Women with ADHD: Loving Strategies for Thriving in the face of Distraction, Embracing Your Differences and Breaking through Barriers

by Jessica Gray

It can be really hard for someone who does not have ADHD to truly understand.

ADHD in women often goes undiagnosed. Too many women have grown up being called lazy , selfish , spacey or dumb because their symptoms were simply ignored or disregarded.

It is for this reason that many women grow up feeling misunderstood. Sometimes their difficulties are mistaken for being “hormonal” or “anxious”.

Even if you have not been formally diagnosed, this manual is a must-read ◆ Forgotten projects and unpaid bills just keep piling up. ◆ Romantic relationships and friendships can be a struggle because social rules seem so very complicated. ◆ You struggle to relax and unwind as your mind is on the go. ◆ At social gatherings you feel overwhelmed and shy but can end up talking over people as you are nervous. ◆ You are a high achiever but then feel frustrated that you have not met your full potential. ◆ All your time and energy are taken up with coping, staying organized and holding it together, with no time for fun or relaxation. ◆ You have trouble balancing your finances. ◆ You struggle to move forward with your goals. ◆ Your mind drifts during conversations unless you’re the one talking or it’s a topic you find very interesting.

The user-friendly format won't bore you and the writing style is accessible, warm and kind. This book will never make you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.

Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

It begins with some issues with phrasing and repetition but has some solid comments and information. However, by the second half, it becomes highly repetitive, full of unsubstantiated or vague claims, poor writing and makes points without examples or explanation. It notes common misconceptions and stereotypes (lots of slightly sexist phrasing!) without fully addressing them - and makes some potentially harmful statements (i.e. males with ADHD more likely to be mass shooters) without appropriate references or evidence.

Some of the instructions that *are* given are just ridiculous - such as matching your breathing during meditation to your heart rate (which even for me, with a relatively low heart rate, would be hyperventilating).

I cannot recommend it. Read Jessica McCabe’s How to ADHD instead.

[Brandie🌻 · Rating 1 out of 5]

If this wasn’t narrated by AI then I’m a monkey’s uncle

[Louise Popowitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

As reviewers before me have mentioned, this books come off very condescending, cis white biased, negative and repetitive. I listened to the audiobook and I had to look up whether it was read by a bot or a real person as the voice was so monotone and without any emphasis (obviously the repetitiveness of the book doesn’t help (turns out it’s a real person). It did have a couple of good points, but otherwise full of claims and statements which is not supported by research.

[Zoe Christofis · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - terrible, im marking this book as read because from the first couple of chapters i could just see where it was going. if 0 stars was an option then the information provided and the opinions raised in this book would get 0 stars. they presented adhd as something kids get and can outgrow, like a misbehaving teenager that will mature and grow. after saying the only “treatment” is medication and you’re only “cured” if you present with no symptoms at all and act “normally”, i was done with this book.

[Yana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information in chapter 13 and the following ones. Many are skips for sure. The first 5 chapters are listing the symptoms.
She said ADHD is thought to be a result of high levels of stress in the body. The children who are constantly stressed are more likely to have ADHD. Children who are stressed may have less dopamine activity in their brains.
Apparently, there are three types. I might be the second one Inattentive.

[Tone · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s as if someone gathered all the trite opinions on women with adhd, put it in a blender, then sorted it into loosely related paragraphs. Many statements were repetitive and often contradicted each other. Many times it touted harmful stereotypes and pseudoscience as fact. Worst of all it felt very lazy, like something I would produce if I had a term paper due the next morning. Skip.

[Sage Finkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started reading this in the middle of my ADHD diagnosis. It opened my mind and was a good starting point. Loved all the different chapters that addressed different things, made it easy to jump around depending on what I was looking to learn about. Everyone operates slightly different, a lot of it was insightful, some of it I didn't align with. Take what you need, leave what you don't!

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must’ve missed the loving strategies and how to thrive, because this book felt very negative and condescending to me. There were probably a few tiny morsels of good advice but overall I didn’t feel like it added anything positive to my learning more about adhd.

[Damla Kuduoglu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author talks about both ASD and ADHD traits under ADHD. It would mislead many people about their condition. There are a lot of repetition as well.

[Katie Elizabeth Adlem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Informative but repetitive

[Simone Lees · Rating 1 out of 5]

So awful, if I could give it 0 stars I would. Did not want to finish it but I did.

[Mette Christensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can be quite long and the phrasing is not the best.
Expect to be reading:

Women with ADHD this… women with ADHD that… and so on.

But otherwise okay

[Sylvia Avery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Validating but not based on actual science or research. It’s full of generic claims, stereotypes, assumptions, and blanket statements. I wouldn’t recommend for someone with this diagnosis.

[Shelby Szekely Montalbo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t believe what I just listened to.
This is probably one of the most misguided books out there. I’m no PHD but I’ve read MANY books about ADHD and felt inspired, well informed, and encouraged. This book did none of that for me. It was depressing. She would list off all these wild accusations like if you have ADHD you’re more likely to cheat on your spouse. It was negative, accusatory, and straight up wrong. Some of the things she wrote were so wrong….. it’s dangerous that this is out there for others to read. No research was done, it seems, in preparation for this book. I’m laughing that it says “loving strategies” in the title. There was nothing about this book that was “loving.” I audibly gasped at some parts because it was so ridiculous. Do not recommend.