College can seem like a vast and scary bureaucratic maze, and for the thousands of students living with ADHD, it can be exceedingly difficult to reach out for help. But although it isn't publicized much, there is a lot of support available to college students with ADHD. The growing body of research helps us understand the lives of those living with ADHD--that it is no walk in the park.

To understand ADHD, we have to look at working memory, which is a group of cognitive mechanisms that organizes and processes immediate stimuli and memory retrieval. ADHD is looked at in psychology as a disorder of the Central Executive, which is the cognitive mechanism that is essential to the functioning of working memory. Being commonly associated with the prefrontal cortex, it's no surprise the Central Executive is associated with functions of planning, purposeful action, attention, and information processing.

It's hard being a student with ADHD. College is one of the most stressful, scary, and self-reliant times in a young person's growth, and research suggests the conditions of ADHD are particularly disadvantageous. In one study, three factors that were most influential of perceived quality of life of participants with ADHD were 1) a positive emotional climate, 2) activities, and 3) organization.

Consequently, "families with children with ADHD tend to be characterized by conflict and a more negative emotional climate." Additionally, "college students with ADHD reported a lower quality of life... and significantly poorer parent-child relationships, had less success in personal growth, had less interest and involvement in political behavior, and experienced less material and physical well-being." The things most important to the perceived life quality of individuals with ADHD are the very disadvantages of their condition.

It is not suggested, however, that college is not suitable for individuals with ADHD. Individuals with ADHD are exceptional learners, and plenty of programs and options are available on campus to help these individuals reach their potential. However, not any one treatment works for everyone.

First of all, if affordable healthcare is the concern, it's important to know that "students with ADHD continue to be entitled to educational support services under The Americans with Disabilities Act, and, according to Gordon and Keiser [1998] increasing numbers of college students with ADHD are seeking these special accommodations." Popular healthcare options include mindfulness support programs, counseling programs, and medication.

I find the mindfulness approach particularly interesting. "Mindfulness is a type of meditative technique that emphasizes an observant and nonreactive stance toward one’s thoughts, emotions, and body states." Research on mindfulness has proven its general applicability, especially with conditions like depression and anxiety. Anxiety is a common symptom of ADHD. Mindfulness programs are often about 8 weeks long, and stress that participants integrate mindfulness practices into their lives to uphold its benefits. One trial showed "significant pre- to post test improvements in ADHD self-reported symptoms and performance on several neurocognitive tasks."

Counseling programs are another hands-on approach to aiding individuals with ADHD. These are often goal-based counseling programs that are designed to help the individual stay organized and on-track with daily, weekly and monthly goals, and have proven to be effective. A 21-year-old female with ADHD who undertook a semester-long counseling program showed promising results: she and her counselor had short and long term goals, including time management, concentration in the classroom, and procrastination. The young lady reportedly "showed improvement in 8 of the 9 goal areas [...] (and) statistically significant increases in GPA were obtained that were maintained into the following semester."

Then, of course, there's pharmacological treatment, the most popular and most effective of the three. With apt controversy, culture has started to move away from stimulant medications recently. Controversy is especially high with the significant amount of recreational and unprescribed abuse of these drugs by college students. Some might ask why it would be bad to use the drug if it helps, but "there is no virtue in being blind when you have good eyes," which to be clear, addresses those not diagnosed with ADHD abusing its medication. That being said, there are also non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine that have been found to significantly reduce ADHD symptoms in adults.

When looking for healthcare options in college, just remember that your university is there to help you find the information and treatment you need. Don't be afraid to ask about the Americans with Disabilities Act--it doesn't make you lesser than your peers. Always remember that the stigma against mental health disorders is weightless, and that your peers and institution are there for you. If one kind of treatment doesn't work for you, don't lose hope, just understand that that's the nature of the beast. It might take a bit of work, but in the long run these treatments can help you succeed through and past college.