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.
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).
