ADHD Resources: What I wish I knew
Updated: 11 hours ago
Resources to help navigate being newly diagnosed with ADHD, understand your brain, and create support
When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I wanted to know all I could about ADHD but struggled to know where to find answers to my questions.
After I became a coach, I realized that I wanted to make this experience easier for others. Take what you like and leave the rest.
All about ADHD
This article by Joseph M. Carver, Clinical Psychologist, explains ADHD, symptoms, how it feels, some strategies, and will lead to some comfort as you begin to understand ADHD wether you are diagnosed or just curious. Check out his metaphor of being in a rowboat and trying to thread a needle.
What is Executive Function?
You have probably heard that ADHDers are challenged with executive functioning that others are not. This article in ADDitude Magazine helps to explain more about executive function and those associated with ADHD that affect every day life.
Fidgets for Focus
Books
These are some of my favorites and the reasons why I like them. If you're not much of a reader, Audible and Speechify help me get through books I wouldn't otherwise read. Along with late diagnosis, I learned late in life that listening to books works for me.
How to ADHD, An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It) by Jessica McCabe is a "users guide to ADHD". You'll connect with the emotions, facts, strategies and have a better understanding of how your brain works. Jessica has found a way to create a readable book that has me feeling validated and excited to try some new tools. Check out How to ADHD here.
Small talk is my new favorite book for ADHD. This is a married couple who share their experiences with ADHD, the lies we believe, how to overcome them, and normalizes the experiences for everyone showing that what matters more than anything else is the relationship. Even if you're not in a romantic relationship, you'll learn about yourself as an ADHDer or someone who loves them. I highly recommend!
Disorder or Difference? ADHD A Hunter in a Farmer's World helped me to understand that ADHD feels like a disorder in our modern culture, but is more of a natural variation that supports community.
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers. This is the first book I read after my diagnosis when I realized I'm not alone. There are others like me!
ADHD 2.0: This book is readable, concise and clear. Drs. Hallowell and Ratey...offer an arsenal of new strategies and lifestyle hacks for thriving with ADHD and a section on medications.
The Bullet Journal Method: Ryder Carroll wrote this book for frustrated list-makers, overwhelmed multitaskers, and creatives who need some structure.
As a with ADHD himself, Carroll realized he needed something tailored to how he operates.
His method is simple and is the first thing I have stuck with. Take what you like and leave the rest! I don't use all of Ryder's suggestions but keep it simple and use only what I absolutely need. I didn't want to many tasks to get in my way of what does work.
Permission to Proceed helped me to understand what is happening in my brain when I want to get things done and can't get started. It helped me understand what I need to have as a person with an interest-based brain and how to tap into what lights me up. Realizing this is what moves me forward.
Tiny Habits provides a path to getting things done without having to think as much, essentially adding time to my day.
Start so small that you can't not do it. Make it so doable that it feels easy and then set yourself up for success, leading to automatic connections.
Tiny Habits is written for all but is ADHD friendly! I have applied this method to many of my daily tasks, saving my energy for the challenging tasks.
Cats Just Know is a sweet reminder that sometimes the qualities we need most are already within us. Curious, independent, playful, present, and completely themselves, cats seem to know when to rest, when to explore, and when to trust what feels right.
For ADHDers and anyone who has ever felt like they needed to be different, this little book offers moments of encouragement, connection, and a gentle reminder that there is nothing wrong with being wired your own way. Sometimes confidence grows when we stop trying so hard to be who we think we should be and make more room for who we already are.
Getting Organized
I like to organize, but it can be hard to stay organized. These were helpful resources as I began to create ease by finding a home for my things.
Dealing with Clutter? Read this article from ADDitude Magazine around how to let stuff go. Your Decluttering mantra: It's just stuff
What's your organizing style? Take this quick Clutterbug test to find out! You can also take her free master class and receive organizing strategies emails.
Too much stuff is often the culprit for ADHDers who want to get organized but feel overwhelmed with all of their stuff. This documentary on minimalism helps to understand the psychology around stuff and the freedom of less.
Store perishables in the refrigerator door so that you can see them!
Keep your kitchen storage visible with tips from The Practical Kitchen
Support
This first one is magic! Want to get something done and usually do better working with others? Try Focusmate
Getting a coach was one of my best decisions! ADDCA (ADD Coach Academy) Coach Directory
ACO: The ADHD Coaches Organization is the worldwide professional membership organization for ADHD coaches where you will find another directory of coaches to choose from.
ADDA: Find facts, courses, support groups and a professional directory.
ADDitude Magazine is my go-to when I have a question I want answered quickly. The articles are short and have links to more. You'll find everything ADHD including answers to your questions, tests, resources, webinars, and experts.
Subscribe and you get a free ebook on how your ADHD brain works. The book makes it all so clear and the subscription is worth the investment.
ADDitude is also available in print!
Videos
Try Different (The Fish Song): A Metaphor for children and adults!
Late Diagnosis Trauma: This is a great metaphor for how it feels to be diagnosed late
Support Groups
Focused Femmes : A Support Group For Women With ADHD
Beautiful Mayhem: Women with ADHD Casual Chat
ADDA Support Groups are included in your membership!
Learn about your own ADHD
ADDitude Magazine articles about diagnosis and downloadable eBook
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale: ADHD Symptom Checklist
CHAAD: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is the nation's leading nonprofit organization serving people affected by ADHD
Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD: DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD
Inside the ADHD brain, symptoms manifest differently in girls vs. boys, children vs. adults, and within the 3 types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive, and combined.
Here, find ADHD symptom tests for all of the above, plus quizzes for related conditions like ODD, autism, OCD, learning disabilities, rejection sensitive dysphoria, and more. ADDitude Magazine
It is common to be misdiagnosed because doctors are not trained in the signs and symptoms of ADHD
ADDCA:: By truly understanding ADHD, you can discover the special gifts and talents that bring one's uniqueness to light and use them to leverage SUCCESS! Step into The Simply ADHD Course. It will change the way you look at yourself and others!
Understand Your Strengths
VIA Institute on Character: This link to the VIA site will take you to my Professional page where you can take the survey and share it with me, your coach. Or, you can take the survey by signing up for your own account using this link to the VIA Institute on Character. Join the over 15 million people who have taken the only free, scientific survey on character strengths
Strategies for Sleep
Nothing Much Happens: ADHD can lead to a busy mind. Nothing Much Happens gives the active ADHD brain something to think about. It is just interesting enough to keep your attention, and boring enough to allow you to sleep. Give it a good go for a few nights and see what happens! You can find them on Spotify too!
ADDitude Magazine has several articles on ADHD and Sleep
CHADD's website has this article to help understand your sleep differences
Check back often!
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