Women With Attention Deficit Disorder: Embracing Disorganization at Home and in the Workplace

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Summary: Phonemonal Resource for Women with ADD - Enlightening!
Review: After years of being unsuccessfully treated for depression, I was diagnosed with ADD by a very astute psychiatrist. This book described all of the symptoms and frustrations I had felt for years. Instead of watching the world pass by, I was relieved to find that other women felt just as I did. This fantastic book offered positive methods of organizing to minimize the confusion of ADD. It also explained the benefits of medication which for me was a lifesaver! Today I realize ADD is actually a gift of creativity and there are many ways to manage the challenge and lead a rewarding, profitable life!

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Summary: "Women with ADD" : separating "women" and "disorder".
Review: As a clinical social worker who also happens to be a woman with ADD, this book was not only a practical help to me, but a personal support as well. Of particular poignancy and importance is Ms. Solden's advice that we "embrace our disorganization" rather than feel repelled and ashamed of it. She talks glowingly of attending a conference where the attendees were primarily adult ADD folks, and the comraderie and closeness she felt with all these people who were trying to find lost keys, fumbling for pencils, or interrupting one another, but doing so in an atmostphere of acceptance. The most significant focus within Ms.Solden's book is that the hiding (of ADD symptoms and habits) needn't continue. You can come out of your ADD closet and find a place for yourself amongst the "normal" folks in the world. Accurate diagnosis is essential, and then appropriate treatment, whether it be via medication, supportive psychotherapy or "coaching", whereby a family member, friend or therapist helps you stay on track. Looking at ADD with compassion and humor is something many women who are "in hiding" with the disorder may find difficult to do. But, when the hiding is over, so is the shame. This book offers hope to those who may not have believed it to be possible, yet it also avoids being saccharine or preachy. A very balanced view of a disorder that, for many of us, causes us to feel un-balanced.

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Summary: Great description, but little strategy
Review: As a newly diagnosed adult with ADD this book was very helpful in identifying patterns throughout my life that I can now see were a part of ADD.
I appreciate the approach that this book is targeted toward women.
I found myself scanning most of the book (perhaps the ADD) because I felt like so many things were reitterated throughout.
The descriptive aspects of the book were right on, but the strategies for working through were sketchy at best. I came away with knowledge of how I have presented symptoms all of these years, but not really with any good strategies on how to turn these patterns into functional thoughts and rewarding events.
I also felt that her opposition to stating that one is disorganized is an overfocus of the book. I thought that I was very organized throughout my life, but after really looking at my patterns I can see that the lists in my head were actually part of my disorganized thinking. I don't think it is negative to say, "I am so disorganized". I am. I have spent so many years taking on more and more and not realizing why I can not complete or find satisfaction in anything I persue. Recognizing that I am disorganized and distracted has given me the ability to say "no".
I gave this book 4 stars because I found the personality descriptions quite an interesting read by themselves. She follows girls with quite different presentations of ADD and how they respond to life.

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Summary: 2 paragraphs for single women? PLEASE! Discouraging!
Review: Barely a shred of help for single low income women whose budget cannot afford paid coaches. A friend ship is too precious to risk the stress of serious coaching. Too overwhelming, too whirling, too time consuming. Suggestion: (1)a digital kitchen timer (2)How many minutes can you stand doing the task (20 min my max)(3)start;at end stop even if not finished (4)do something else for a minute (5) set timer again. Use tunnel vision on each segment. I wish book addressed these sorts of helps.

