Teens with ADHD

Nitty-Gritty Advice from Teens with ADHD

Teens with attention deficit who have been there, done that, offer their best tips for making a successful charge into adulthood.

ADHD Teen girls reward themselves by polishing each other's nails
ADHD Teen girls reward themselves by polishing each other's nails

Accept help with college application forms. Although I hate to admit it, I had to ask for help with the paperwork for college. Finally, I gave my parents permission to fill out the forms. I signed them and then my parents mailed them for me.
Alex, a young adult, looking back on his teen years

Participate in your Individualized Education Plan (IEP). I’m always very active in my IEP meetings and tell my teachers what I need. Because of the support provided through my IEP, I’m becoming more self-sufficient.
Erik, 18

Curb your spending. Don’t carry your credit card in your wallet. Leave it at home in a safe place so you can’t buy anything impulsively.
Alex

[How to Motivate a Teenager with ADHD]

Reward yourself. For example, after I’ve finished my homework, I allow myself to go to a movie or talk on the phone.
Kati, 14

Don’t ever start smoking. Especially don’t let your friends talk you into it. If I could do it over again, I never would have started because it’s so hard to quit.
Alex

Don’t let ADHD get you down. At first I was really angry about having ADHD. I hated having to take the medication, yet I knew I needed it to do well in school. My advice is, “Don’t let ADHD get you down. Believe in yourself!”
Amelia, 18

Quotes reprinted with permission from A Bird’s-Eye View of Life with ADD and ADHD, by Chris Zeigler Dendy and Alex Zeigler (Cherish the Children).