The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD Can Conquer Chaos, Find Focus, and Get More Done

The title of this review is the author's main message in this book, which is a VERY basic introduction to ADHD in women. It has a LOT of white space and very large print and subtitles; it needn't have taken up as many pages as it did. Also, the incredibly large print makes for awkward situations where anyone sitting near you in public could easily read the book along with you.The organization within chapters is pretty good, easy to follow, but the only chapters I found very useful were the first couple, one on why women with ADHD are always late to things, and one on organizing papers and making to-do lists that emphasized the importance and time-sensitivity of items. Basically, get a lot of clocks and put them all around your house, and actually time your morning routines, such as putting on makeup or showering, so that you can schedule your mornings realistically. One of the big problems women with ADHD have is a sort of time-optimism, thinking more can be done in a certain amount of time than is actually possible.There are a couple chapters on relationships and communication about the unique challenges of ADHD, but there isn't any really groundbreaking information in here. There is a chapter on "sensitivity," which helped to explain why I have always had so much trouble finding comfortable clothing (itchy or uncomfortable clothing is yet another stimulus that demands attention), and one chapter on why shopping can be challenging because there are so many things demanding attention.I managed to read this whole book in one day, starting at 8:30am and ending at 2:30pm. I doubt that I'll read it again other than to refer to the organizing parts, which I easily could have written on a post-it after my first read through, but didn't.One of THE WORST parts about the book, is that the author is CONSTANTLY referring you to visit her website for lists, explanations, tips, and other resources. She mentions her website in every chapter, sometimes multiple times on a page. I understand the need to reference a website when it comes to a list that might be regularly updated, but she could have put a small icon or footnote next to the sentences mentioning such lists instead of saying "visit my website here" every time such things came up. After awhile, the book began to feel like a $15 website advertisement disguised as a book. (See photo)Additionally, her solution for a lot of the problems that women with ADHD face is "hire someone else to do it!" and "hire a counselor to give you advice." Very little advice for women who don't have money to throw at all of their problems or for women who want to learn to take control of their ADHD themselves. Not everyone can afford to have a personal assistant or to contract a professional organizer to remodel a closet.I'd recommend this book as a quick, cursory read for an overview on women in ADHD, but I wouldn't suggest buying it. You'll read it once and put it back on your shelf, so save yourself some money and check it out from the library instead. Additionally, there are online forums for people with ADHD that provide the same quality of personal anecdotes and individual testimony to tips on dealing with ADHD, all without the constant advertisements and money-based solutions.

I ordered this book because I was advised that I might have ADD. After reading this, so many things became clear. It's as if this book was written for me/about me! I had so many questions about myself and why I respond to things the way I do or why I interrupt people when I have no intention of being rude, why I use a blanket in the summer, why I hate uncomfortable clothes or odd fabrics, why I burn food or get distracted easily, why I feel so overwhelmed all the time or why loud noises and bright lights bother me. It explained things that I thought were just my personality flaws and explained that it's normal for someone with ADD. I feel so relieved to know I'm not alone, that I am not strange or depressed. I just have ADD and I'm okay with that. I think of this as my new "Brain Bible". It has so many simple answers for when you're overthinking the problem, or even little things you never put together as being symptoms of ADD. I hope it can help other people like it's helped me, I am so very excited to start my new journey and to embrace my ADD self. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I didn't know much about the disorder, I thought it was just being hyperactive, or part of growing up. I'm 33, so ADD was kind of after my time, they thought of it as being a disorder for male children instead of something that can affect anyone. I found this book informative, entertaining and full of resources. I really would like to thank the author for taking the time to write something so wonderful as this, I got more information about myself in 194 pages than I have in 33 years. I know it will help me, and I hope it's as informative for you as it was for me. I highly suggest this book, it doesn't read like a text book or a medical book, it reads like you're talking to a very cool counselor who really gets you, and maybe has some crayons in her office and a cool bean bag chair.

I loved this book. It was the book that finally made me realize that my ADHD diagnosis was for real. I don't fit the stereotype. I have multiple degrees and have started several companies so I was a bit skeptical. It was Terry's comments and questions peppered throughout this book that made me realize that although I didn't fit the stereotype I sure fit the mold. Comments and questions like these really brought everything home for me: had I overcompensated for my lack of innate tidiness by turning into a perfectionist with OCD tendencies or do I buy everything that promises to help me organize or declutter or why can I no longer cook and get the timing right, why to my husbands horror I cannot go into any store and come out in under an hour even if I know exactly what I'm running into get, or how I hate to answer phone calls or call people back. I never feel like I have enough hours in a day and I know that once I get started I can't get off the phone in under an hour. But most importantly, Terry gave me the information to understand that I'd always had ADHD but I also had enough OCD and anxiety to keep it in check and actually get it to work for me. It was in mid-life that it really went off the rails. In short, it's all about hormones. Thankfully, I was not suffering from early onset dementia or alzheimers as I suspected. In the midst of all the ADHD medical books which I read as well, Terry's book was a very informative, practical, funny account of mid-life ADHD that convinced me that yes, these are my people.

Wow, so many things about myself now finally make sense. Blown away by the clarity in this book. And since the author is ADHD, she doesn't spend pages upon pages with unnecessary examples and explanations. It gets straight to the point.

I love this audio book. I am still working through listening to it. I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD inattentive. I’ve been working on implementing all the strategies I can from this book and it’s really making a big difference in my day to day.

Having just been diagnosed with ADHD, I went in search of books to help me understand what I kind of already knew, but wanted put in words for me. Something I could read and say 'Oh ... that's me ... and that ... and that ...'. This is a solid book that talks of the struggles and offers solutions that aren't just centric to 'get medication and get on with it', because it's not that simple. It never has been. I've now passed this on to family for them to read and, hopefully, understand.

This book is for someone who NEEDS help with simple things such as tips on cleaning with adhd, organizing etc. I found it not very helpful to be honest because I am fully aware on how to clean and stay organized.This just wasn’t the book for me.

I'm 40 years old and was diagnosed ADD when I was 38. As ADD women will understand, my life has always been chaotic. This book has literally saved my day! It's very practical because it gives solutions and recommendations for daily activities that go from doing the laundry to cooking, shopping, going to work, etc.I love it.

So helpful! I wish I hadn’t gotten distracted and lost interest but I keep it for when I need tips! Table of contents helps depending on what I need

Awesome book. I recognized myself throughout the book and I really enjoyed the tone and humor of the author.