ADHD: The End Game
I am a college student with ADHD, and of course I take medications to help me focus. I believe that medications do help a lot, but if you’re anything like me, when you are off the medications you’re a completely different person. Throughout my years of learning I have had many ups and downs with the medications prescribed to me. I have been taking ADHD medications since the second grade. My grades were extremely low, and I was very hyper, I never listened to my teachers. When I was put on medications there was a tremendous increase in my grades. Although as years went by I felt like a freak because my cousins would make fun of me, the medications would calm me down so during family gatherings I would be by myself. When I began to get out of hand everyone would “joke” around saying they should give me my pills. I began to ignore everyone, and I would lose myself in books. As I went into high school my tolerance for the medications began to decrease, therefore, the milligrams would be changing quite often. What I want to know, is how do ADHD medications help students focus and what are their effects?
ADHD medications can have both a positive and negative effect on students, depending on the way they use them and as long as they have good motivation. A research has been done on college students with ADHD by David Rabiner, Arthur D. Anastopoulos, E. Jane Costello, Rick H. Hoyle, and H. Scott Swartzwelder. As well as another study by Claire Advokat, Sean M. Lane, and Chunqiao Luo. According to these two studies, ADHD medications get in the way of learning and students can succeed without them. Apart from those two studies, another was made by Frances Prevatt. According to Prevatt students who have an ADHD coach have a higher chance of succeeding at things. Although these three sources talked about ADHD medications and college students, not all of them talked about their side effects and the misuse.
My reason for doing my own research was because I wanted to see how I acted when I was on and off my medications, as well as how other students in college where because of their medications. I wish to fill the gaps which these sources that I read have by studying myself, a college student and recording my observations. To accomplish this, I came up with a research tool, I planned out what I was going to do word for word. I did a self-study of myself, to see how I work when I am on and off my medications. I thought a self-study would be perfect, it would make my results more accurate. I made four charts to collect my data, they included my personal issues, current emotions and my surroundings:
The chart above was based off of myself, in my English and Biology courses. I observed how I was in class while on my medications and recorded what I noticed. What I noticed was, during my English course I was overall calm, because I was listening to upbeat music, which put me in a good mood, despite being surrounded by a full classroom and two friends and thinking about stressful things. I was still able to do my work. On the same day when I went to my Biology course I noticed I was more relaxed than usual not really thinking of anything. I was focused and not talking to my two friends who were sitting next to me. I was listening to my professor give lecture.
The chart above is based on myself, in my English and Biology courses. I observed how I was while not taking my medications. What I noticed was that, during my English course I was more frustrated because I couldn’t focus. I wasn’t able to focus because I was thinking about a guy, I was also constantly checking my phone instead of paying attention in class. During Biology, I noticed I was sad and annoyed because at the time I was missing my dad. My dad was deported almost two years ago, and I haven’t seen him since. I wanted to pay attention to lecture but I was talking to my friends because they kept me from thinking about my problems.
The chart above is based on myself, outside my English and Biology courses. I observed myself while I was off my medications. What I noticed was that while I was studying at home, surrounded by my mom, I had been feeling “off” and every time someone told me something I disagreed with I would snap at them. I was also not motivated to do any work.
My observations helped me figure out how ADHD medications help students (me) focus and what their effects where. Overall, I noticed that when I was on my ADHD medications I was motivated to do things, and I was in a good mood. However, when I was off my medications I was more angry and frustrated, as well as sad. When I am on my medications my emotions are more controlled.
For college students with ADHD like me, I recommend taking these medications only when needed because in my experience, it has caused severe mood changes and loss of appetite. I have considered trying to get off my medications completely, so I won’t have to depend on them. Again, not everyone is like me, my ADHD is not as bad as others might have it, so this wouldn’t be an option. What might also help is trying out other ways to control the ADHD, not necessarily what I have tried but anything you are comfortable trying. I believe giving anything a shot is better than not even attempting
David Rabiner, Arthur D. Anastopoulos, E. Jane Costello, Rick H. Hoyle, and H. Scott Swartzwelder. Predictors of Nonmedical ADHD Medication Use by College Students, Vol.13 no. 6, May 2010, 640-648.
Claire Advokat, Sean M. Lane, and Chunqiao Luo. College Students With and Without ADHD: Comparison of Self-Report of Medication Usage, Study Habits, and Academic Achievement. Vol. 15 no. 8, 2011, 656-666.
Frances Prevatt. Coaching for College Students with ADHD. Vol. 18 no. 110, October 2016, 1-7.
