Typed from Sandra F Rief's ' The ADHD BOOK of LISTS'

adults with ADHD often exibit the following difficulties
these are risk factors when untreated.
-anti social behavior
-Educational underattainment
-Vocational underatainment
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Substance abuse
-low frustration tollerance
-High levels of stress
-Long term relationship problems
-Mood disorders
-Employment difficulties
-Chronic time management dificulties ( procrastination and lateness)
-Pattern of short lived intrests
-Frequent moves and or job changes
-sleep arousal problems
-Money - management problems ( such as impulsive purchases, poor budgeting)
-Poor memory /forgetfulness
-Emotional volitivity
-Excessively impatient
-Undertake many projects simultaneously
-Difficulty staying focused in conversations
-drawn to high intensity
****************************

The following is for diagnosing females with ADHD ..from chapter 1-13 Book of lists.

There is hyperactive and inattentive and combined type .
most females tend to be the combined type but mostly inattentive

-They tend to be more compliant in school rather than be disruptive like boys
-Are very good at trying to make themselves invisable . to cover up their difficulties
-Are ofetn over looked /labeled /written off as being "space cadetts" "ditzey" or scattered.
-Have real serious problems ( affecting them academically , socially, and emotionally ) that is often unrecognized.

Acording to Nadeau, Quinn, And Littman ( 1999) Girls:

-Have more internal and often less external ( observable) symptoms.
-Have greater likely hood of angziety and depression
-Experience alot of achedemic difficulties , peer rejection , and self esteem issues
-are more likely to be hyper verbal than hyperactive.
*************
-there is less likelihood of symptoms showing up befor age 7
-symptoms tend to increase rather than decrease at puberty
-Girls are more likely to be underdiagnosed because the current diagnositic criteria requires evidence of symptom onset before 7 years of age.
-Hormones from puberty onward have a great influenceon girls with ADHD
-Premenstral syndrome ( PMS) presenst additional problems . worsening ADHD symptoms by adding to disorganization emotionality

Be aware that....
Girls who may have done well academically in elementary school often have trouble achieving academically once they reach middle schoolyears.
The demands of "executive functioning" in the higher grades create alot of stress.
Girls tend to try hard to please thier teachers ands parents . They often work exceptionally hard ( compusively so) to achieve academic succsess
Impulsivity in girls can lead to binge eating and engaging in high risk /high stimulation activities ( such as smoking, drinking, drugs, sexual promicuity , unprotected sex)
rather than ( or in addition to) the classic symtoms boys dispaly ( hyperactivity, impulsiveness , inattentio, and exexutive functions) girls with ADHD are ofetn characterized by the following:

-Hyper social behavior
-Hyper verbal behavior ( cannot stop talking , chatting, and commenting on everything)
-Much giggling and "silly" behavior..
-Irrirtability and dysphoric tendencies
-Mood swings
-temper tantrums
-Feeling shy, timid and withdrawn
-Becomming easily over whelmed
-being self critical
-being anxious
-hair twirling, nail biting, picking at cuticals
-Depression
-Low self esteem
-tendencey to unleash frustrations at home that were kept hidden at school
-achedemic passivity- giving up easily
-Introversion

And some social difficulties are

1 Appearing uninterested because of poor listening skills
2.Displaying Poor management or expression of anger or moods
3.Bragging or being out spoken and appearing self involved
4.forgetting apointments or being late
5.failing to show interest by not remembering or checking with their friends about their feelings , or reactions to events that have occured in thier friends lives

[Rachie]

you're always very imformative i love it thank you

[kileyb]

I just remember in high school I couldn't listen or read for more than a few seconds, my mind would wander no matter how hard i tried! also forgetfulness and depression. I also have anxiety so no meds 4 me, sux!
and yes u are very informative! thanks

Originally Posted by auroralso

Typed from Sandra F Rief's ' The ADHD BOOK of LISTS'

adults with ADHD often exibit the following difficulties
these are risk factors when untreated.
-anti social behavior
-Educational underattainment
-Vocational underatainment
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Substance abuse
-low frustration tollerance
-High levels of stress
-Long term relationship problems
-Mood disorders
-Employment difficulties
-Chronic time management dificulties ( procrastination and lateness)
-Pattern of short lived intrests
-Frequent moves and or job changes
-sleep arousal problems
-Money - management problems ( such as impulsive purchases, poor budgeting)
-Poor memory /forgetfulness
-Emotional volitivity
-Excessively impatient
-Undertake many projects simultaneously
-Difficulty staying focused in conversations
-drawn to high intensity
****************************

The following is for diagnosing females with ADHD ..from chapter 1-13 Book of lists.

