My son- College and ADD

[Lisa2You]

My son has had ADD for many years. He was on meds for a bit but then refused to take them saying, "if you take meds, it means something is wrong with you." He started college a few weeks ago and says he's really having a hard time. Does anyone know of a website that supports young adults with ADD? He is thinking about meds again, but I also think that learning some coping skills would help as well. But me telling him is one thing, "hearing" it from someone else is quite another.

Thank you in advance! ~Lisa

[joy]

I want to bump this up for Lisa. I can't sit at the computer lon enough to google anything. I cn hope for success for your son tho'. I do so hope!

[houghchrst]

Hi Lisa I have a 16 yr old son who has ADHD and is Bipolar. Right now he is having an awful time at school and one of my biggest fears is that as he gets older and is on his own he will stop taking his meds. His condition is not one that can be without medication and he knows this.

I think one of the biggest problems with ADD is organization. Staying organized is a tremendous help because otherwise work is lost or forgotten. Classes are missed or late for. I don't know how many times I have found last semester's homework in the bottom of the backpack. It was marked as not done lol. Distractions are many and focus is near impossible. Frustration levels shoot up, then depression because you feel as though you are not doing good enough. Another good thing would be to let the teachers know. That way if he has any trouble they will understand and be patient. Heck half his teachers probably have adult ADD.

He has to remember nothing is wrong with him. He is fine. He just has a little chemical imbalance in his brain. Easy to treat.

I really hope your son does decide to go back to taking meds. If he were to ask everyone he met on the first day he would be amazed at how many others are taking meds for the same thing or should be. Not to mention all those that are going undiagnosed and struggling and then wind up dropping out feeling like failures when a simple diagnosis and treatment would make their lives so much easier.

Your son does not have to have a tattoo on his forehead that says "I am ADD and I take meds ayuck!!" Though having a sense of humor has helped my hubby plenty. Everytime he walks through the house and stops in front of the TV we tease him that his ADD has kicked in lol.

I did find a couple of sites that might be worth looking at for both of you. Hope they help.

good luck to you both.


http://www.addvance.com/help/young_adults/index.html

http://www.add.org/articles/tiptrans.html

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/560.html

[Lisa2You]

Thanks for the bump.

And thanks Christina. I will go check those out now. I was hoping for a site that is geared toward the ADD college student; something that speaks to him directly, rather than "Mom" telling him what to do. The main thing he's struggling with is concentrating. If it's a lecture class, he limps through or gets really frustrated with how slow it goes. He also has an anxiety disorder and a history of depression; but as you said, I think they're all related. Thanks again! ~Lisa