Q:  Starting college should be exciting for an 18 year old, but my son is steeped in fear and dread about his January matriculation! He realized that even though his attention has improved since beginning Adderall last winter, he does not have the self discipline to make himself study for any length of time. What can you recommend? We are really quite desperate for help.

A:   Please make sure he works with the college for getting the accommodations and support he needs. Too many students go off to college and stop taking meds and/or don't take advantage of what the school offers them.  (Some estimate the number of college students who stop regularly taking meds may be as high as 70%!)  The school may offer specific study support, for example.  It may also be time for an ADHD coach who can help him feel more secure in his ability to organize himself. I suggest you contact the The Hallowell Centers for coaching (please see additional information below in Coaches Corner) and the Edge Foundation.  Getting a coach set up right away could give him confidence in the transition he is making. 

And, don't just focus on scholastics. Right now you can make sure he knows how to do laundry, has a basic system for keeping his living space neat (bins can help with this), and has a good reminder system (perhaps using his cell phone to set audible reminders of things he needs to do.) 

Q:  I am 57 and love the seasons, however, I noticed that the presence or absence of the sun has a greater effect on me this year. Leaving work at 5:30pm when it's pitch black can't be changed, but what can be done at the office or home during the day?

A: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or "winter depression" is very real - on average 6.1% of the population experiences SAD while another 14.3% experience experience similar, though less marked symptoms (they are "subsyndromal"). A study showed 9.7% of the people in New Hampshire suffered symptoms of SAD while only 1.4% of people in sunny Florida showed similar symptoms. Shorter days with less sunlight in New England can have a significant impact on mood, sleep and energy. Fortunately, there are some very effective solutions. Consider a "Happy Light." There are table top, standing lamps, reading lights and wake-up lights. You can do an internet search to find the right style and price for you.  Click here for an example of a light therapy lamp. In addition, exercise (particularly exercise outdoors) can elevate mood. 

ScienceDaily.com Offers a Digest of the Latest in Research Reports About ADHD. 

Dr. Hallowell: The Importance of Teachers - In his talk to parents and educators, Dr. Hallowell emphasized the role teachers play in the lives of children with ADHD. A helpful hand, extra patience and time, support for parents, and differentiated education can help circumvent a child with ADHD from feeling worthless and possibly self-medicating with drugs or developing other risky behaviors. Read more from the Northshore Education Consortium in Beverly, MA .

The ADHD Effect on Marriage is now available in Audiobook, Nook and Kindle versions -   Awarded the "Best Psychology Book of 2010" by ForeWord Reviews, The ADHD Effect on Marriage is an invaluable resource for adult couples in which one or both of the partners have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The audiobook is especially valuable for those with ADHD who find reading a book to be arduous.

12 Things High School Students with ADHD Want Teachers to Know - This helpful resource for teachers and parents addresses the concerns teens with ADHD have, but may not vocalize. An example is "I work best when I know exactly what you expect from me. I will do best if your expectations are in writing so that I can refer back to them if needed. The more detailed your classroom and class work plan is, the better I will do." This site also has information on helping parents with the Homework Wars. Learn more at healthcentral.com.

Is the ADHD Brain Different in Function and Structure? Neuroscientists report that the brain area responsible for organizing mental activity

in children with ADHD worked much harder and possibly less efficiently than in children without attention problems. Researchers used a functional magnetic imaging scanner to measure 19 affected children and 23 other children while performing simple sequential steps. The findings indicate that the function and the structure of the brain may be different for children with ADHD. This may be why they have more inattentiveness, impulsivity and focus problems and why we believe that those with ADHD are some of the hardest working people we know - you just don't always 'see' all that work. Learn more at the wsj.com.

Gene Variation in Kids with ADHD

Researchers have discovered 4 genes that are different in a subset of 10% of children with ADHD. The genes affect neurotransmitter systems in the brain that have been associated with ADHD. Researchers believe the findings provide a genetic explanation for a subset of children with ADHD. Learn more at this link.

Lonely in Relationship? - What are the characteristics that might indicate that your partner has ADHD. Did he once lavish you with attention, but no longer does? Is she like having another child in the house? Are you always nagging him or her to follow up on tasks? If so, Melissa Orlov suggests some specific steps you can take to start to turn this situation around: 

Why the Shortage of ADHD drugs? - What is the reason for the recent shortage of prescription ADHD drugs? Dr. Hallowell was interviewed by WBUR and asked his opinion. He said he had been told it was due to federal quotas on how much of the drugs can be made. The reporter states that the pharmaceutical companies are blaming the Drug Enforcement Administration, who declines to accept blame. The good news, according to Dr. Hallowell, is that stimulates can often be substituted for other brands, and it is not dangerous to go without your prescription for a few days. Rather, it is uncomfortable, like working without your eyeglasses. Read more at  Commonhealth.wbur.org.     

Strength-based ADHD Coaching Helps College Students Succeed 

College students who have ADHD can benefit from supportive strengths-based coaching. Usually college-age clients are very aware of their weaknesses and not so aware of their unique gifts and talents. As a coach, I make it a point to find out what academic, athletic, musical, artistic and/or social skills my clients have and enjoy. This set of strengths is constantly referred to throughout the coaching engagement in order to bolster the student's self-esteem and help them stay motivated as they work on improving their ability to succeed in the college environment.

The college environment offers many challenges: lack of structure, the seemingly endless amount of time outside of classes and all the new and exciting social activities. ADHD students' propensity to live in the moment make deadlines seem far into the future as subjects for papers swirl in their minds for days and weeks without anything written down. Plus, students stay up late and then are unable to wake up for class, thus missing critical lectures.

I encourage students to set specific goals for their current semester and/or the entire academic year. Academic goals include achieving a specific GPA, earning a particular grade in an individual course, attaining perfect attendance in class, etc. Personal health goals might include eating a certain number of meals a day, taking medications routinely, getting up at set hours, working out a certain number of hours a week, etc. Other goals could include special interests such as recording a CD with their campus band or obtaining a specific internship position.

The next step is coming up with a plan, for today, tomorrow or this week, based on the students input combined with the many improvement strategies recommended by experts and former college students with ADHD. As a coach, I help provide customized approaches based on the student's situation, personal preferences and learning style. The student is then encouraged to try a new behavior, strategy or approach for a defined period of time.

In the next session we review the progress and celebrate the successes and problem-solve the issues. Adaptations to the plan are made jointly so that the student can start implementing the suggestions the very next day.

Supportive and strengths-based coaching can assist ADHD college-age students set goals, better notice long-term consequences, assess the pros and cons of various choices, learn study strategies and establish habits that lead to success. These skills will lead to a smoother transition to college life and help those who falter recover positive momentum.  

If you would like to find out more about ADHD coaching for college-age students please contact Robin Roman Wright at the Sudbury Hallowell Center at (978) 287-0810 or coachrobin@leadershipandcareers.com.