There is hyperactive and inattentive and combined type .
most females tend to be the combined type but mostly inattentive

-They tend to be more compliant in school rather than be disruptive like boys
-Are very good at trying to make themselves invisable . to cover up their difficulties
-Are ofetn over looked /labeled /written off as being "space cadetts" "ditzey" or scattered.
-Have real serious problems ( affecting them academically , socially, and emotionally ) that is often unrecognized.

Acording to Nadeau, Quinn, And Littman ( 1999) Girls:

-Have more internal and often less external ( observable) symptoms.
-Have greater likely hood of angziety and depression
-Experience alot of achedemic difficulties , peer rejection , and self esteem issues
-are more likely to be hyper verbal than hyperactive.
*************
-there is less likelihood of symptoms showing up befor age 7
-symptoms tend to increase rather than decrease at puberty
-Girls are more likely to be underdiagnosed because the current diagnositic criteria requires evidence of symptom onset before 7 years of age.
-Hormones from puberty onward have a great influenceon girls with ADHD
-Premenstral syndrome ( PMS) presenst additional problems . worsening ADHD symptoms by adding to disorganization emotionality

Be aware that....
Girls who may have done well academically in elementary school often have trouble achieving academically once they reach middle schoolyears.
The demands of "executive functioning" in the higher grades create alot of stress.
Girls tend to try hard to please thier teachers ands parents . They often work exceptionally hard ( compusively so) to achieve academic succsess
Impulsivity in girls can lead to binge eating and engaging in high risk /high stimulation activities ( such as smoking, drinking, drugs, sexual promicuity , unprotected sex)
rather than ( or in addition to) the classic symtoms boys dispaly ( hyperactivity, impulsiveness , inattentio, and exexutive functions) girls with ADHD are ofetn characterized by the following:

-Hyper social behavior
-Hyper verbal behavior ( cannot stop talking , chatting, and commenting on everything)
-Much giggling and "silly" behavior..
-Irrirtability and dysphoric tendencies
-Mood swings
-temper tantrums
-Feeling shy, timid and withdrawn
-Becomming easily over whelmed
-being self critical
-being anxious
-hair twirling, nail biting, picking at cuticals
-Depression
-Low self esteem
-tendencey to unleash frustrations at home that were kept hidden at school
-achedemic passivity- giving up easily
-Introversion

And some social difficulties are

1 Appearing uninterested because of poor listening skills
2.Displaying Poor management or expression of anger or moods
3.Bragging or being out spoken and appearing self involved
4.forgetting apointments or being late
5.failing to show interest by not remembering or checking with their friends about their feelings , or reactions to events that have occured in thier friends lives

[Pup]

This suits me a lot... but I have a lot of other problems.

I have combined, they say it's more common for girls to have inattentive type... I don't see why. Pretty sterotypical.

[Bailey68]

Wow, I feel like I just met myself after reading this. I have been seriously questioning my ADD dx, I didn't see it in myself. I will consider this a "Lightbulb Moment" in my life. I guess it is time to get serious about getting on the right medication.

adults with ADHD often exibit the following difficulties
these are risk factors when untreated.
-anti social behavior
-Educational underattainment
-Vocational underatainment
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Substance abuse
-low frustration tollerance
-High levels of stress
-Long term relationship problems
-Mood disorders
-Employment difficulties
-Chronic time management dificulties ( procrastination and lateness)
-Pattern of short lived intrests
-Frequent moves and or job changes
-sleep arousal problems
-Money - management problems ( such as impulsive purchases, poor budgeting)
-Poor memory /forgetfulness
-Emotional volitivity
-Excessively impatient
-Undertake many projects simultaneously
-Difficulty staying focused in conversations
-drawn to high intensity

[theotterone]

When I was recently diagnosed, my doctor said he was impressed that my oldest daughter's teacher noticed her attention issues. (We both got diagnosed ADD, NOT ADHD). He said the symptoms are more subtle in women so it can be hard to catch.

Originally Posted by Pup

This suits me a lot... but I have a lot of other problems.

I have combined, they say it's more common for girls to have inattentive type... I don't see why. Pretty sterotypical.

At first I thought I was hyperactive , I 'm not sure when I became more shy and introverted .My memory serves me that in response to the Bullying in school I laughed along with the bullies and layed submissively low in hopes of "disappearing"

They mentioned the need to disappear or be invisible as a common behavior for females. Day dreaming would fit in nicely with this .

I'm certain I am combined as well Pup.

I was not aware there was a distinction betwe males and females till the Psychologist pointed it out to me . I think your on to something about stereotypes entering in.

