Dr Charles Parker's Page

Thanks for your note. I'm lucky to have a "keeper". We compliment each other beautifully!

And by the way, I am one of those who was put on short-acting Ritalin 18 years ago and I've never changed meds. I love it and it controls my symptoms quite well. I should say that a few times I was given generic Ritalin by mistake and I felt quite spacy. My husband, a physician, insists that this is all in my mind. I know differently.

Your posts are what prompted me to stop all meds, in case of toxicity. I tried Vyvanse again and , unfortunately, cannot tolerate it anymore. It causes extreme back/muscle pain and does nothing for my ADHD (30 mg). Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Christine

I am the parent of an LD/ADD son, and it seems like yesterday that I was in the trenches. I remember the anxiety in 12th grade, feeling uncertain about whether my son could "do" college (he WANTED to go).

Fortunately, besides being a parent, I've also worked with LD students on the college level since 1993, 13 of those years as a college Learning Specialist. In addition, I have my Master's Degree in Education from the University of PA, one of the finest schools in the country.

As a result, I KNEW how to prepare my son, how to "vet" colleges (you can't believe what they tell you or what you read on their website), how to determine how much support my son would need, how to make the best match, and those decisions and strategies that bode for college success. My son, never a "student", graduated college successfully and obtained a job in his field.

Most students with LD fail on the college level - the statistics are abysmal. The ONLY way we can change this is to prepare them for college's unique challenges - it is VERY different from high school!

If you are the parent of a teen in grades 9 - 12 and would like a free teleseminar, "How College Savvy Are You", register at: http://www.conquercollegewithld.com/coaching.html. This is a coaching course - the first lesson is FREE for everyone, with no payment due, and no obligation to continue.

You can also benefit from my totally free subscription list that sends out high-quality weekly articles pertaining to postsecondary transition -- http://www.conquercollegewithld.com.

I have been passionate about college success for our kids since seeing my own son do it. His victory was not accidental, however; it was the result of difficult and deliberate decisions, all worth it in the end.

If your teen is of normal intelligence, WANTS to go to college, acknowledges his LD, and will accept help, success is PROBABLE..... assuming you have all your "ducks in a row".

Hi, I just wanted to say that I saw one of your YouTube vids about Cognitive Anxiety. Wow! That's exactly me. I've always been a happy, optimistic person; before I started nursing school anxious isn't a word that anyone would have used to describe me. But I've always done what you described as cognitive anxiety. My friends often teased me that some folks have a plan B...I have plans B through L! I over-analyse and proactively problem solve everything. It's like if I could just figure out a proactive plan, then I'll be able to stay organized no matter what happens (I have two phases, hyper-organized or a complete mess).

I was diagnosed ADHD (combined type) last spring (I'm 40) but have suspected that I'm ADHD for 20+ years (I read a book back then that made me feel like I was reading my life story, I think it was called "You mean I'm not Crazy, Lazy or Stupid" or something like that). Anyway, they started me on Adderall XR (20mg) and it was ASTOUNDING....the only analogy to the difference the meds made in my life, that I can think of, is a 6 yr-old getting eye glasses for the first time and realizing that the big green blobs were trees. My level of stress and anxiety plummeted! I was no longer spontaneously waking up 4 hours before my 8:30 classes....just to make sure I had everything I needed complete and ready to go, I was sleeping again (I even took naps, for the first time, well...ever--not counting times I was sick). My only complaint was that it was supposed to last 10 - 12 hours, but really it was 7-9 (I'm in nursing school and my days are rarely only 7-9 hours...it made HW and studying difficult). So, my Doc just added regular Adderall in the afternoon. It's fantastic!

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for putting a name to how my brain has always worked--cognitive anxiety.

Hi Dr. Parker! I started a new group here on ADDer World, Coaching Corner. I'd love for you to join. For coaches and other professionals, it's an opportunity to interact with the members here, advertise your services, and be listed in the new Coaching Directory. If you'd like to be listed, please send me the information you'd like displayed. Please feel free to add discussions to the group with whatever resources you'd like to share. Hope to see you there!

Wishing you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!