Re: ADHD and College

[Anonymous]

Age – 52 1/2

Back for further higher education: 2002-present (2011)

Distance Education (Online) Graduate Student Studies – Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Educational Technology, Adult Education

Campus based graduate work in: Microbiology, Electron Microscopy, Gross Anatomy, Public Health Pests

Original diagnosis of ADHD – Elementary School

ADHD Treatment – Ritalin to age <14

ADHD Treatment between ages 14-51 – none – had thought/hoped to have outgrown ADHD

Nov 2009 – diagnosed with Adult ADHD – prior to this date failed to/chosen not to recognize the signs (more recently) – basically in denial – had trouble completing assignments on time recently in my graduate studies and lost points on my work as I left it late hoping the adrenaline rush would pull me through – that worked less as time progressed – started treatment on Vyvanse 30mg once a day – noted immediate improvement. Now on Vyvanse 50mg once a day and will be looking to increase this. Medication is an important part of ADHD treatment as it improves one’s focus. Please note I am not giving health care advice here nor am I responsible for what others do with what I have said about medications. I am just relating my own experience and what has worked for me. One should decide these issues with one’s health care provider. You will though want to find one that is well versed in Adult ADHD.

Took General and Biology GRE in December 2003. Used GRE review books which I had purchased. Check to see if your local public library has online GRE reviews available (“Learn a Test”) or if your educational institution offers GRE review courses. Some GRE review courses are very expensive. Check with student disability services at your educational institution to see if they can advise on GRE courses and ask them about time extensions for the GRE for those with ADHD, also ask the people that administer the GRE. Last I knew there were still paper based and computer based testing. I took the computer based testing. I knew I had a disability but did not realize ADHD was considered a disability warranting special services at educational institutions. I now have a document from student disability services that I e-mail to each of my faculty instructors. When you get such a document e-mail it to your faculty right away.

I highly recommend the book “The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents” (2008) by Nancy Ratey. Our local public library has copies of it. She is an ADHD coach and has ADHD herself. Her husband is John Ratey, MD who writes on ADHD. The public library has many books on ADHD. I would look for the ones with the most recent publication years. Also look in your local four year and community college libraries for books on ADHD. There are many aspects to think about with ADHD i.e. how it affects your studies and your relationships be they with spouse, kids, friends etc. Since late Dec 2010 early Jan 2011 I have committed to reading as much as I can about ADHD and how it affects all areas of one’s life. I have been married 26 years and have 3 kids. Until I started reading more about ADHD I wasn’t aware how many of my behaviors were affected by ADHD such as procrastination, staying focused, getting started on school work, and many others. Now I have a better understanding of why. Other authors I recommend for books on ADHD are Gina Pera, Kate Kelly, Peggy Ramundo, Melissa Orlov (her book is “The ADHD Effect of Marriage”), “Finding Your Focus” (2006) by Judith Greenbaum & Geraldine Markel.

ADHD Resources I have read or am currently reading

Orlov, Melissa. (2010). The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps. Plantation, FL: Specialty Press

Ratey, Nancy A. (2008). The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents. New York: St. Martin’s Press. (Excellent source of ideas of what you can do to minimize the impact of your ADHD on your life)

Pera, Gina. (2008). Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.: Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder. San Francisco:1201 Alarm Press. (Gives lots of information about ADHD and how it affects others and what others have done to cope with it. Knowing how ADHD affects others can help someone with ADHD understand themself better and take some action to minimize the impact of ADHD on others and self)

Greenbaum, Judith & Markel, Geraldine. (2006). Finding Your Focus: Practical Strategies for the Everyday Challenges Facing Adults with ADD: 6 Critical Tools for Getting Organized. New York: McGraw-Hill. (Good book with info on how to minimize the impact of ADHD on one’s life)

Kelly, Kate & Ramundo, Peggy. (2006). You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! New York: Scribner. (Excellent all around book, as is the book by Gina Pera, listed above) Note Gina Pera will be speaking on the Webinar in February at http://totallyadd.com look for the link to the Webinar. You can also view an archive of it if you miss it.

Hope you find the information above helpful. With a better understanding of ADHD you can succeed and minimize the impact of ADHD on your life but it takes hard work. I have been a member of three academic honor societies. People with ADHD can do great things. Be encouraged! ADHDers see the world very differently and we make connections that others fail to make.

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