<p>Hello, I didn't know how to express my frustration or what to do but I thought maybe I would feel better if I could just get my story out.</p>
<p>I've always had symptoms of ADHD but my parents and I thought that I just wasn't trying hard enough. However, I completely failed last semester and was placed in academic probation (my second time). Because of that, and me being a 5th year student, I had to go see the dean and the counseling center liaison. They're the ones who recommended that I go see a professional. I was diagnosed with ADHD maybe 2 weeks ago and have been on medicines.</p>
<p>I've been struggling a lot this semester. I remember in the beginning of the semester, I was so sure that I could finish all my classes with good grades. However, I've already failed myself. As a person with ADHD, I am terrible at keeping deadlines. There were numerous times where I would miss an appointment over and over again and no matter how bad I felt. </p>
<p>This semester, it started out small. Just couple of late assignments but missing few classes. But then I kept on missing deadlines and eventually started missing quizzes. Because I felt I did not have what the professors expected of me, I was scared to go to classes everyday. (I know that I have to keep on going to classes so this won't happen but I cannot help it). I started missing so many things on certain classes that I had to drop a class and take summer course to finish my requirement to graduate. Even after doing that, I am probably past the point of no return. This process continues on every day. When I think about the priority in my life, I know that number one is graduating but seeing how incapable I am, I get really depressed. It feels as if I cannot do what everyone else can do simply. It frustrates me so much that I cry often by myself thinking about my impending doom. I'm sure that my depression came back as I've been diagnosed with depression before.</p>
<p>I honestly don't know what to do anymore. One funny thing about me: I hate it when people patronize me in such way where I get such a huge advantage. Although I usually do not have the courage to tell my professors about my condition and since there are already many missed assignments and such. And if I do tell them about my condition, I feel like I'm telling them I have this disorder so I should get more leniency although this is probably the only way to pick my grade up so I could at least pass all my classes. It feels so unfair even if they do allow late acceptance.</p>
<p>I don't know what to do. If I do fail, then I should get kicked out of school since it's my semester after academic probation on my 5th year. Although it seems that my school is willing to somehow let me take an extra semester even though only 10 semesters are allowed normally, this is not a sure thing. I have a lot of pressure to finish school as soon as possible. My parents especially pressure me to gradate quickly and understandably as I am on my 10th semester.</p>
<p>This is just a suggestion, but have you tried setting alarms for your appointments and to notify you of deadlines? I’m terrible at keeping deadlines myself (though my problem is getting dates mixed up), which is why I always have to set reminders for myself–on my phone’s calendar, I input what’s due on what day and set an alarm to go off an hour or so before an assignment is due or before an appointment. I also do the same thing on the computer, but with an alarm notification to go off the day before, notifying me of an appointment or an assignment that’s due the next day (this allows me to remember that I have something coming up, and then the phone alarm is like a secondary last minute alarm).</p>
<p>I think at this point, two things are of utmost importance: your health and getting your BA. That’s good that the doctor has adequately diagnosed you and hopefully the meds will start kicking in after a while. But I think finishing your degree should be something you absolutely should strive and endure to complete, considering how far you’ve already gotten. If the school lets you finish, doing that last stretch of studying and earning your bachelors should be your sort of last-gasp goal.</p>
<p>Listen to me. You NEED to be on ADHD medication. Some people think ADHD is an excuse to get pills, but your situation prove another point that this is a real problem. Some people need medicine to be able to function and achieve what a person without adhd could. It’s never too late, get on medication, go back toschool and keep pushing. I was diagnosed with ADHD my first semster of college. It is real and there are so many others like you and in your situation. Your not alone. I could tell you my story to give you some hope but its a long one so I’d rather you private message me! Ive been through it and I can tell you its never too late and its time for you to live your life to the fullest!!</p>
<p>Throughout this thread there’s a lot of self-identification with the stigma of ADHD and with you believing “because of A, I am B”, as if that’s the norm. This is all very wrong and very damaging to your ego, your confidence, and your social development.</p>
<p>Freshgurl is right but also horrendously wrong at the same time. Yes ADHD exists, but it’s a very small-scale issue. The problem is that the politics of public education when students are disruptive almost always gets them classified somehow as needing to see a counselor and then lo and behold it turns out they had ADHD or ADD. The problem with that diagnosis is the fact that a very large majority of doctors and even psychiatrists admit that the issue is far less real than people think. Yes, some have chemical imbalances from ADHD, but ADHD is not common and most times it’s a social disorder, a development disorder based on stress, anxiety, or lack of social connection, or a learning disorder built by either the wrong type of teachers, a lack of proper studying habits, or parental stress either at home or through another means.</p>
<p>Ritalin, paxel, and the drugs of that class are understood to affect the brain through chemical rearrangement and reclassification, the problem is that if you aren’t actually suffering from ADHD (which isn’t really a “suffer” factor to be honest) then those drugs will cause you to be reliant on them and will screw you up, potentially permanently, in a chemical means.</p>
<p>ADHD is a very dangerous thing to just believe in because someone told you that you had it. Now if you can get your psychiatrist and confirming doctor and the school to all sign legally-binding notes that they have diagnosed you without fail otherwise they lose their license and job, then by all means, but that isn’t common.</p>
<p>There are a myriad of things that can affect a person, don’t just believe the first thing you get told.</p>
<p>Our gifted daughter was diagnosed at the beginning of her senior year of hs with ADHD and anxiety and the last 3 years have been an extraordinary exercise in patience, frustration and learning. A few administratively weak college professors have added to the difficult experience. </p>
<p>It is really important to find a good ADHD coach, anxiety therapist, and to actively working with disability support services at school. Our daughter has made some great strides though she has far to go. She has been in college for 3 years and has more than a full 2 years to go.</p>
<p>Kathleen Nadeau has written some good guides and is nationally recognized for her success with helping ADHD students get on their own two feet. Look her up on Amazon.</p>
<p>Our son is about to enter college. He suffers from ADD but doesn’t have the anxiety piece and manages his self quite well. He is going off to study engineering and we think he will do just fine.</p>
<p>I would just like to thank all of the responses. Reading those really helps me to see different perspectives. I still have very low self-worth especially after failing something simple.</p>
<p>But I will definitely give the suggestions a try. Thank you again and just the fact that I am able to talk about this freely brings tears to my eyes.</p>