Comments on: Women and Girls with ADD are Often Undiagnosed. http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/ A Blog about Adults with Attention Surplus Condition (aka ADHD) by Adult ADHD Coach Pete Quily Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:15:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michelle http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1480560 Michelle Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:42:51 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1480560 I'm 99.9% sure I've had ADD my whole life, but I've never officially been diagnosed. I don't see the need, when I've learned positive coping skills in dealing with it. I first really believing that I had it when a friend suggested to me last year that he thought I had it, and after a lot of research and online tests, I really believe that it is true. Funniest part about it all was that my brother was actually diagnosed with it in High School, and when my parents came back with him from the doctor my mom told me she was surprised that I did have it because I fit more of the symptoms than he did. It has helped with anxiety and depression in believing that I have ADD, processing through thoughts and actions are very different and not as negative as it used to be. I’m 99.9% sure I’ve had ADD my whole life, but I’ve never officially been diagnosed. I don’t see the need, when I’ve learned positive coping skills in dealing with it. I first really believing that I had it when a friend suggested to me last year that he thought I had it, and after a lot of research and online tests, I really believe that it is true. Funniest part about it all was that my brother was actually diagnosed with it in High School, and when my parents came back with him from the doctor my mom told me she was surprised that I did have it because I fit more of the symptoms than he did. It has helped with anxiety and depression in believing that I have ADD, processing through thoughts and actions are very different and not as negative as it used to be.

]]> By: Amelia http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1472459 Amelia Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:10:44 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1472459 Thanks for the article. My brother, sister and two sons have ADHD, but when I suggested it to my psych after my sons were diagnosed I was made to feel like an idiot. My new psych actually mentioned it last week and although we didn't have time to go into it, it got me thinking again. I'm drawing up a list of symptoms like I did for my sons, and it's suddenly so glaringly obvious. All this time I hated myself and felt less than human for not being able to do all the things everyone else manages to do (housework, cooking, shopping, planning, routine, finishing anything) and after a lifetime of underachieving, it looks like it wasn't just that I'm hopeless. I've been treated for major (and treatment-resistant) depression for 25 years, even undergoing unsuccessful ECT. I'm now 45 and hope that if I can get this diagnosis I may not have to waste another 25 years of my life. Thanks for the article. My brother, sister and two sons have ADHD, but when I suggested it to my psych after my sons were diagnosed I was made to feel like an idiot. My new psych actually mentioned it last week and although we didn’t have time to go into it, it got me thinking again. I’m drawing up a list of symptoms like I did for my sons, and it’s suddenly so glaringly obvious. All this time I hated myself and felt less than human for not being able to do all the things everyone else manages to do (housework, cooking, shopping, planning, routine, finishing anything) and after a lifetime of underachieving, it looks like it wasn’t just that I’m hopeless. I’ve been treated for major (and treatment-resistant) depression for 25 years, even undergoing unsuccessful ECT. I’m now 45 and hope that if I can get this diagnosis I may not have to waste another 25 years of my life.

]]> By: Pete Quily http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1468668 Pete Quily Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:42:58 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1468668 that's great to hear Rachel, you may want to look at some of these articles on my website on <a href="http://www.addcoach4u.com/womenwithadhdarticles.html" rel="nofollow">women and ADHD</a> that’s great to hear Rachel,

you may want to look at some of these articles on my website on women and ADHD

]]> By: rachel http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1468001 rachel Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:52:06 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1468001 I am 33 and was just diagnosed 3 days ago. i am the one that asked my Dr. about it because when i look back on my life all i see is a long line of unfinished projects. it was really stating to depress me. All my life i thought i was a day-dreamer and a procrastinator. I was tested for learning problems when i was 7, but i was a quiet well behaved child that never disrupted class. i guess thats why ADD was never considered. the pasted three days i have felt relief and peace. I am so glad i figured this out! I am 33 and was just diagnosed 3 days ago. i am the one that asked my Dr. about it because when i look back on my life all i see is a long line of unfinished projects. it was really stating to depress me. All my life i thought i was a day-dreamer and a procrastinator. I was tested for learning problems when i was 7, but i was a quiet well behaved child that never disrupted class. i guess thats why ADD was never considered. the pasted three days i have felt relief and peace. I am so glad i figured this out!