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Summary: women with attention deficit disorder
Review: Funny thing with this book. I did not know anything about it, did not even know that adults could have ADD. I was at the library, and as I was reaching for another book "Women with Attention deficit..." literally fell into my hand. I renewed this book over ten times. I am placing an order to give as Christmas gifts. At the risk of sounding dramatic I must be truthful and say that this book saved my life. I am one of these misdiagnosed women. My therapist was adamant that I do not have ADD. I was hurt by this because I thought he would help me develop what I was learning. I continued applying the lessons without his help. Sari Solden, where have you been all my crazy, disorganized life? I am so grateful for what I learned. Since reading this, I have raised my standards. No more bottom barrel jobs for this woman here. I interview like a pro, I know my gifts now, I can go on and on. I will never go back to what I was, (I do not know how I lived this way for so long) The best thing this wonderful brilliant professional did for me is to help me get over my shame about my so called secret. I love myself. I am a single mother, and my kids do not recognize me now. I am a wonderful, creative, assertive, organized, efficient, smart, beautiful, superduper black sister now! Thanks Ms.Solden. I just want you to know that I pray for you and ask God to continue blessing you for your bringing this much needed hope and empowerment to ADD women.

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Summary: Very Imformative and easy to read!
Review: Having a son recently diagnosed with ADHD I started doing some research. The more I read the more I identified with the ADHD profile. This book is a wonderful resource specifically addressing the issues that face women with ADHD.I would highly recommend this book for any woman diagnosed or who thinks she has ADD/ADHD!

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Summary: I beg to differ
Review: I am getting tired of the there is nothing wrong with me - it's you who need to change huggie huggie group. I don't want to embrace disorganization, I want it fixed.

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Summary: Relief and Confirmation, but the diagrams are awful!
Review: I am just now exploring the very strong possibility that I am ADD. This is the first book on the subject I've read and am relieved reading about other women whose situations and experiences are so close to mine. The book uncannily described and pinned down so many things I've felt and endured and have been struggling with for so long now. My ONE complaint though is the unrelevant and needless "demonstrative" flow charts and diagrams and horribly distracting clip art! These bothered me so much as a reader, detracting greatly from an otherwise informative and enlightening book. Perhaps the author felt these would be helpful to ADD readers, but I found them absolutely irritating! Aside from this, the book has helped me understand myself from a whole new perspective and is prompting me to seek the help I've needed for so long.

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Summary: This book is about me...
Review: I can not believe how much this book describes my life. It's about time ADD with out hyperactivity is addressed. I believe every women should read this book. I have read many books about ADD but this one has to be the best!

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Summary: the best add book around--just super
Review: I cannot say enought about this book. It is fantastic. Despite the fact that I can never find a thing in my house and my vast adhd library is under piles of clothes, papers and who knows what else, I can always put my finger right on Women with ADD. I have pages marked that I refer to often, either for reminders on coping or just for moral support. I have never met Sari Solden, but she wrote about me in this book--and no doubt countless other women feel as I do.
I should say I am in my early forties and was diagnosed about 3 years ago. When I first got the "good" news that my job losses, insomnia (I am penning this at 4 am) and chronic disorganization were due to something girls were not suppossed to have (the doc jammed sedatives down my throat when I was a kid in the 60's--said I was a "nervous" and "excitable" child...I walked through grammar school in a fog...but I digress--I do have add, remember!) I bought just about every book around that looked reputable, but shied away from this one. Why? I am a snob--Sari is not a Ph.D or MD, so I figured her book would not be "sound."
Stupid Stupid Stupid. Yes, I learned my lesson--degrees mean little--heck, my 2 from top universities did not protect me from losing 2 good jobs in a row.
When an add coach told me to run quick like bunny and get this book, I did, and realized the error of my ways.
This is the best book on add for women (best add book period). I got confirmation that I was not alone, not nuts and ideas on coping with the "joy" of add ...(I am glad I am creative and articulate, but plenty of people have these skills and are not add. Yes, yes, I am off the topic again) Sari's (I feel like we are best buds, so I use her first name) book is well written, well researched, comprehensive, a great book for newly diagnosed and those living with the knowledge they have "it" for a while. If you can only get one adhd book--and you are of the better sex :-)--buy this one. Consider it for the guys who have to deal with you also. My boyfriend read it and said he understood me better after reading this book...though he did dump me 3 months later, so act with caution!! ;-)