change expectations of self and others, ie home, work F. Learn to say no Often over-commit: volunteering, baking, car-pool, extra work projects EASE up on yourself: Educate/Accept/Simplify/Eliminate over-commitments
RELATIONSHIPS/FAMILY A. Educate family B. Learn communication strategies Using "I" messages, "catch" yourself, self-observe C. Take care of yourself first Daily down time, regular get-aways, baby sitters Problem solve together- addressing the problem and seeking solutions; no finger- pointing
TIPS- OVERVIEW A. Get professional help with managing your ADD Psychotherapy: psychologist, social worker, counselor, psychiatrist; medication; coaching B. Simplify meals, shopping, entertaining
1 C. Eliminate over-commitments, clutter D. Set Reasonable Goals E. Prioritize
TIPS- THE SPECIFICS
A. Meals 1. Carry out 2. Paper products 3. Holidays 4. Grocery shopping
B. HOUSEHOLD 1. Delegate chores 2. A home for everything 3. Organizing
C. RELATIONSHIPS/FAMILY/PARENTING 1. Problem solve together: no finger pointing; Use “I” messages 2. Professional help for AD/HD kids 3. Pick your battles 4. Be consistent 5. Use humor
D. PERSONAL TIPS 1. Down time 2. Simplify shopping 3. Notebook by bed 4. Counseling 5. Support groups
E. WORK 1. Figure out your work style 2. ADD friendly environment 3. Buddy system
F. TIPS ON ORGANIZING 1. Visual cues 2. Paper by every phone 3. Do it NOW or write it down 4. Prioritize 5. Timer
Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD: Beyond Piles, Palms and Post-its, Terry Matlen, M.S.W., Specialty Press, Inc 2005
Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embracing Disorganization at Home and in the Workplace, Sari Solden, M.S., Underwood Books, 1995, 2006
Journeys Through ADDulthood, Sari Solden, M.S., Walker and Co, 2002
Moms with ADD: A Self-Help Manual, Christine Adamec, Taylor Trade, 2000
Driven To Distraction, Edward Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D., Pantheon Books, 1994
You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?, Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo, Scribners, 1995
The Other Me: Poetic Thoughts on ADD for Adults, Kids and Parents, Wilma R. Fellman, M.Ed., Specialty Press, Inc. 1997
Finding a Career That Works for You, Wilma R. Fellman, M.Ed., Specialty Press, Inc. 2000, 2006
Adventures in Fast Forward: Life, Love and Work for the ADD Adult, Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., Brunner/Mazel Books, 1996
ADD in the Workplace, Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., Brunner/Mazel Books, 1997
Dismissed and Undiagnosed Dreamers: Video. Paula Stanford, Human Resource Network. To order: (405) 943-5073
ADD and Romance, By Jonathan Halverstadt, M.S., 1999
What Does Everybody Else Know That I Don't? Social skills help for adults with AD/HD, Michele Novotni, Ph.D., 2000
Understanding Women with AD/HD, edited by Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. and Patricia Quinn, MD., Advantage Books, 2002
FOR GIRLS First Star I See, Jay Caffrey, Verbal Images Press, 1997
Understanding Girls with AD/HD,
Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D. and Ellen Littman, Ph.D., Patricia O. Quinn, M.D., Advantage books 1999
ORGANIZING Organizing for the Creative Person, Dorothy Lehmkuhl and Dolores Catter Lamping, CSW, Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1993
How To Conquer Clutter, Stephanie Culp, Writer’s Digests Books, 1990
Organizing from the Inside Out : The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life, Julie Morgenstern, 1998
ADD-friendly Ways to Get Organized, Kolberg, J & Nadeau, K. Taylor and Francis, 2002
3 ADD NEWSLETTERS/MAGAZINES ADD Consults: Sign up at www.addconsults.com Attention Magazine, CHADD (Children and Adults with ADD), National office: (800) 233-4050 ADDitude Magazine, 8 0 0- 85 6- 2 03 2, www. a d d it u dem ag .c om
CHADD National: 8181 Professional Place, Suite 201, Landover, MD 20785; 800-233-4030; www.chadd.org
ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Assoc); PO Box 7557
Wilmington, DE 19803-9997; Phone/Fax: (800) 939-1019; info@add.org www.add.org
LDA- Learning Disorders Assoc., 4156 Library Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15234
ADD COACHING Find a Coach: ADD Consults: www.addconsults.com Online group coaching: www.ADDactionTeam.com ADD Coach Academy- www.addcoachacademy.com American Coaching Assoc, (610) 825-4505- www.americoach.com/ ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) www.adhdcoaches.org The Optimal Functioning Institute- www.addcoach.com
Professional Organizers National Assoc. of Professional Organizers (NAPO), 1033 La Posada Dr., Austin, TX 78752, (512) 206-0151
INTERNET/ONLINE RESOURCES
ADD Consults: Online consultations, referrals, resources, store, online conferences, directory Terry Matlen, ACSW, Director www.addconsults.com terry@addconsults.com Online Group Coaching: www.ADDactionTeam.com Online ADD Store: www.myADDstore.com Moms with ADD: www.MomsWithADD.com Women with ADHD: www.WomenWithADHD.com ADHDcentral: www.adhdCentral.com CHADD: www.chadd.org ADDA: www.add.org Sari Solden: www.sarisolden.com; www.addjourneys.com The National Center for Gender Issues and ADHD: www.ncgiadd.org ADDvance: www.addvance.com ADDitude: www.additudemag.com ADD at About.Com: www.add.about.com Dr. Ned Hallowell: www.drhallowell.com Nancy Ratey www.nancyratey.com ADD Classes: www.addclasses.com
Online support groups: www.addconsults.com, www.WomenWithADD.com
