<p>I think I have undiagnosed ADD, but my parents just think that I'm lazy.
They won't take me seriously and listen to me. What is the difference between laziness and ADD? Because I really care about my grades and I think that I am smart, but I can never concentrate and I get distracted so easily. My parents don't even know how bad it is, but everyone at school knows me as "the procrastinator," and I have even missed school many times because I didn't finish assignments or study for tests. This isn't because I didn't want to or because I was too lazy, it all just comes down to the fact that I can't concentrate. I find it so hard to start things as well. I don't do household chores because, if I start, I get distracted or can't concentrate on the task. I am also on my school's bowling team and I am a good bowler, my only problem is controlling my arm. That's because I know I have to keep my arm straight, but when I go up there I forget to. I can also never pay attention to details, even though I want to. I never put the lids back on anything and my parents always complain about it. It has already been a week into Winter Break and I haven't started studying for finals yet. I have tried on many occasions, but I can never concentrate and I don't know why. I don't know if this is laziness or ADD, can someone please help me out?</p>
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What is the difference between laziness and ADD?
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The main difference between laziness and ADD is that laziness can be a symptom of ADD. My best friend has it, and it was diagnosed a bit late because he wasn't hyper or inattentive to the point of being rowdy or disruptive. Most people think you have to be hyper to have ADD, but that's not true. You mentioned laziness and the inability to concentrate, along with general forgetfulness (forgetting to keep your arm straight in bowling - wow ;)), and these can also be indicative of ADD. You should talk to your school nurse about it, maybe he or she can recommend a visit to the doctor.</p>
<p>Hope this helped,
Alex</p>
<p>I looked up info on ADD and I'm pretty sure I have it now.
But my parents don't want to take me to the doctor because according to them, "It will go on my record and I won't be able to get into college or get a job"...Is that true?! Will good colleges really not accept me just because I have ADD (even though I get good grades)?</p>
<p>bump..............</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is that true?! Will good colleges really not accept me just because I have ADD (even though I get good grades)?
[/quote]
Every college has its handful of students with ADD. Relax.</p>
<p>Alex</p>
<p>Since it's a confidential disability it's up to whether you inform colleges or not during the admissions process. It's still rather controversial if the diagnoses hurts admissions or not, though no school can outright reject you for having a disability! Many schools are quite welcoming if you take your diagnosis through the proper channels. I ended up writing my main college essay about my ADD
the social face, academic, and personal struggles... (And yes, Ive already been accepted.)
The procrastination and memory grievances are key. When my ADD is uncontrolled my entire head is fogged. How can you concentrate when everything is going off at once? And most ADD people know the feeling, its not a busy one. Just dull. Homework, for me, takes triple what it would be expected. Of course, this is time spent trying to relearn and remember the class it was assigned from- even if mostly started in class- and simply being a slow worker. Its miserable to spend 48 mins taking noted in US History to leave not being able to name the topic on a near daily basis. Feels kind of like a cosmic joke, like Im stuck in a Charlie Brown classroom with osculating trombones for teachers. Of course then, with uncontrolled ADD, we have nearly all captured the label of Procrastinator at our schools. My friends bought me a compass and map for my birthday of my hometown. Why? My concentration was naturally so bad I couldnt soak in the street names I had grown up with. I was either constantly lost or late, once ending up three hours south trying to get to my best friends house.
The years my ADD have been controlled, however, are dramatically different. Ive had two years of high school uncontrolled, and two controlled (switching off every other year-ugh.) During my uncontrolled ADD years my GPA hovers at 3. while controlled my GPA hovers at 4. Everything is so much smoother on my medication. My friends even say my eyes are clearer and brighter. And thats what the medication does, its like putting on contacts after living with horrible blurry vision when you thought your 20-20 was just subpar for other reasons
. I can not only soak in the material but participate and actively discuss. I still procrastinate on most day-to-day living things to large school assignments but never to the extent of before. I dont have much dread anymore. Even the little things are easier; I dont have to put on pants three times before I realize Ive already tried them on. Even with my ADD controlled its never completely compensated. I was still the last to finish, by a half hour to an hour, for each of my midterm exams. I would have taken more time if there wasnt a two hour limit. I still work incredibly slowly though now my effort actually PAYS OFF! What a concept!
Long story short, if you think you may have ADD continue to research and press the issue with your parents. If your parents think your lack of motivation is because you just dont wanna look into why you are such a procrastinator. Are electronics or other temptations always surrounding you and tearing you away from what you should be doing? Or, do you procrastinate by simply staring off into space? Can you say, spend hours reading a book yet still not pick up little details, such as the main characters names? Perhaps try some study time with your parents so they understand your struggle and thus why you procrastinate the amount you do. Even if you dont have ADD you might have another learning disability effecting your motivation and memory. Its certainly worth looking into.</p>