Comments on: Women With ADD Are More Impaired

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:38:10 +0000

I’ve been doing a research project on women and girls with ADHD, and as I’ve been doing this project, I’ve seen a whole lotta me in these testimonials and in the descriptions of ADHD. I’m in high school, and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to talk to my parents about this, how to go through the process of actually getting some kind of diagnosis. For the record, my mum probably has ADHD but has never been diagnosed, my brother’s been diagnosed, and a good number of family members have ADHD. I just need a conversation starter… also, how expensive is diagnosis/treatment?

By: LR

LR — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:36:16 +0000

They face more abuse in their relationships because they’re not listening to their husband or boyfriend. Women with this disorder are treated much worse than men in our society.

By: TS

TS — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:47:37 +0000

I am a single women that was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago. I was misdiagnosed for about 10 years. I feel that I have been dealing with this all my life. I fit the profile of a girl with ADHD when I was a kid and teenager. My question out there is there anything that might help a single person dealing with this. I admire the women that are ADHD and are married with children. I could never do this.

By: Elizabeth Ogg

Elizabeth Ogg — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Wow! I can relate SO much to your feelings of discouragement. I was diagnosed about a year ago after going to counseling for other issues, mainly depression. I always knew “something was wrong with me.” Like you people esp my teachers would often say how bright and talented I was but, it frustrated me bc I never felt that I could get anything off the ground for very long. Soon after dropping out of college bc my procrastination and lack of financial savvy got me in trouble I met my husband. He is a very focused proffessional and somehow (in spite of my flaws) he decided I was the love of his life and future mother of his children. I have helped him get through medical school and now he is an Orthopedic Surgeon. I say all this to say, DON’T minimize the compliments people give you about your gifts. I am not as multitalented as you but, am mostly gifted with art and people. Though my ADHD idiosyncracies sometimes drive my husband crazy, he still admits he really wishes he had my abilty with people. Even though he is a highly successful proffessional people typically look to me and talk to me. All throughout our marriage I have met contacts and found favor with people who have helped us in many ways and he is always blown away by these connections. I often want to minimize these victories but, my hubby reminds me all the time that I should be thankful. Your strenghts are REAL. Your gifts are REAL. And I think you should not hesitate to consider medication. I tried Stratterra and felt like a different person–in a good way. I finally understood how other people functioned in the world and I think if you couljd get over this hurdle and work with an understanding doc or counselor and talk things out as well as perhaps find a med that helps you might be able to see progress for the first time in your life. Why not? Why should your gifts be lost bc, “I won’t take meds”? I am pregnant again (off the meds) and feel like I’m living in a confused fog. I am counting down the months until I will be done nursing and can get back on Stratterra (and truly get back to my life as I have always dreamed it could be). I hope that some day both you and I will be truly grateful for the gifts we’ve been given. Can love ourselves and see how we’ve grown into the women we always dreamed we could be. Don’t give up! Get the help you need; you deserve it.

By: NG

NG — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:25:35 +0000

I suspect i might have ADD and got a diagnosis around 2002, however as an adult in my early 30′s i was only able to find a specialists who worked with children so i didn’t really beleive the diagnosis.
after that i was put on an SSRI’s and then after a few sessions the therapist suggested i look for help elsewhere for adult therapy. Unfortunetly was not able to find anyone so 9 years on am back at the same place looking for answers to solve the puzzle so to speak.
I have been looking almost obsessively at trying to find out what i have. Is it ADD? OCD? in the past was labelled dyslexic also i sort of fit into the “SCT” part of ADD that has been writen about. Although i fit some of the typical things of ADD like distractions, having a problem with organisation, settling into a task i don’t fit into the impulsivity of ADD.
I’ve had the following:
- Disastrous/ traumatising school years- failed numerous tests
- Math Can’t add figure kilometers miles- measurements
rather then impulsive i am the opposite i have a set routine and rarely deviate from it in fact i have a hard time doing the unexpected such as an invitation after work or something last minute instead i feel i have to go back to the security of home….
I’ve been at the same job going on 10 years
i have a lot of negativity anxiety worry even obsessing

any suggestions are these traits in ADD?