]]> By: Pete Quily http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1411811 Pete Quily Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:57:36 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1411811 thanks Stephanie, not personality but it's brain wiring see http://www.addcoach4u.com/doesaddreallyexist.html yes adhd can reinterpret a lot and change moral self judgements to neuroscience. A lot of gifts to discover, enjoy the process thanks Stephanie, not personality but it’s brain wiring see

http://www.addcoach4u.com/doesaddreallyexist.html

yes adhd can reinterpret a lot and change moral self judgements to neuroscience. A lot of gifts to discover, enjoy the process

]]> By: Stephanie http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1411662 Stephanie Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:45:59 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1411662 Wow! My journey is kind of interesting. My husband's x-wife was convinced that my step-son had ADD. He didn't quite fit the bill, and when we started to answer the questionaire, I started to think, man that sounds like my daughter. I took my daughter to get tested, and she was 98% blah Conners test, coupled with the light and sound test ADD positive. I was blown away! I started to accept that my daughter was diagnosed, and the more I did research, I found the hereditary"link". Being a person that relies heavily on data, I started to think about my own life and interactions. Basically, it lead me to being diagnosed with it and redefining my whole life history. Here I am today telling you that honestly, even though I have worked hard to accomplish the things I have, I am happy that I have figured out the missing link. My daughter and I are on this journey together, figuring out life. Whether this is explained by a personality or a brain function or non-function is almost meaningless to me. The most important thing is that I have found people that think and feel the same way I do. Keep all these posts coming. I think we are only on the cust of uncovering this "gift". And I truly believe that! Wow! My journey is kind of interesting. My husband’s x-wife was convinced that my step-son had ADD. He didn’t quite fit the bill, and when we started to answer the questionaire, I started to think, man that sounds like my daughter. I took my daughter to get tested, and she was 98% blah Conners test, coupled with the light and sound test ADD positive. I was blown away! I started to accept that my daughter was diagnosed, and the more I did research, I found the hereditary”link”. Being a person that relies heavily on data, I started to think about my own life and interactions. Basically, it lead me to being diagnosed with it and redefining my whole life history. Here I am today telling you that honestly, even though I have worked hard to accomplish the things I have, I am happy that I have figured out the missing link. My daughter and I are on this journey together, figuring out life. Whether this is explained by a personality or a brain function or non-function is almost meaningless to me. The most important thing is that I have found people that think and feel the same way I do. Keep all these posts coming. I think we are only on the cust of uncovering this “gift”. And I truly believe that!

]]> By: Merry411 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1376762 Merry411 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:23:20 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1376762 It's so amazing reading all of this. It's made me feel less alone knowing there are so many people who are suffering the same as I am. So much of this explains a lot of what's happened in my life (I am 26). My doctor put me on Wellbutrin thinking my problems are only depression, but while I feel a little more awake, I'm still having all the same problems. Also he gave me anti-anxiety medication for the panic attacks that are happening more recently. Losing focus, zoning out in the middle of conversation, horrible procrastination, forgetting so much and suffering in my job since I start projects but have a hard time finishing them. I feel like I'm losing my mind! Once I confided to my mother about the problems I have been having she told me my father has ADHD and that I should check out that as well. Tomorrow I'll be talking to my doctor about this and keeping my fingers crossed for a helpful and hopeful solution. Good luck to you all and you have my deepest wishes for the best. It’s so amazing reading all of this. It’s made me feel less alone knowing there are so many people who are suffering the same as I am. So much of this explains a lot of what’s happened in my life (I am 26). My doctor put me on Wellbutrin thinking my problems are only depression, but while I feel a little more awake, I’m still having all the same problems. Also he gave me anti-anxiety medication for the panic attacks that are happening more recently. Losing focus, zoning out in the middle of conversation, horrible procrastination, forgetting so much and suffering in my job since I start projects but have a hard time finishing them. I feel like I’m losing my mind! Once I confided to my mother about the problems I have been having she told me my father has ADHD and that I should check out that as well. Tomorrow I’ll be talking to my doctor about this and keeping my fingers crossed for a helpful and hopeful solution. Good luck to you all and you have my deepest wishes for the best.

