DD home from college; thinks she has ADHD

[Anonymous]

I could have written this post, but I would add that her two younger siblings and I both have ADHD. When she did her neuropsych evaluation, she was diagnosed with anxiety and mild depression. I did not know anything about ADHD until years later when a therapist suggested I have my son tested. Only when I started to read about ADHD did I start to recognize the behaviors in my children and myself. When my oldest did her neuro-psych, I thought ADHD was just hyperactive boys. My son is the opposite of hyperactive--he has inattentive ADHD. I never recognized the symptoms in him. I'm not sure my daughter has ADHD; she could just have bad executive functioning skills. At the same time, I think back on my life and how an ADHD diagnosis would have changed my life in many ways. I'm not on medication, but just being aware of it has been very helpful. So, I'm also trying to decide what to do. I really don't want to pay $3000+ (again) to have her re-tested but I don't want to make sure she gets an accurate diagnosis. I also know that those appointments take forever to get and will be hard to schedule while she is away at school.

[Anonymous]

A comprehensive neuropsych exam at 16 would have found it even if op didn’t mention it at time. My guess is the daughter is just overwhelmed with college and looking for an excuse. It’s actually quite normal for neurotypical kids to struggle first semester, especially with this COVID cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A comprehensive neuropsych exam at 16 would have found it even if op didn’t mention it at time. My guess is the daughter is just overwhelmed with college and looking for an excuse. It’s actually quite normal for neurotypical kids to struggle first semester, especially with this COVID cohort.

Addiing thar fact that she is taking weed out premed classes makes it even more likely this is an adjustment to college adjustment issue and not adhd.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't you consider it? I have ADD and I only was diagnosed in my 40s. It was a long road and I wish I had known in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A comprehensive neuropsych exam at 16 would have found it even if op didn’t mention it at time. My guess is the daughter is just overwhelmed with college and looking for an excuse. It’s actually quite normal for neurotypical kids to struggle first semester, especially with this COVID cohort.

Addiing thar fact that she is taking weed out premed classes makes it even more likely this is an adjustment to college adjustment issue and not adhd.

+1 It seems unlikely that the neuropsychological evaluation at 16 wouldn't have revealed ADHD. She's either struggling because she's never had to study this hard before and/or hoping for stimulant medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“So you think you might have ADHD. What is it that you want to see happen?”

Too often, you hear these pronouncements, but there’s no ask. Meanwhile, you’re jumping to try to solve something without knowing when you might even get close to a solution.

What is your dd expecting to see happen as a result of her self-diagnosis? Make her name it. Then you can figure out what’s possible and what you’re willing to do. What you don’t need to do is argue with her about whether her claim is valid or not.

Adderall. She wants Adderall.

100%

Exactly. She wants the drugs. Probably because everyone else has them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“So you think you might have ADHD. What is it that you want to see happen?”

Too often, you hear these pronouncements, but there’s no ask. Meanwhile, you’re jumping to try to solve something without knowing when you might even get close to a solution.

What is your dd expecting to see happen as a result of her self-diagnosis? Make her name it. Then you can figure out what’s possible and what you’re willing to do. What you don’t need to do is argue with her about whether her claim is valid or not.

Adderall. She wants Adderall.

100%

Exactly. She wants the drugs. Probably because everyone else has them.

More likely she is a kid looking for a solution to a problem because she is struggling.

OP, is she is contact with her current psychiatrist? I think she should start with them. Depression and anxiety can greatly affect cognition, as can medicine one takes for depression, as can lots of other things that happen to college students (lack of sleep, lack of exercise, stress, etc.). It's not surprising that she has landed on ADHD as a potential cause, but she should really speak to a doctor about it. I think the logical place to start is her psychiatrist (assuming she likes them and she feels they listen to her concerns).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“So you think you might have ADHD. What is it that you want to see happen?”

Too often, you hear these pronouncements, but there’s no ask. Meanwhile, you’re jumping to try to solve something without knowing when you might even get close to a solution.

What is your dd expecting to see happen as a result of her self-diagnosis? Make her name it. Then you can figure out what’s possible and what you’re willing to do. What you don’t need to do is argue with her about whether her claim is valid or not.

Adderall. She wants Adderall.