By: Dr. Kenny Handelman

Dr. Kenny Handelman — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:25:24 +0000

AG – I’d suggest you consider taking Concerta twice per day. For example – if you take the morning dose first thing, and then set an alarm (on your phone, or watch) to go off at around 1 or 2 pm, and then take another concerta. That may last longer for you – because you metabolize it faster. You could certainly consider 36 mg 2x/day (total dose of 72 mg), or maybe the 54 in the AM and then an 18 mg booster in the afternoon. According to the CADDRA guidelines, doctors can go up to 108 mg in a healthy adult (as a daily dose). Take these ideas back to your doctor and see what he/she says
All the best,
Dr. Kenny

By: AG

AG — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:27:14 +0000

I should also say my doctor respects your knowledge very much so anything you tell me will be taken directly to him at my next appointment.

Thanks

By: AG

AG — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:22:57 +0000

Hi there!
I am hoping you can help me help my doctor reasess my dose and/or medication.
I have been on Concerta for about 10 months now 56mg/day is my final dose for the last 6 months. It works fine when it works- love it but here’s the thing:

1. I really get only about 8 hours at any time which makes either evenings difficult or mornings difficult- depends how late I take my dose. Sometimes I wait until 10 or 11 to take it so It gets me through the work day.

2. The effectiveness of the medication is really dependent on my cycle. I thought maybe I was making this up but I track my cycle and the links are too strong to ignore. Once I have reached mid cycle it almost becomes useless.

Here’s what I am doing about it:
a.When possible I take the dose late in the morning (this makes my mornings at work difficult.
b.I get exercise mid day and make sure I eat properly
c. schedule big projects etc… (whenever possible) during the first half of my cycle which is a precious 11 days.
d. try not to do anything too crazy the second half of my cycle- if this is at all possible but I am sure my work schedule is not going to be cycle friendly.

I have discussed this with my doctor who suggested taking the meds later in the morning. Unfortunately they still don’t deal with my evening situations which include course work and home things and I have a huge problem eating properly once the meds wear off- TERRIBLE cravings and I get super tired. I have reacted well to Concerta generally, it does not cause side effects and I take cymbalta as well (60mg)

My doctor is super, my coach is great so I feel like the support is there.

What would you suggest to my doctor to help make my add free day last longer??
BTW I am 41 years old and in good health
THANKS!

By: kb

kb — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 19:43:41 +0000

I just realized Im ADD this morning. I do not need a diagnosis for this though I will be contacting my doctor now.
No, I won’t take medication but I do plan to understand. So from an unrelated Google search today I stumbled upon ADD info and thought ‘I probably have that, that is the problem with not being focused’ so I decided to read a bunch of articles that led me here. Everything I’ve read in the last 3 hours is me completely:

academic and creative, many talents
dozens of unfinished projects from design, cooking, art, gardening, filmmaking-you name it I’ve thought of it and wanted it but probably haven’t done it
scores of To Do Lists
so much energy yet feeling like not much getting done
that energy is usually just spinning wheels anyways
so much talent so smart is all I hear (yet I havent put that to work)
I flip flop all over and just realized yesterday it doesnt matter what I choose I’ll probably long for something else and get distracted once I do.
I told myself yesterday I need to choose one thing and throw everything else out so I can focus and make a success at something
Totally frustrating,
Totally depressing to see all the stuff around me unfinished

I have food, material and environmental allergies, significant level of anxiety I push through to mostly function ‘normally’ (not on meds for that either)
I think from stumbling upon ADD information today and the likelihood I have it just opened up the thought that:

allergies + anxiety + ADD + probably vitamin deficiencies from one or all of these conditions or causing one or all these conditions, probably form some mathematical equation for me. Not sure what caused what. I probably can’t solve any without solving all I realize. I feel I’ve come to some sort of hope now that I’ve made this discovery.

Anybody recommend info or have anything to shed on this?
Thx
It’s been a year since RR wrote above, wondering what has happened in that time.

By: Top PS3 Games

Top PS3 Games — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 09:20:37 +0000

It’s believed that there are as many girls with ADHD as boys, but that they are less frequently identified and treated. Studies show that in some areas, girls with ADHD are more impaired than their male counterparts, in that in addition to their ADHD, they also more likely to struggle with substance abuse, anxiety and panic. Compared to non-ADHD girls, they have an increase in mood and conduct disorders and are more impaired in family, social and school functioning.