]]> By: Martha http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-1089530 Martha Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:47:24 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-1089530 I just read Christy's comment and that is how I am now feeling...HOPEFUL. I was diagnosed with ADD one week ago and I am 53 years old. Five years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression and have been treated successfully since then with anti depressants. Since beginning the anti depressants, the anxiety I had felt most of my life left me and I had not even realized it had been there till it was gone. Since it left ,my life long struggles with organization, focus and procrastination just bloomed into an over whelming mess, on my desk, in my car, in my house and even in my pants pockets. I had been using the anxiety I felt to at least get me to take care of bills etc, but when the anxiety lifted, I became personally aquainted with several bill collectors and I knew that if, when I came home and there was a red tag hanging from my front door, that some vital utility had been cut off. I was so ashamed to let eny one know about that. Since I work with kids with special needs, I was well aware of what ADD and ADHD look like. I just took some (lots of) introspection to figure out that I might be one of those kids. I knew I have always had compassion for the kid with the messy desk, because that was me, then and now. I am now taking medication and the jury is still out on how it will work for me. I can tell you that last week I sat through a meeting lasting 1 hr and 30 mins and when it was over I realized that I had heard everything that everyone had said and I did not need to shift around on my chair once, not once. There were no holes in my memory what was discussed and I did not need to poke my neighbor to ask what was just said or to make some off topic comment. When I was told "yes you have ADD and yes we can help you" it was truly one of the happiest days of my life. No more blaming myself for being stupid and incapable, perhaps no more refusing to invite people over because of the state of my house (my sister used to tease me that I would do great in a house with no horizontal surfaces), and most importantly maybe I will get over the paralysis I feel when trying to start a project and the guilt for not finishing it. I am an artist and now my talent and creativity with not be rotting in the back of the fridge like that lettuce I bought last month. Hey did I mention that creativity and hyperfocus can be assets that come from ADD. Were it not for the ADD I may never have know how creative I am. There are blessings in everything if you know where to look. Good luck to all of you. I just read Christy’s comment and that is how I am now feeling…HOPEFUL. I was diagnosed with ADD one week ago and I am 53 years old. Five years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression and have been treated successfully since then with anti depressants. Since beginning the anti depressants, the anxiety I had felt most of my life left me and I had not even realized it had been there till it was gone. Since it left ,my life long struggles with organization, focus and procrastination just bloomed into an over whelming mess, on my desk, in my car, in my house and even in my pants pockets. I had been using the anxiety I felt to at least get me to take care of bills etc, but when the anxiety lifted, I became personally aquainted with several bill collectors and I knew that if, when I came home and there was a red tag hanging from my front door, that some vital utility had been cut off. I was so ashamed to let eny one know about that.
Since I work with kids with special needs, I was well aware of what ADD and ADHD look like. I just took some (lots of) introspection to figure out that I might be one of those kids. I knew I have always had compassion for the kid with the messy desk, because that was me, then and now.
I am now taking medication and the jury is still out on how it will work for me. I can tell you that last week I sat through a meeting lasting 1 hr and 30 mins and when it was over I realized that I had heard everything that everyone had said and I did not need to shift around on my chair once, not once. There were no holes in my memory what was discussed and I did not need to poke my neighbor to ask what was just said or to make some off topic comment. When I was told “yes you have ADD and yes we can help you” it was truly one of the happiest days of my life. No more blaming myself for being stupid and incapable, perhaps no more refusing to invite people over because of the state of my house (my sister used to tease me that I would do great in a house with no horizontal surfaces), and most importantly maybe I will get over the paralysis I feel when trying to start a project and the guilt for not finishing it. I am an artist and now my talent and creativity with not be rotting in the back of the fridge like that lettuce I bought last month.
Hey did I mention that creativity and hyperfocus can be assets that come from ADD. Were it not for the ADD I may never have know how creative I am. There are blessings in everything if you know where to look. Good luck to all of you.

