<p>Often during the ACT test I'll be trying to concentrate real hard on a problem, especially at something like reading a passage, and all I can think about is some stupid song or TV show. I'll be reading, and after like a minute a song will start playing in my head, and it get's distracting to the point that I can't concentrate on the plot or what's happening. Then I have to waste a minute or so just to tone down the song and continue the passage with that song still partially playing in my head. This is also a major problem for science.
Is this possibly ADHD, or is it just stress?</p>
<p>you’re asking a community full largely of strangers uneducated in psychiatry and you’re asking us for an ADD diagnosis?</p>
<p>I believe its called “being trapped in a small room with complete strangers for hours” syndrome. Considered perfectly normal, until you find a doctor whose nice enough to give you drugs which indicate otherwise.</p>
<p>From experience and in all seriousness, an anecdote like that is all you need to get some prescription ADD drugs. It’s not that hard if you can demonstrate that you would benefit from it. I suppose I should also add that your concentration should be below average in other tasks as well; otherwise you just have a normal case of what’s mentioned above. And unless you are hyperactive (twiddling, fidgeting constantly) etc, it’s just plain ADD, not ADHD. </p>
<p>I usually take a low dose of adderral XR before the test. It does help with the focus…</p>
<p>^Which is ridiculous by the way. You shouldn’t take doses of those types of drugs if you don’t have ADHD. It’s like steroids in sports.</p>
<p>“^Which is ridiculous by the way. You shouldn’t take doses of those types of drugs if you don’t have ADHD. It’s like steroids in sports.”</p>
<p>ADD is a gray area even in medical diagnosis. Some people abuse it to get extra time. I don’t think taking a legally prescribed low-dose stimulant for a condition is ridiculous in any way at all.</p>
<p>^yes, because you take it. I’m not saying it’s wrong to take those drugs if you have a concentration-related disorder, but it’s wrong if you do not. Maybe I have misunderstood you: do you have such a disorder?</p>
<p>Call it what you want. Like I said before, ADD is hard to accurately diagnose so they are pretty loose in giving out medicine. I am legally prescribed meaning I demonstrated enough of ADD’s common symptoms for my doctor diagnose me.</p>
<p>I don’t consider myself a spaz, but I have above-average concentration problems. I think there’s a general misconception on what these pills can and can’t do for you. While I do think a large proportion of the population can benefit from them and that the risk is relatively small, what you get out of them is really dependent on how severe your concentration problems are. They won’t make you more intelligent, they won’t cure your test taking woes, but used in conjunction with practice and a concentration issue, improvements can be pretty dramatic.</p>
<p>yeah////
sometimes i have this kind of problem too…i was always distracted…</p>
<p>^^Everyone has concentration issues. You shouldn’t take a drug to “fix” that. The ACT and SAT are about endurance; you need to keep your mind and body focused on the test. Taking a drug for a disorder kills the purpose. Once again, it’s like steroids.</p>
<p>You should try meditation- when done properly it clears the mind and redirects your focus.</p>
<p>Wait…so ADD meds are like steroids?</p>
<p>XD</p>
<p>CC: Home of the Future Doctors that Don’t Need to get Degrees Because They Already Know Everything</p>
<p>This happens to me too. I know it’s not ADHD or ADD, it’s just that a great deal of things go on in mind at once rather than just one. Usually, the things I’m thinking of (songs,tv,movies,games) make me more relaxed.</p>
<p>everyone does it. you just need to have the will power to ignore the other things going on in your head.</p>
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</p>
<p>Comparing ADD drugs to steroids just demonstrates your lack of understanding for the substance. It’s a stimulant, not a “make you smarter drug”. I mean who are you to judge and who are you to push your own twisted sense of morality onto others. This is like telling people they can’t drink coffee (caffeine, another classic stimulant ) because they should be able to concentrate on their owns. That’s a ludicrous stance.</p>
<p>The SAT tests REASONING. And just because that’s something you clearly don’t have, you can’t just change the meaning of the test into one about endurance.</p>
<p>the above postings should be enough reason to conclude that CC should not be considered a valid source of medical opinions or diagnoses.</p>
<p>"Comparing ADD drugs to steroids just demonstrates your lack of understanding for the substance. It’s a stimulant, not a “make you smarter drug”. I mean who are you to judge and who are you to push your own twisted sense of morality onto others. This is like telling people they can’t drink coffee (caffeine, another classic stimulant ) because they should be able to concentrate on their owns. That’s a ludicrous stance.</p>
<p>The SAT tests REASONING. And just because that’s something you clearly don’t have, you can’t just change the meaning of the test into one about endurance." </p>
<p>First of all, I must say that your inability to realize what I am trying to say is a nice indication of your illegitimacy in this conversation (thus, you lack understanding of the simple sentences I am using). I am not COMPARING ADD drugs to steroids; I am merely showing that they function in the same way. Steroids help athletes become strong so they can do well in their respective sports, while ADD drugs (when used by those who don’t have ADD) help students become more focused so they can do well on their tests. </p>
<p>Secondly, you are ridiculous because you take those drugs when you do not have ADD. I lack reasoning? Who’s the one who needs to take a drug to focus on a standardized test? I didn’t take any drug, and I did great on my SAT. Understand this, kid: everyone has concentration issues, especially on a test that lasts up to three hours. That doesn’t mean that we all should take drugs in order to do well on the test. </p>
<p>You can say whatever you want now, because I am leaving this conversation. Maybe if you take a drug before you write your next post, you can actually come up with a legitimate argument.</p>
<p>
Yes indeed. Consult your physician. </p>
<p>
Alright dude, whatever you say.</p>
<p>
ADD isn’t a genetic or chemical trait. It’s only provided a doctor evaluation. Because the doctor diagnosed the condition, as far as you or anyone else is concerned, I do indeed, have ADD (unless of course you claim to be more medically informed than my doctor?). You’re once again demonstrating you don’t know what ADD is. It isn’t a broken leg or cancer. It’s a concentration issue that is exacerbated at different degrees in different individuals. </p>
<p>
Why does a quadriplegic need a wheelchair? </p>
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Yea right. </p>
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If the concentration issues (or ANY other handicap) are severe enough that they prevent you from achieving your potential despite practice and hard effort - I see nothing wrong with accommodations. </p>
<p>
Excellent - I won’t be missing you or your misinformed assertions.</p>