It's un lady like, unattractive , for a woman to express anger . We are allowed and expected to cry. For men its okay to express anger by being physical , For men to cry is not okay .

Men blame testosterone for all that defines and or ails them. I think its more role modeling and social conditioning.

Maybe with out the social roles that have been in place for women there would not be the distinction in the adhd criteria.

Its not in the DSM. Its more the opinion of some Psychologists in the field of ADHD. There are Psychiatrist's as well as Psychologists who do not believe adults can have ADHD. And it used to be given only to those who dispalyed hyperactivity. The squeeky wheel gets the grease , The inattentives suffer just as much just don't get in as much trouble as those who dispaly hyperactivity and there fore go un noticed and undiagnosised . . .

Notice there is the binge eating for women and not men . Men are more likely to drink or drug or smoke ,They do binge eat . and many figure out the latter to fix the eating.

I have always noticed women channel their frustrations through the kitchen . I saw this as a young child. If the roles were reversed the men would have to adjust their apron strings.. tighter or looser . Instead its thier "belts"

And notice belts are always on the hip never the waist .... its uncomfortable and confining around ones waist and men do have waists. just as they have navels.

Originally Posted by Bailey68

Wow, I feel like I just met myself after reading this. I have been seriously questioning my ADD dx, I didn't see it in myself. I will consider this a "Lightbulb Moment" in my life. I guess it is time to get serious about getting on the right medication.

I would rather not have to be on medication. Im stuck , its has been impacting the quality of my life for many years and just has me in despair most days as i try to get out from under . So I'm hoping to try some medication . If I can be seen. My therapist just gave me a heads up that the PDoc we were hoping to see does not believe in diagnosising adults with ADHD or medicating them .

I'm gald she figured this out in advance. Be sure to se a psychiatrist who specilizes in ADHD. Other wise you'll be given meds for other conditions that may not work.


What I found interesting in the list for females was the change from grade school to middle school and the role of executive functioning which I'm still trying to understand.

I had a B+ grade average .in grade school. When I entered middle school my grades dropped to B- . I used to visual cram for tests at the last minute and answer multiple choice and true false as fast as possible .
when It came to essays.....

I couldn't do it.. I went blank. Much of the time I didn't write anything . The essays began to appear more in Middle school. What I did write made little sense. I was aware I was not comprehending . I didn't know what was wrong . I just thought I was stupid.

Most of my learning was visual. and still is.

When I entered High school I was in real trouble.

Much of my work was average through out my school years until high school . I was frequently given a lower grade because my work was always handed in "late". I began my F carreer in high school due to not completing my work. It continued through out college . A-B's and F's

How strange.

In my creative writing class In high school My teacher always made note of my A+ work , but I was given A- because I was "late"

Very few know this . I skipped school more days than I attended in high school. I do not know How I graduated . I never was a wild child . I would go ride my bike and hang out by a lake and think. by myself. I should have never been allowed to graduate.

I always worked very hard for my teachers .In grade school . That changed In Jr. high. when My grades began dropping I was called in to see a school counselor . . No one caught that I was having executive difficulties . They thought ( my mother) I was just being rebellious.

I giggled alot . usually to the point of not being able to stop and this was disruptive in class.

I had no idea giggling was a sign of ADHD for females.

I had temper tantrums as young as five.

I got kicked out of My tap class when I was five because I didn't want to crawl on my knees and take velcro spots of my suit and place then in a bucket to the tume of the pink panther. I wanted to do the step ball change . So I did a bucket strike, I sat on my bucket and would not budge.. that was the end of my dancing .

baton twirling was next..
.

I used to twirl my hair too all the time or comb it with my fingers and I recall when I was young I used to put it in my mouth.. and when it got longer wrap it around my face.. or under my chin.

I still do fidget with my hair in various ways I think I still wrap it around my face. but no longer chew on it . LOL!!!!!!.

Anyone ever have bitten pencils.... Lead poisoning... I used to chew on the lead portion. .

I'm either hyper verbal . or silent. when Im silent my mind is hyperverable or visual.

I fidget when Im concentrating.

My mother called me scatter brain, ragmuffin, premadonna, and that I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off.
I had no idea what those things meant.

Ive always been called space cadet. even as an adult.

As I'm reading bits and pieces of this Book I realizing just how little structure I had when young . ( I have no structure now, Im a fly by the seat of my pant moment to monent type of gal and I had this before Julia Roberts did.} I don't know how to operate in any other fashion . It feels confining to be other wise yet my life suffers, ... confining confining confining......

I'm seeing the importance of parent / child working as a Team .
For adults it would have to be the therapist.

I'm having some sucess with not displaying anger and impatience when Im not being heard. I still feel it though. .

