ADHD in adolescent girls & women

[ana futura]

You know, thinking about it, both masculine and feminine gender presentation take a lot of effort. It takes a lot of work to be a proper woman, but it takes a lot of effort to come across as a really masculine guy as well. You have to be good at "guy" stuff, work out, have a good job, be all suave with the ladies. I bet people with ADHD tend to avoid over the top gender presentation either way, too much work and it's all for what? So you can look like you're supposed to look? Snore!

[ChangelingGirl]

I read the case report in the article, and it fits me to some extent. I wonder how much of it for me is executive dysfunction that could be due to Asperge'rs (which I have been diagnosed with). I see how this woman in the article is clearly not Asperger's, but there is overlap in getting overwhelmed, disorganization, always taking longer ot complete tasks, etc. I also have hte depressive and anxiety symptoms, but these are not ADD-specific bu tmore indicative of a neurodevelopmental disorder in general if they are related ot overload etc.

[scrambled86]

hey, sorry if I'm being dumb but I can't figure out how to read the actual article itself - all I see is the abstract...any help gratefully received..thanks!

[Zevispaz]

Yeah, I was very much the stereotypical hyper off the wall child. My 4th grade teacher demanded I get tested for adhd, but for some reason the doctor did an IQ test instead and it was ruled out since my IQ was too high. O_o; The poor teacher was stuck with with me being hyper and unmedicated.

I did get good grades though in everything except math.

But I didn't learn to internalize stress until I got older and decided acting out and doing self destructive behaviors was not in my best interest. So, I didn't really get any anxiety until I was an adult.

[spacytabs]

Originally Posted by scrambled86

hey, sorry if I'm being dumb but I can't figure out how to read the actual article itself - all I see is the abstract...any help gratefully received..thanks!

I couldn't figure it out at first either! Click on the PDF attachement at the bottom of the original post.

[spacytabs]

Girly-girl here! I loved, loved playing with Barbies as a kid, and I love clothes and fashion now. However, it takes me forever to get ready in the morning. All those decisions to make--what to wear, how to accessorize, what shoes. And I have the type of hair that has to be blown dry to look good. And I can't leave the house without mascara and eyeliner. Gawd! It's exhausting.

[scrambled86]

Originally Posted by spacytabs

I couldn't figure it out at first either! Click on the PDF attachement at the bottom of the original post.

Ahhh...totally didn't see that!! Thanks! Though it says I don't have priviledges to access the link...guessing it's because I've only just registered.

[ginniebean]

Originally Posted by peripatetic

uh, not saying their book isn't great, having not read it, but where's the disconnect there?!?! how can you set those of us with ADHD up for failure, or be so unattainable/difficult to reach and...that just smacks of really missing how some pretty widespread deficits play out in practice.

My exact thoughts, and it suggests to me that there is a particular set of people with adhd that they are drawing from.

[DvlsAdv0c8]

Originally Posted by Zevispaz

Yeah, I was very much the stereotypical hyper off the wall child. My 4th grade teacher demanded I get tested for adhd, but for some reason the doctor did an IQ test instead and it was ruled out since my IQ was too high. O_o; The poor teacher was stuck with with me being hyper and unmedicated.

I did get good grades though in everything except math.

But I didn't learn to internalize stress until I got older and decided acting out and doing self destructive behaviors was not in my best interest. So, I didn't really get any anxiety until I was an adult.

That's funny. I always did great in everything except math, and once I got IQ tested that was the end of any speculation that I had a problem. My mom told me when I was about 9 that my IQ was at least 130 and that meant I needed to try harder to work up to that potential. How many times have we heard that?

I had to go to summer school for calculus because it was a required course that somehow didn't make it into my regular schedule (I was lucky enough to never have to take home ec, too!), but ended up graduating with extra credit and an A average because of the summer school class. I always did well in school regardless of my fidgety-ness and random punching of classmates.

Unfortunately, I never decided the self-destructive behaviors were not in my best interest. At least, not all of them.