100%

Exactly. She wants the drugs. Probably because everyone else has them.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“So you think you might have ADHD. What is it that you want to see happen?”

Too often, you hear these pronouncements, but there’s no ask. Meanwhile, you’re jumping to try to solve something without knowing when you might even get close to a solution.

What is your dd expecting to see happen as a result of her self-diagnosis? Make her name it. Then you can figure out what’s possible and what you’re willing to do. What you don’t need to do is argue with her about whether her claim is valid or not.

Adderall. She wants Adderall.

100%

yes. All her friends are speeding and she wants to go fast.

[Anonymous]

she likely wants a stimulant. they are super popular. i was on ritalin in college (from age 13 to 25) and everyone wanted my pills.

They allow neurotypical people to work at the speed of light. If you actually have ADHD they calm the mental frenzy down.

[Anonymous]

She tried someone's Adderall and felt like a superhero so she wants it. She will get it with or without your help. But word to the wise, when she comes home in a few months 20 pounds lighter try not to gush over how great she looks or you will be making things ten times worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“So you think you might have ADHD. What is it that you want to see happen?”

Too often, you hear these pronouncements, but there’s no ask. Meanwhile, you’re jumping to try to solve something without knowing when you might even get close to a solution.

What is your dd expecting to see happen as a result of her self-diagnosis? Make her name it. Then you can figure out what’s possible and what you’re willing to do. What you don’t need to do is argue with her about whether her claim is valid or not.

Adderall. She wants Adderall.

100%

Exactly. She wants the drugs. Probably because everyone else has them.

More likely she is a kid looking for a solution to a problem because she is struggling.

OP, is she is contact with her current psychiatrist? I think she should start with them. Depression and anxiety can greatly affect cognition, as can medicine one takes for depression, as can lots of other things that happen to college students (lack of sleep, lack of exercise, stress, etc.). It's not surprising that she has landed on ADHD as a potential cause, but she should really speak to a doctor about it. I think the logical place to start is her psychiatrist (assuming she likes them and she feels they listen to her concerns).

Yes. But perhaps her struggling could best be addressed with a few sessions with a tutor, or a little more time in the library, versus taking drugs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with ADHD and a DD with ADHD, I doubt she has ADHD. I can’t tell you how obvious it is in people that truly need medication. It was obvious in my kid as a toddler. If she does have ADH, which again doubtful, it is very mild. She is just having trouble studying and wants adderall to make it easier. These stimulants are not to be taken lightly. Please google the impact it has on the cardiovascular system and things like sleep and appetite.

I have a DD with ADHD and it was not obvious. She compensated until she had a breakdown and her self esteem and confidence were damaged.

OP, if your pediatrician won’t prescribe without a diagnosis, see a psychiatrist out of pocket to start right away. We did the full evaluation that took five months and $3,000 and all it did was waste valuable time in high school.

Both ADHD and ASD are likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed for girls.
https://psychcentral.com/adhd/girls-with-adhd#symptoms

OP’s DD had a neuropsych 2 years ago that didn’t find ADHD. There are quantifiable tests like the TOVA that are part of neuropsychs that measure attention. Diagnosing ADHD is more than answering a questionnaire and telling the tester “I’m having trouble keeping up with my homework now that I’m at college therefore I must have ADHD.”

[Anonymous]

Some of my college classes were so hard and it was the first time I had to constantly study and then still earn Ds or Fs in the advanced science and math classes. Maybe she’s experiencing this.

I’m prone to procrastinating and highly distracted but don’t think I have ADHD. It’s doubtful your daughter does. It would have been picked up in the eval.

Suggest drinking massive amounts of coffee and see if that calms her down and helps her focus. I agree with the others, she’s looking for meds.

[Anonymous]

There are way too many people self diagnosing themselves when they don’t do well. If she was tested and not found to have it then she doesn’t have it.

College textbooks can be so boring that it’s hard for anyone to focus on it. Sometimes students have to adjust their schedules so they can do better.

I remember one class I had was about South American history in the 20th century. The professor was monotone and would just ramble on throwing out so many names and dates and countries. I still can hear him drone on in my nightmares.

And I was not in a top 25 college. I can only imagine how much work those take. Many fall into drugs to help them cope.