I'm glad you all are finding this helpfull . The book is a heafty sourse of management technigues . Its rigourous and complete.

No index... so you have to read to find.. like a treasure hunt.

well I believe I just about wrote out my childhood symptoms .. for my benifit .. hope you all don't mind. i know this is long and rambling. It may help those of you who have not done this yet to work on it a bit befor seeing a PDoc.
And to have it printed out . I find the thought of explaining my childhood or much of anything daunting because I get so side tracked and off topic and before I know it the time is gone and nothing gets accomplished .
Most all of my therapy sessions have been like this. lacking structure and goals .


I'm going to print this out to hand to the DOC I hope to eventualy see along with some pictures of my apartment .
It helps to have grade cards from school . I have records from when I attended colledge only. If you have parents living who are cohearant .

((((PUP))))

That can be helpful in the diagnosising process. Also assessing the parent because ADHD is heriitary.

I have had a difficult time accessing my past till looking for ADHD symptoms . The more I write the more of the past comes back . The negative reactions and disaplines are memorable.


Patricia

[sunflower55]

This is very helpful. Thanks for typing it out.
I can see myself in the list very clearly. In fact, most of the list describes me to a tee. And I'm just now beginning to learn about the "executive functions" and how ADHD effects these functions. Funny, because I was talking to the doctor about many of them but not knowing the term for them!

I'm on generic adderal now. 10 mg xr twice a day. We just raised it to twice a day. I hope it works. I'm at the end of my rope with my career. I was unable to apply for a promotion, and as a result, lost my placement at my job. I'm a substitute again, after 24 years of successful teaching. But, I was unable to complete the requirements needed for the interview process for that promotion. So, someone else got my position at the school in which I worked. And I cannot begin to tell you how heartbroken I am over it. That's why I called the doc and began this treatment process. I've struggled for so long....and now I feel like it's all for nothing.

Peace.

[nellbells]

Thanks for typing that all out. I'm very interested in getting my hands on that book!

The symptom that most surprised me was picking your cuticles! I can't stop myself from doing this, I know I do this when I'm feeling extremely stressed, but I didn't know it could be linked to ADD.

In high school my counselor suggested to me that I get tested (some kind of paper test) for ADD, but at the moment I couldn't handle her suggestion. Afterall, I didn't fit the stereotypical profile: overactive, poor grades. My grades were decent because I was working sooo soo hard to get them. And now I see that working exceptionally hard to achieve academic success is part of having ADD.

I'm ready to get tested now. I'm not thrilled by the idea of going back on meds since I just got off effexor.. but I want to be able to concentrate and focus. I try soo hard but I can't acheive it on my own.

[PsycheSeas]

Hello, its nice to meet you here.
I am really really impressed by all this research of yours related to ADHD symptoms in females. It is true that Female ADHD symptoms are different from those of male ADHD symptoms. You have pointed out that many ADHD girls do better in elementary school but fail to get good grades in middle school. Yes I have seen many patients like that. I am a psychologist.

Thanks for telling about the co-morbid conditions that might occur with ADHD and ADD.

[musicsinmysoul]

I've been meaning to make a thread about this that highlights all of these issues/symptoms in an effort to see if I'm not the only one who's got it bad. I just started on meds for ADHD and as much as they are somewhat working(haven't been on them long enough to see the full effects) I feel like I'm still all over the place. I'm having trouble determining the things I "don't want to" do and those that I mentally "can't" do, if that makes sense. When family members offer suggestions to me, or try and remind me to do something, I get frustrated and irritated because I haven't forgotten what they were saying(they usually say it more than once since they're reminding me) it's just that I like to be able to do it myself, because I know that I can.

This is all stressful enough as it is and it's even harder because I'm realizing that everything that's gone wrong in my life is because of my ADHD, everything I've wanted to do(long lists of career possibilities and interests but next to no job experiences) keeps popping back into my head and I think "Well i can do that, I like that". Then I start these things and end up changing my mind.

My family doesn't understand what's going on inside my head and I can't explain it. I have years of built up emotional problems that prevent me from being able to tell people how I feel.

Has anyone ever written things down and just shown them at psychologist/psychiatrist/doctor/psychotherapist/therapist appointments? Do they mind when you do that? Just curious.

[BlueInanna]

Music, your therapist would love you to bring in your list! That shows how you're working on yourself and sorting it all out. I haven't done it, but it's brilliant!

[thisismy_username12]

bloodyhell, thats me!!!!

i feel sorry for us.

[Leara]

This is incredibly useful, I've been looking for information that deals more with women who have combined type, rather than inattentive. I'll definitely have to try and check out this book.

[xxbrittxx96]

Hi what's up?