]]> By: Christy http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-989164 Christy Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:06:44 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-989164 I am feeling amazed and hopeful, having just stumbled upon something that describes the shameful secret problem I've been hiding for most of my life. I'm 37 and discovered ADD last night, as I was trying to read more about anxiety. ADD is making bells go off in my head, I can hardly believe the things I'm learning, I feel like crying. I am not alone! There may be another way to approach myself, some new ideas for how to manage living like this. I'm reading a lot and thank everyone who posted for being part of this WOW experience. May we all learn to thrive and forgive ourselves. My whole life and family memories is seeming to make more sense, considered in this new frame and light. If I had health insurance, I would make an appointment with a doctor tomorrow. I hope I can find some sort of fee-free group in Oakland. My mind is blowing right now. This new information makes so much sense to me. I suddenly feel the hope that maybe I'm not just a sad, stressed, mal-adapted loser...a flicker of hope that I could feel better eventually. Wow. I am feeling amazed and hopeful, having just stumbled upon something that describes the shameful secret problem I’ve been hiding for most of my life. I’m 37 and discovered ADD last night, as I was trying to read more about anxiety. ADD is making bells go off in my head, I can hardly believe the things I’m learning, I feel like crying. I am not alone! There may be another way to approach myself, some new ideas for how to manage living like this. I’m reading a lot and thank everyone who posted for being part of this WOW experience. May we all learn to thrive and forgive ourselves. My whole life and family memories is seeming to make more sense, considered in this new frame and light. If I had health insurance, I would make an appointment with a doctor tomorrow. I hope I can find some sort of fee-free group in Oakland. My mind is blowing right now. This new information makes so much sense to me. I suddenly feel the hope that maybe I’m not just a sad, stressed, mal-adapted loser…a flicker of hope that I could feel better eventually. Wow.

]]> By: Marna Raysin http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/comment-page-1/#comment-822672 Marna Raysin Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:51:18 +0000 http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/03/07/women-and-girls-with-add-are-often-undiagnosed/#comment-822672 Well, I haven't been diagnosed yet, but I'm pretty sure I have ADD. I took one of the online tests and it came back 80% likely. I first discovered that I might have ADD when I received an email from my brother. It was a joke actually, called " I have AAADD-Age Aquired ADD. When I started reading, and it was talking about starting one thing and then moving on to something else because of getting sidetracked, I thought " that is me!!" And so I decided to do some more research, and found that I exibit many of the symptoms. I've also been in couples counceling with my husband for a few months, and I just had a baby. And one of our main problems we discuss in counceling is how I don't remember conversations my husband and I have had. This of course was making me feel like there was something wrong with me. And it only made my husband angry. I also take Zoloft because I was getting so stressed and I was afraid that I'd end up with post partum depression. So I talked to my doctor about it. And now I'm going to talk to my doctor about ADD. Because I truly feel I've had it for a long time and now I'm 37 and I want to stop feeling like I'm losing my mind. I also have a three year old, who is so hyper at times, and his mouth never stops, so I'm beginning to think he may have ADHD. And I'm pretty sure my mom does too. I'm ready to take back control of my life. Well, I haven’t been diagnosed yet, but I’m pretty sure I have ADD.
I took one of the online tests and it came back 80% likely.
I first discovered that I might have ADD when I received an email from my brother. It was a joke actually, called ” I have AAADD-Age Aquired ADD. When I started reading, and it was talking about starting one thing and then moving on to something else because of getting sidetracked, I thought ” that is me!!”
And so I decided to do some more research, and found that I exibit many of the symptoms.
I’ve also been in couples counceling with my husband for a few months, and I just had a baby. And one of our main problems we discuss in counceling is how I don’t remember conversations my husband and I have had. This of course was making me feel like there was something wrong with me. And it only made my husband angry.
I also take Zoloft because I was getting so stressed and I was afraid that I’d end up with post partum depression. So I talked to my doctor about it.
And now I’m going to talk to my doctor about ADD. Because I truly feel I’ve had it for a long time and now I’m 37 and I want to stop feeling like I’m losing my mind.
I also have a three year old, who is so hyper at times, and his mouth never stops, so I’m beginning to think he may have ADHD.
And I’m pretty sure my mom does too.
I’m ready to take back control of my life.

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