ADHD and College: Transitions and Catastrophe

The Road of Life, Marie Rose Valentine via Flickr

ADHD Does Not Respond Well To Change

– Much learning does not teach understanding.

– No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.

Heraclitus, Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher ~ 400BCE

I've been writing about this ADHD challenge for years now, – but with summer fun looming, with that senior year in high school in the dust of memory, it bears repeating big time:

ADHD Symptoms Arise in Context – especially in the Context of Change.
Beware Graduates: ADHD doesn't exist as symptoms present 24X7, as some path dependent academics [thinking only of hyperactive 6 yr olds] would have you believe.  ADHD appears, after the prefrontal cortex grows just a bit to help with some inhibition, predominantly in the context of changing reality: 1. increased variables [e.g too much to do], 2. decreased structure [e.g. no specific rules], 3. absent a stimulating, interesting, attention getting focus [e.g.video games].

The support of home, the structure of family, the familiarity of the teachers at the high school, the geography of place – all of these known variables change with that new college experience – unless they are staying at home. And those with ADHD who may be well adjusted, may be the Valedictorian of the senior class – often hit that first wall of changing reality in college. Heraclitus hit the mark, even academics may have the learning, but if they don't understand ADHD context they will miss this diagnosis, and treat incorrectly.

Good News
I'm happy to report a rather quick and positive outcome, dear readers, to this recognition of reaction to change, and the successful treatment of our guy in the Ivy League school noted in the CinchCast below. He turned around well [best year academically at college], will be going to Australia for about 6 mos for the next steps in his education, and we will follow him by Skype over there, until he returns.

For Review
This is the original audio report from my CorePsych Office Notes CinchCast: March 30, '11 Depression and College Disappointments

Good way for him to start the summer. If you have some concerns about college, now is the time to address the ADHD issues.
cp

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