Resources & References

Organizations, books, tools, and the research backing this site.

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Photo by tommao wang on Unsplash

Major ADHD Organizations

These organizations provide evidence-based information, support, and advocacy.

CHADD

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The leading ADHD nonprofit organization in the US. Offers support groups, webinars, annual conference, and extensive resources.

chadd.org

ADDA

Attention Deficit Disorder Association

Focused specifically on adult ADHD. Virtual support groups, webinars, and annual conference.

add.org

ADDitude Magazine

Free online magazine with articles, webinars, and resources for ADHD. Excellent practical advice.

additudemag.com

Books Worth Reading

Understanding ADHD

  • "Driven to Distraction" by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey - Classic book on adult ADHD
  • "Taking Charge of Adult ADHD" by Russell A. Barkley - Evidence-based guide from a leading researcher
  • "ADHD 2.0" by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey - Updated science and strategies
  • "A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD" by Sari Solden and Michelle Frank - Specifically for women

For Relationships

  • "The ADHD Effect on Marriage" by Melissa Orlov - Essential for couples
  • "Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?" by Gina Pera - Understanding ADHD's impact on relationships

For Parents

  • "Taking Charge of ADHD" by Russell A. Barkley - Comprehensive parenting guide
  • "The Explosive Child" by Ross W. Greene - For kids with emotional regulation challenges
  • "Smart but Scattered" by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare - Building executive function skills

Practical Strategies

  • "How to ADHD" by Jessica McCabe - Practical tips from the popular YouTube channel creator
  • "Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD" by Susan C. Pinsky - Specific organizational systems
  • "The Anti-Planner" by Dani Donovan - Creative, ADHD-friendly planning approach

Online Communities

  • Reddit: r/ADHD (discussions), r/ADHDmemes (humor), r/adhdwomen (women-specific)
  • Facebook Groups: Search "ADHD" - many active support communities
  • Discord Servers: ADHD-focused communities for real-time chat
  • How to ADHD: YouTube channel by Jessica McCabe - excellent video content

Helpful Tools and Apps

Time Management

  • Tiimo: Visual daily planner designed for neurodivergent people
  • Focus@Will: Music scientifically designed to improve focus
  • Forest: Gamified focus timer (plant trees by staying focused)
  • Pomodoro timers: Various apps using this technique

Task Management

  • Goblin Tools: Free web tools for task breakdown, tone checking, and more
  • Todoist: Task manager with natural language input
  • Notion: Flexible organization system (if you can resist making it too complex)

Focus and Blocking

  • Freedom: Website and app blocker
  • Cold Turkey: Powerful distraction blocker
  • StayFocusd: Chrome extension limiting time on distracting sites

Body Doubling

  • Focusmate: Virtual coworking with accountability
  • Flow Club: Group body doubling sessions
  • Discord/Zoom study rooms: Many ADHD communities host these

Professional Support

Research References & Citations

All claims on this site are backed by research. Here are the sources:

[1] Song, P., et al. (2021). The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Health, 11, 04009. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.04009
[2] Volkow, N.D., et al. (2009). Evaluating dopamine reward pathway in ADHD: Clinical implications. JAMA, 302(10), 1084-1091. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1308
[3] Rubia, K., et al. (2014). Functional connectivity changes associated with fMRI neurofeedback of right inferior frontal cortex in adolescents with ADHD. NeuroImage, 98, 262-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.04.073
[4] Shaw, P., et al. (2007). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by a delay in cortical maturation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(49), 19649-19654. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0707741104
[5] Barkley, R.A. (2012). Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved. Guilford Press.
[6] Young, S., et al. (2020). Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 404. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02707-9
[7] Faraone, S.V., et al. (2006). The age-dependent decline of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis of follow-up studies. Psychological Medicine, 36(2), 159-165. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329170500471X
[8] Cortese, S., et al. (2012). Toward systems neuroscience of ADHD: a meta-analysis of 55 fMRI studies. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(10), 1038-1055. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11101521
[9] Faraone, S.V., & Larsson, H. (2019). Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 24(4), 562-575. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-018-0070-0
[10] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
[11] Kessler, R.C., et al. (2006). The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4), 716-723. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716
[12] Hupfeld, K.E., et al. (2019). Living "in the zone": Hyperfocus in adult ADHD. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 11(2), 191-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-018-0272-y
[13] Tripp, G., & Wickens, J.R. (2009). Neurobiology of ADHD. Neuropharmacology, 57(7-8), 579-589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.07.026
[14] Biederman, J., et al. (2000). Age-dependent decline of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(5), 816-818. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.5.816
[15] Faraone, S.V., & Buitelaar, J. (2010). Comparing the efficacy of stimulants for ADHD in children and adolescents using meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(4), 353-364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-009-0054-3
[16] Chang, Z., et al. (2014). Medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and risk for depression: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study. Biological Psychiatry, 76(12), 970-975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.05.027
[17] Quinn, P.O., & Madhoo, M. (2014). A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.13r01596
[18] Thapar, A., et al. (2013). What have we learnt about the causes of ADHD? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(1), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02611.x
[19] Barkley, R.A., et al. (2001). The executive functions and self-regulation: An evolutionary neuropsychological perspective. Neuropsychology Review, 11(1), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009085417776
[20] Dodson, W. (2016). Emotional Regulation and Rejection Sensitivity. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders. Presentation at CHADD International Conference.
[21] Ozel-Kizil, E.T., et al. (2016). Hyperfocusing as a dimension of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 59, 351-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.09.016
[22] Mahan, B. (2016). The Wall of Awful. Concept developed for ADHD understanding. Referenced in ADHD coaching literature.
[23] Brown, T.E. (2013). A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults: Executive Function Impairments. Routledge.
[24] Shaw, P., et al. (2014). Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(3), 276-293. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070966
[25] Surman, C.B., et al. (2013). Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation in adults with ADHD. CNS Drugs, 27(4), 265-275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-013-0042-8
[26] White, H.A., & Shah, P. (2011). Creative style and achievement in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(5), 673-677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.12.015
[27] White, H.A., & Shah, P. (2006). Uninhibited imaginations: Creativity in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(6), 1121-1131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.007
[28] Wiklund, J., et al. (2017). ADHD symptoms and entrepreneurial behavior. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(4), 631-656. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12190
[29] Orlov, M. (2010). The ADHD Effect on Marriage. Plantation, FL: Specialty Press.
[30] Barkley, R.A. (2013). Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
[31] Sibley, M.H., et al. (2012). Diagnosing ADHD in adolescence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(1), 139-150. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026577
[32] Spencer, T.J., et al. (2013). Efficacy and safety of mixed amphetamine salts extended release in adults with ADHD. Biological Psychiatry, 74(1), 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.12.015
[33] Wilens, T.E., et al. (2003). Does stimulant therapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder beget later substance abuse? Pediatrics, 111(1), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.111.1.179
[34] Pontifex, M.B., et al. (2013). Exercise improves behavioral, neurocognitive, and scholastic performance in children with ADHD. The Journal of Pediatrics, 162(3), 543-551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.08.036

A Note on Sources

This site prioritizes peer-reviewed research and information from reputable medical organizations. When personal experience is shared, it's clearly distinguished from clinical information.

ADHD research is ongoing. What we know continues to evolve. If you find outdated information or want to suggest additional resources, please see the About page for contact information.