What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or “ADHD,” is a common brain-based disorder that may negatively affect individuals' behavior and attention. Oftentimes, ADHD interferes with daily activities at home, school, work, and with your relationships. Those who have ADHD have higher levels of impulsivity, inattention, and possible hyperactivity compared to their peers. Psychologists and doctors gather findings about how many and what symptoms someone may have, how long they have been happening, and how severe they are. People who are diagnosed with ADHD have multiple symptoms, not just one. People with ADHD are typically creative, bright, and funny individuals who have had to navigate life in a different way, gaining a sense of self-respect along the way.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Utah.
3 Types of ADHD:
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation:
People with the inattentive type of ADHD are easily distracted, have difficulty paying attention to details, often have trouble finishing tasks or organization, following instructions, and often forget routine chores such as returning phone calls or paying bills on time.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation:
Often talking and interrupting others during conversations, inability to sit still, constant fidgeting, making noises that are disruptive to those around them, and grabbing objects from others. People with this type often experience restlessness and are impulsive. Having an impulsive personality trait is challenged with waiting their turn and listening to directions. They are also more likely to have injuries and accidents compared to others.
Combined Presentation:
Characterized by both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity criteria are displayed.
Signs and symptoms of ADHD in college students:
Difficulty paying attention or focusing:
ADHD brains are low naturally on norepinephrine and dopamine, which controls the brain's arousal and attention levels, thus making focus difficult.
Impulsive behaviors:
Intruding or interrupting others, such as interfering in conversations or engaging in risky, reckless, or antisocial activities without contemplating the consequences. Most people with ADHD feel restless, having difficulty sitting still or talking a lot, making it difficult to wait your turn.
Overly active:
It makes it challenging to sit still (fidgeting or squirming) in order to try to release energy.
Excessive daydreaming:
Usually, it is a way to focus on something else that interests you or an escape from reality.
Constant Foot tapping or leg shaking:
This is a sign that you are trying to regulate chemicals in your brain in order to make it easier to focus.
Forgetfulness:
Distractions may prevent you from digesting information, or your brain may store information in a disorganized way. This often happens when you forget where you have put something or essential information/dates.
Losing things a lot:
ADHD brains are unable to focus and pay attention to small details, resulting in quickly forgetting where they may have put something or if the thing they are looking for is in their hand the whole time.
Overly talkative:
Heightened excitement, nervousness, or because they want to be included in the conversation. Many times, people with ADHD talk because they don't like being in silence or need to express themselves.
Difficulty taking turns:
May interrupt others, speak at inappropriate times, take things from people, and struggle to listen to directions and wait for their turn.
Careless mistakes:
Difficulty with following detailed instructions, sustaining attention/focus, and organizing activities and tasks. Continually not finishing tasks and starting new ones often leads to careless mistakes.
Taking unnecessary risks:
Taking risks provides people with ADHD with a rush of dopamine that they are in search of.
Having an altered sense of time:
Those with ADHD find it challenging to keep track of time and are unable to estimate the time needed to complete a task accurately.
Hyperfocus:
People may concentrate on activities that they enjoy more than an assignment because it is challenging to switch from one activity to the next.
Feeling restless and needing to stay active:
You may find yourself fidgeting in your chair or constantly needing to be doing something. (If you are having trouble sleeping, read our blog “9 Tips to Getting Better Sleep.”)
Emotional sensitivity:
Feeling overly sensitive when one receives criticism or rejection affects them more than the average. This may cause them to withdraw from friendships out of fear of being hurt.
Impulsive:
Difficulty holding back what they think or feel about a situation and not properly filtering words they may blurt out.
Dissociation:
Oftentimes, ADHD significantly impacts stress levels. Developmental issues may influence how a person with the disorder responds to stressful life events, which can result in dissociation. Dissociation is when a person feels disconnected from themselves and the world around them. You may feel as if the world around you is not accurate or detached from your body.
What are the challenges faced by students with ADHD in college?
College students with ADHD may show less confidence in their academic ability and often receive lower grades than their peers. Students may feel more distressed with their relationships because of the struggles they face with difficulty regulating and managing their emotions. Because people with ADHD have impaired executive functioning, handling the changes in college, such as less structured time, more responsibilities, increased distractions, and new social situations, may impact students a little more than their peers. Furthermore, students with ADHD may struggle in their classes because of difficulty with starting and completing tasks, studying or memorizing, disorganization, and more. Along with that, difficulty with time management is one of the greatest struggles for students with ADHD. Furthermore, most students with ADHD face significant amounts of anxiety and mood disorders, which is a comorbidity of the disorder. Luckily, therapy can offer guidance with tips and support on how to deal with these attributes. Through treatment, we can address the specific problems you may be struggling with, emphasize your strengths, and then work together to try to find a solution to rehabilitate possible past relationships and counsel for new ones. For additional information about navigating the college transition process, read our recent blog, “College Students Guide to Thriving Through Life Transitions With Insights From Barbie.”
Academic accommodations available for students with ADHD:
Access to professor notes
A scribe in class
Positive reinforcement and feedback
Ability to record lectures for further study
Worksheets and tests with fewer items
Frequent short quizzes instead of long tests
Using technology to assist with tasks
Reduced amount of timed tests
Extra time on tests
Tests that accommodate students with ADHD best, such as orally or filling in blanks
Divide long-term projects into segments
Allowing breaks or time to move around
Changes to the environment to limit distractions
Extra assistance with staying organized
Assign a completion goal for each segment
Communicate directions and expectations clearly and often
Tips for succeeding in college with ADHD:
Attend class
Be proactive
Use a calendar
Sleep
Apply for accommodations
Create and practice a routine
Avoid online classes
Plan to study during the hours when your stimulant is most effective if on medication.