[DvlsAdv0c8]

Originally Posted by Assumption

Haha, yeah, it was an anglican private prep school though. So maybe that's why they had a problem with it (Snap quiz: which of the following is a commandment: a) don't pee on trees, b) don't rape people and c) don't work Sundays?).

Sorry, I gotta go with a) don't pee on trees!

[DvlsAdv0c8]

Originally Posted by spacytabs

... it takes me forever to get ready in the morning. All those decisions to make--what to wear, how to accessorize, what shoes. And I have the type of hair that has to be blown dry to look good. And I can't leave the house without mascara and eyeliner. Gawd! It's exhausting.

Please don't take this wrong, but...why? My former best friend was the same way...she used to throw up on a regular basis because of all the stress of this "self-maintenance"...just doesn't seem worth it to me. She was such a great person on the inside, but so worried about the outside! That's what ruined the friendship...

[Zevispaz]

Originally Posted by DvlsAdv0c8

That's funny. I always did great in everything except math, and once I got IQ tested that was the end of any speculation that I had a problem. My mom told me when I was about 9 that my IQ was at least 130 and that meant I needed to try harder to work up to that potential. How many times have we heard that?

I had to go to summer school for calculus because it was a required course that somehow didn't make it into my regular schedule (I was lucky enough to never have to take home ec, too!), but ended up graduating with extra credit and an A average because of the summer school class. I always did well in school regardless of my fidgety-ness and random punching of classmates.

Unfortunately, I never decided the self-destructive behaviors were not in my best interest. At least, not all of them.

LOL I don't know if my IQ was anything great. It was probably like 108 or something like that. I have no clue how to find out my "real" IQ now because I know how IQ tests work and how to cheat them to make it look higher. They grade speed x accuracy, so the faster you go (aka, the "faster" you learn) the higher your score. Normally gut instinct is correct, and if it's not any random answer is alright as long as you keep the speed part of the equation up high enough. I did that to my bro just to **** him off because his IQ is legitimately 142, I cheated and rushed through it and got 148. I showed him the score and was like "Ha! I'm a genius!", he took it in stride though and when I told him how I got the score he was just like "You ARE a genius"

But yeah, I barely got past high school algebra. It's a good thing I'm an outside the box thinker and fast hands on learner that companies look for because I'm definitely not a "book smart" type of person.

I think I got out of home ec class by taking a first aid and CPR course instead.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by Zevispaz

I have no clue how to find out my "real" IQ now because I know how IQ tests work and how to cheat them to make it look higher. They grade speed x accuracy, so the faster you go (aka, the "faster" you learn) the higher your score.

You should take the WAIS, as processing speed and working memory are graded seperately. I'm not positive, but I don't think your tactic will work with it. Do you remember what test you took?

[crystal8080]

Can't read all the posts today. But I was also tomboy-ish. I have never been able to get along with women unless they too do not get along with women!

Never into Barbies. I hated when my friend wanted to play with them. Hated playing house. Didn't hate dresses exactly, but didn't love them either. My daughter is a five year old girly girl and I have no idea what to do with her. I send her to her dad, they go shopping.

I loved horses. Huge fan of horses I drew a million gazillion pictures of them and had papers all over the house. I guess that's girly.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by crystal8080

I have never been able to get along with women unless they too do not get along with women!

That's an interesting way of putting it. I don't really choose friends along gender lines, I've always had both male and female friends, and as an adult I tend to have more female friends, although this is by accident I think.

I might expand your statement by replacing "women" with "people", but I'm sort of an accidental misanthrope. I don't actively dislike people, but it's not easy for me to be close friends with most people. I can get along with anyone for 10 minutes, but sustained relationships are hard. I tend to gravitate towards people who share my sense of humor. Not just any sense of humor, MY sense of humor. If you get me in that way, and I get you, then usually we'll get along. Every time I've had major issues with people at work (and I have issues with both men and women) I've found that in addition to whatever work nonsense was coming between us, we didn't get each other's humor.

I do have some real girly girl friends, but they have absolutely wicked wit.