<p>Hi. Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong forum(I also posted in the SAT prep forum), but I just had a quick question that I couldn't really find an answer to no matter who I asked. I have been at a community college for about a good year now and I've been doing great. Of course, school is my #1 priority, but classes are getting more difficult as I advance higher in the courses. Even though I managed to maintain a high GPA throughout the previous year with my reading habit/skills, I don't think I can pull it off this semester.<br>
Heres the problem: When I'm reading, I have to read the paragraphs over and over at least several times because I usually end up spacing off or become distracted by even the smallest thing, and even then I sometimes still don't understand what I'm reading. Yes, I noticed that I lose my concentration quite easily. I can't study at home because I get tempted to go online or watch T.V., so I spend hours at the library every day until I get all my homework done. School just started about 2 weeks ago and I feel that I'm falling behind with the work because the classes are getting tougher, and the reading assignments are becoming longer and longer.<br>
Another problem I have is focusing and understanding in class. When I'm in class, I have a tendency to stare out the window or space out. I know everybody does this, but I do almost every class. I don't space out because I want to and I'm not lazy (or else I wouldn't be worried enough to post on this forum about my problem), but no matter how hard I try to focus and not space out, I end up doing it in the end. I'm pretty sure I don't have A.D.D...or at least I hope not.<br>
Does anybody have any solutions or answers to why I'm like this? I have a friend who recommended me to ask a doctor for some drugs that could help me focus better. Does anyone think this is a good idea? Thanks</p>
<p>Ask a doctor as a last resort.</p>
<p>Try concentration exercises where you close your eyes in a dark room and just focus on one thing. Try not to think about other stuff, and just think about one thing, and this will help u improve your focus. Try and do it for about 10 minutes. 10 minutes is a really long time, if you can just focus and not get distracted for this long, it will really help you. Just a trick i use, take it as a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Sit at the front and center of the class so there are no distractions between you and the professor. BTW, is the concentration problem a new one, or have you always experienced this?</p>
<p>I am no doctor, but having A.D.D. is really not at all a bad thing. It's almost a norm in todays society. Plus, in my opinion, just because you take the drugs does not necessarily mean you have A.D.D. Some people have trouble focusing because of anxiety issues or even lack of interest in a particular subject matter. I am sorry, but I do not know anyone who can focus on a subject that does not inspire them in some way. Is that the case for you? Sure, it is possible that you have A.D.D., but if you have gone through your entire life without any sort of problem like this, there may be something else that is interfering with your ability to pay attention.</p>
<p>You have just described classic inattentive-type ADD symptoms; on what grounds are you pretty sure you don't have ADD? Lots of people with ADD get by or even do quite well until they get to college.</p>
<p>You don't just ask a doctor for some drugs, but talking to a doctor isn't a bad idea. A better idea is to make use of your college's counseling service if it has one. They have a lot of experience with this sort of thing. They'll probably ask you a million questions, and consider short-term psychological or health reasons for the problems you're having. IF they thought you might have ADD or something, they would take a full history, maybe send you for a physical exam, have you do a battery of fun neuropsych tests, and rule out lots of other things before they'd decide you had it and potentially offer you drugs for that. They don't just hand them out because you're spacing off, like the media would have you believe.</p>
<p>Anyway, definitely talk to a professional of some sort. It's just a first step. Maybe you have some short-term problem that can be fixed (for example, are you sleeping enough?). And if it turns out you do have ADD, I promise you'll be really glad to be diagnosed and treated.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your replies and suggestions. If I recall correctly, I always dozed off during class. But when an interesting subject pops up, the teacher had my undivided attention. I do doze off occasionally in my current classes, but I think that's either because I don't understand it, it's too confusing, or it's just simply boring. Maybe I might have a case of A.D.D., but I'm just hoping I don't. I just really want to be able to fully concentrate in school without being distracted at all. </p>
<p>To woohaa - The classes I am taking right now aren't too boring, but regardless what class it is, interesting or not, I still doze off. The level of interest determines how much I doze off basically, but moreover, I still doze off and I really want to stop that.
To tmi - I have tried sitting right in front of the teacher, but if the class is boring or the subject is boring, I still doze off and think of other things.
To Mrs. Ferguson - I'm not sure if I went to the right counselor, but when a counselor was advising me on what classes I should take, I explained to him my situation and he told me exactly: just read more and it'll increase your memory. And yeah, when I don't get enough sleep, I doze off even more...actually, I can't even concentrate. It's like my mind is all over the place. But when I get enough sleep and feel wide awake with coffee and all, my focus is a little more in tact, but still not 100%.</p>
<p>So I should go see a health counselor before seeing a real doctor right? Also, lets assume that I get diagnosed with A.D.D., isn't the medicine they prescribe called Ritalin or something? I heard that was harmful to a person's health</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>When you say "doze off", do you mean fall asleep? If so you might be more likely to have sleep apnea (which mimics ADD) or narcolepsy or some other sleep disorder. Or maybe you just aren't sleeping enough. How much are you sleeping?</p>
<p>
[quote]
But when an interesting subject pops up, the teacher had my undivided attention.
[/quote]
This, on the other hand, sounds more like ADD.</p>
<p>No, not your academic advisor. Is there a student counseling service, like for students who are depressed or having personal problems? If not, you might want to seek a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist. Or talk to a regular doctor first, especially if you might have a sleep disorder. </p>
<p>Ritalin is one of many drugs prescribed for ADD, and like any other medication these drugs have some risks and side effects, but no, if you take them to treat a diagnosed condition, they are not "harmful to a person's health". The stimulant ADD drugs (like Ritalin, dexedrine, and Adderall) are probably safer than caffeine and in fact are sometimes prescribed for depression to older people who are at risk for heart problems, because they're safer than antidepressants.</p>
<p>Getting diagnosed with ADD doesn't mean you will take drugs, and would be very helpful anyway, as there's much to be gained from just learning about it and recognizing the reasons for your symptoms.</p>
<p>You really shouldn't worry about all this: ADD and drugs and everything. You need to start by talking to a professional and go from there. Don't be worried about what they might tell you, because what to do about it is always your choice.</p>
<p>go to a doctor! it could be ADD (sounds like it) or anxiety, which can also make it really hard to concentrate, esp the harder you try. you can definitely get help, so don't wait!</p>
<p>I went to the disability center in my school and they told me that I didn't have ADD right off the bat. Instead, they referred me to a doctor in the health center who won't be able to see me until Thursday. Right now, both curiosity and difficulty in my studies are killing me. Also, I think it might be anxiety problems as Nancydrew mentioned because when my mind is in a clear state, I can usually focus a little longer before my mind wanders off.<br>
Also, I forgot to mention that when I read, if it's interesting, I'd be a little more awake, but if the content is boring, I'd be reading and not processing anything that I just read. Basically, I have to spend like literally 5-10 minutes on 1 page. So if I have to read a small chapter that would normally take a person about 15-30 minutes tops, I'd have to spend 1 hour or even more. </p>
<p>Thanks for all your responses, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Telling you that you don't have ADD "right off the bat" is pretty suspicious. I wouldn't rule it out yet.</p>
<p>What you just said about reading is exactly what it's like when you have ADD. But, again, the same symptoms can be caused by a lot of other things.</p>