The ADHD-illusion

A Radical Guide for Women Seeking a Better Everyday Life – and How to Get Your Inner Critic to Finally Shut Up (or At Least Quiet Down a Bit)

Despite ADHD being a widely recognised diagnosis, there remains a significant lack of understanding, research, and knowledge about how it manifests in women—even within healthcare. Women with ADHD are held to the same unrealistic societal expectations as all other women, without the leniency often afforded to "quirky men" or "male geniuses." If they fail to conceal their struggles in meeting these expectations, they risk being used as cautionary tales rather than being supported. However, mastering the art of masking their challenges only leads to misunderstandings, perpetual uncertainty, and a new generation of overachieving, burnout-prone young women.

While society struggles to catch up with the complexities of ADHD diagnoses, Ann Söderlund and Fi Lindfors step forward to share their experiences—perhaps for the first time—offering a raw and honest account of what it’s like to feel out of sync with the world. With humour, self-awareness, curiosity, and compassion, they describe life with ADHD: the rollercoaster of feeling unstoppable one moment and utterly lost the next—sometimes multiple times a day. They explore what it means to receive a diagnosis in adulthood and provide a no-nonsense, practical perspective on turning obstacles into opportunities.

Original title: Handbok för kvinnor med (eller utan) ADHD : en radikal guide till en bättre vardag och hur du får din inre kritiker att hålla lite mera käft

Published by: Norstedts, August 2024

Reader reviews:

"Laughing, groaning, and crying all at once. A book well-suited for anyone affected by ADHD—yourself, your child, a friend or partner. I only wish I had read this before going through my own assessment and medical appointments. So many great tips and insights, both before and after receiving a diagnosis. Clearly, I'm not the only one struggling with red balls of yarn. I see this book as a great support in my search to finally hold onto a red thread!"