Choose classes and a major that interests you; this will increase your motivation to do work.
Divide time between competing activities/assignments. (If you are interested in learning about why taking breaks is beneficial, read our blog “How Taking Breaks Can Help Your Mental Health.”)
Be open to opportunities to meet people
Participate in clubs and extracurricular activities
Be realistic with goals and expectations
Try to get exercise regularly.
Set limits on your spending.
Utilize your school's resources, such as study groups, writing centers, and/or tutors.
How ADHD may be affecting your relationships:
For most people with ADHD, it is common to zone out of conversations or forget things; as a result, this can make friends or your partner feel underappreciated and ignored. Furthermore, having difficulty trying to remember important information or agreeing mindlessly to something that you won't remember in the future often frustrates your partner or friends. Along with forgetfulness, it is normal for an individual with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to disregard how frequently they prioritize and pay attention to their partner as well as validate the things that are important to them. Although this may result in the partner with this disorder feeling a lack of confidence in themselves and their relationship, it also affects their ability to establish and sustain future and current relationships.
Treatments for ADHD:
There are many treatments available, and finding the proper treatment for you is essential to receive optimal support. The standard treatments for ADHD in college students and adults generally consist of education, medication, psychological counseling, and skills training. It has been proven that a combination of these different treatments is most effective. Although these various forms of treatment may help manage and assist a great deal of symptoms, ADHD can not be cured because it is a neurological disorder.
All forms of treatment are different, and some may work for you but not for others; each person is different and has different needs. However, stimulants are the most widely used and best-known treatment for ADHD. The typical licensed medication that may be administered to ADHD patients who go the medicine route may include lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine, methylphenidate, atomoxetine, and guanfacine. Although most of these medications are taken on a daily basis, you can choose just to take them when you feel you need them, such as only on school days, then skip them on weekends. Along with being prescribed, these medications come with regular check-ups to ensure these medications are effectively working and assess for any possible side effects that may be occurring.
Along with medications, research has shown that diet can play a significant role in what they are eating, worsening their ADHD symptoms. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and taking supplements such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may also help. Once again, everyone is different and has different symptoms. Still, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and taking adequate steps to improve your diet may improve symptoms you may be battling with, such as inattention. It is recommended to consult with a medical doctor before taking any medication, supplements or changing your diet.
Common mental health issues college students may have along with ADHD:
College students may experience an inability to maintain focus, uncontrollable worry, inability to sustain focus, isolation from friends, family, and peers, and/or patterns of negative thoughts.
College students are at an increased risk of depression due to constant comparison, drug or alcohol use, poor academic performance and life satisfaction, social support, and life stressors.
College students experience excessive levels of stress associated with social life, family concerns, academic performance, and more. As a result, people may resort to substances in an attempt to manage or cope with unpleasant or negative feelings.
Bipolar Disorder:
Students with bipolar disorder experience mood changes that are more extreme and unprovoked, contributing to changes in energy levels, sleep, and the capability to think thoroughly.
A student who is dealing with this disorder faces challenges with memory issues, problems with problem-solving, and difficulty concentrating.
Eating Disorders:
Factors include body image and dieting, social media, anxiety, stress, or the fear of the ‘freshman 15’.
How therapy can help a college student with ADHD:
Therapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can lend assistance to the symptoms and make the disorder a lesser obstacle in your standard day-to-day life. A psychological treatment called Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented, short-term form of psychotherapy that targets altering negative thinking patterns and encourages improvement in thoughts of the patient's self, future, and abilities. CBT has been shown to improve executive functions and reduce symptoms of inattention in college students. For more information on CBT for ADHD, check out our blog “CBT for Adult ADHD.”
Furthermore, behavior therapy is a treatment option that can benefit a decrease in undesired behaviors such as the inability to pay attention, stay still, etc. The objective behind behavior therapy is to strengthen or learn positive behaviors and terminate undesirable behaviors. Although behavior therapy has shown a lot of positive reviews and has worked for many, it is exceedingly more helpful to start this form of therapy while school-age/adolescents or directly after diagnosis. To learn more about ADHD and parenting tips for children with ADHD, check out our blog “Parenting a Child with ADHD”.
Therapy approaches directed toward attention deficit disorder present ideas and activities that center around generating skills that each person needs. A common therapy objective is illuminating social skills to assist people with how to prosper in relationships with others and identify possible issues that may be presented while in a social setting. In addition, research has suggested that adults and students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who utilize a treatment plan that incorporates cognitive behavior therapy and medication have more manageable symptoms in comparison to individuals who only use stimulant medications. Each person with ADHD is different and may present itself differently in your life than it does to others. Knowing you do not have to go through this alone is essential. At Anchor Therapy, we have therapists who can assist you with techniques and strategies to help address issues you may be experiencing and how to advance in college and adulthood.
Addison Selzer
is an Intern at Anchor Therapy. She is an undergraduate student at the University of Delaware studying Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Clinical Services. Upon graduating undergrad, she is looking to pursue a graduate and doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology with the goal of becoming a therapist.
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