Question for anyone with ADHD

[Cefleeny85]

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I'm a sophomore right now. I have ADHD. Believe me, I know ADHD is overdiagnosed and Aderall/Ritalin is overprescribed. But I'm 99% sure I really do have it. I wasn't just given one of those tests the school counselor gives to kids who are a little antsy. When I was 8 years old, a child psychiatrist who actually teaches at the University of Rochester diagnosed me after several meetings with me.
I'm not really a textbook case though, I've done really well in school, and besides the fact that I still sometimes find it difficult to pay attention when the Adderall has worn off, I think as I've gotten older, my symptoms have either completely gone away (I'm not hyperactive like I was when I was younger) or at least gotten to the point where I can control them on my own.
Also I have never asked for special privileges even though my school offers them to people with documented learning disabilities--I don't want anyone to think college was easier for me because professors were more lax on me or I was given extra time on tests.
Last year was a really easy year for me course load wise. The only science course I took was General chem and Human Biology. I ended getting a 3.84 overall. (I'm a psych major-chem minor...and my stupid advisor never thought to sign me up for general bio at freshmen orientation when I told him I wanted to go to med school...I guess it's my fault for not having researched enough)
This semester has been a different story though. I'm taking 18 credits: Physics, Organic, Biology, labs for all of them, Research methods for Pysc and and honors course in philosophy (the non science courses haven't been a problem). Basically, if there's anyone out there who also has ADHD, and has gotten through the premed courseload successfully, what kinds of things did you do to stay on track and what did you do to study for tests.
Thanks

 

[evajaclynn]

I hear that this website is great: http://www.addforums.com/forums/

Has over 4,000 members and convers tons of topics covering issues important to those with ADD/ADHD or who have friends/family with ADD/ADHD.

Hope that this helps you!

 

[indo]

An ADD forum? How can they ever keep a thread going?

 

[acidhouse303]

i suggest you get a Rx for adderall (highest dosage possible)
then since you are amazing and able to concentrate on school, give me the extra pills. 😀

you seem to be doing fine, a 3.84 is pretty hot
but get a real diagnosis from a shrink then you can get extra time on tests and stuff (if u think it will help)

most frineds of mine w adhd say the pills work great

 

[beep]

Also I have never asked for special privileges even though my school offers them to people with documented learning disabilities--I don't want anyone to think college was easier for me because professors were more lax on me or I was given extra time on tests.
[...]
Basically, if there's anyone out there who also has ADHD, and has gotten through the premed courseload successfully, what kinds of things did you do to stay on track and what did you do to study for tests.
Thanks

I don't have ADHD, but I have worked with many people who do.

First, accommodations for those with learning disabilities (including ADHD) are just that: accommodations. The idea is to level the playing field, not provide "special privlidges". If the accommodation provides an advantage over what nondisabled students have, it is inappropriate and the school's disability office people aren't competant. It is their job to make sure things are fair for disabled students. If your condition is keeping you from having a fair chance to compete with everyone else, it seems only sensible to use accommodations. If you had a broken leg or paralysis you would use crutches or a wheelchair, right? Accommodations like extra time are completely analogous for the people who need them.

Second... Trust me, profs are almost never "lax" with people who have ADHD, at least at my school. They either (appropriately) have the same standards or there is an undercurrent that the student must prove him or herself.

Third, there are lots of laws about confidentiality in disabled student services. No one is allowed to disclose that you are getting services without your permission (even to your professors--though you may need to tell them if you want an accommodation in their classes), and the school can't put that on your transcript. (N.B., though: make sure your recommenders who aren't too ADHD savvy don't write about it if you don't want them to--they may be unfamiliar with the confidentiality rules.)

Soooo... IMHO, it might be to your advantage to explore whether getting services would help you. As much as possible, I would try not to worry about what others think since (a) they often don't have to know and (b) it is your life not theirs. Also, you may find that the service that helps you most is not an accommodation like extra time but getting ADHD-specific coaching on how to study and manage academics. Many schools have a professional or a class to teach this stuff, and/or a support group where you can trade tips with others. If not, they can almost certainly refer you to a professional in the community who specializes in academic coaching for adults with ADHD.

It may also be useful to you to do a google search. I'm not current on what's out there, but I know there are several great resources for people in your situation.

 

[saki0005]

Ever since Felicity Huffman's character on desperate housewives got addicted to her kid's Adderall, I've been seriously thinking I need to get diagnosed with adult ADD or similar.

But seriously, you shouldn't feel that you are undeservingly receiving accomodations for your disability. Your course load is going to be tough. Stay on your meds and let your school's policies work for you.

Best of Luck

 

[Monkey12]

I'm a sophomore right now. I have ADHD. Believe me, I know ADHD is overdiagnosed and Aderall/Ritalin is overprescribed. But I'm 99% sure I really do have it. I wasn't just given one of those tests the school counselor gives to kids who are a little antsy. When I was 8 years old, a child psychiatrist who actually teaches at the University of Rochester diagnosed me after several meetings with me.
I'm not really a textbook case though, I've done really well in school, and besides the fact that I still sometimes find it difficult to pay attention when the Adderall has worn off, I think as I've gotten older, my symptoms have either completely gone away (I'm not hyperactive like I was when I was younger) or at least gotten to the point where I can control them on my own.
Also I have never asked for special privileges even though my school offers them to people with documented learning disabilities--I don't want anyone to think college was easier for me because professors were more lax on me or I was given extra time on tests.
Last year was a really easy year for me course load wise. The only science course I took was General chem and Human Biology. I ended getting a 3.84 overall. (I'm a psych major-chem minor...and my stupid advisor never thought to sign me up for general bio at freshmen orientation when I told him I wanted to go to med school...I guess it's my fault for not having researched enough)
This semester has been a different story though. I'm taking 18 credits: Physics, Organic, Biology, labs for all of them, Research methods for Pysc and and honors course in philosophy (the non science courses haven't been a problem). Basically, if there's anyone out there who also has ADHD, and has gotten through the premed courseload successfully, what kinds of things did you do to stay on track and what did you do to study for tests.
Thanks

That courseload is a load for anyone with or without ADHD maybe spread out some of those courses!

 

[indo]

adult add is a sign of addiction

 

[Truce57]

adult add is a sign of addiction

not to go to bat for any meds I haven't had personal experience with, but there is a non-stimulant drug available for treatment of AADD: atomoxitine (Lilly holds a patent as Strattera). Would alleviate any addiction concerns, were you to want to alleviate them. 🙂