<p>First of all, keep in mind that the advice you get on this forum is only as good as the anonymous writers.</p>
<p>Full disclosure - I am not a doctor, therapist, or in the health professions. However, I can tell you that ADD/ADHD is not due to “brain chemistry imbalance.” It has to do with executive functioning, and how active your frontal cortex is. For that reason many people find that medication can help them focus, but there are lots of other options in addition to (or instead of) medication. The symptom that you mention - not being able to focus on uninteresting tasks but being able to focus on something that intrigues you - is quite typical of ADD/ADHD, but there could be some other things going on as well. Here’s what you need to do:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you are using any substances (alcohol, pot, etc.) recreationally, stop now. They can make your symptoms much worse.</p></li>
<li><p>Talk to both your pediatrician and your parents about this. Perhaps show them this thread. What you need is a full neuropsychological evaluation. Some health plans will pay for this; others won’t.</p></li>
<li><p>As a result of the work-up, you may get a diagnosis and recommendations from the psychologist. You and your parents then need to meet with your high school counselor and establish a plan for you to receive any accommodations that the psychologist may have recommended. If medication is recommended, you will need to start that and see how it goes. Medication works differently for different people, and side effects can be an issue.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Once you have addressed your symptoms you can begin to explore your college options. First things first. </p>
<p>I’m sure that since you’re perceptive enough to realize that you have a problem that needs to be addressed, you will figure out what to do about it and will go on to be very successful. Good luck!</p>