What's wrong with me? Lost of motivation/Possibly ADHD?

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
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<p>Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong forum, but it seems like this is where my issues fit in.</p>

<p>I just finished my first semester at my community college and did fine with a 3.8 GPA. But for some reason, I'm losing my motivation I first had when I started college. When I first started community college, I was so outright determined to ace all my classes that I would spend up to 10 hours at the school library a day. Now, I rarely go to the library, and instead , I choose to hang out with friends or go on the internet. When I have an essay due the next day (like right now), I say forget it or put it off until the very last day (procrastination?), and by then I have to basically just make up something and hope it goes well when I turn my paper in. It seems like I have no interest in school anymore and I'm stressing because of that. Is there anyway I can get my interest and motivation that I once had back? All I think about is fun or being lazy now and I don't want to be like that. Any recommendations or advice would be highly appreciated. </p>

<p>Another question I have is if anyone can tell if I have ADHD based on the symptoms I have. When I'm sitting in class, I noticed that I always have to move something, whether it be my hands or my legs, and when I try to sit completely still, I would feel really uncomfortable until I move again. There would be times where I would just completely "zone out" when the teacher is talking, which causes me to miss some important things that they discuss. So basically, my mind wouldn't be in the class half the time even though I'm trying really hard to intake what my teacher is trying to teach. Up to as far as I can remember, I have never been able to sit through a class completely still with the teacher having my undivided attention unless the subject is REALLY interesting. There was this one time when I took one of my friend's pill called Ritalin right before class and I finished a whole small book of 120 pages with complete understanding by the end of class (something I have NEVER been able to do). That was the only time I was able to focus one hour straight and understand everything in that one hour. Also, every time I read, I would have to sometimes spend around half an hour on just 2-3 pages because I would have to read everything over and over again and the information wouldn't sink in (even half an hour isn't enough sometimes when I'm not interested). So every time a teacher gives us a paper of 10 pages to read in class and answer questions after, I would be screwed because by the time everybody is done, I'm either still unfinished or I only understand a portion of what I just read. Obviously, theres something wrong with me, and I need some opinions or help or something.
Thanks for taking your time to read this</p>

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<p>There might not be something wrong with you at all, maybe your school is just boring or you need a new major. Everyone zones out sometimes, and ritalin helps almost everyone focus, even if they don't have a learning disability. Maybe you just aren't using up your extra energy, and if you started running laps you might be less jittery and more focused.</p>

<p>That being said, you should go to a doctor, but be aware that many of them will prescribe you anything without question and you need to use your own judgment sometimes.</p>

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<p>By running laps, do you mean run laps in the morning before school or at night? Or it doesn't matter when? And as for drugs that doctors prescribe, are there any side effects to them? Thanks</p>

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<p>That you were able to make high grades your first semester proves your desire to achieve and your willingness to work hard. </p>

<p>I'm sorry you're having trouble staying focused. From what you have described, it's safe to assume that it's time to get assessed for ADHD. </p>

<p>I have received numerous reports from students in your same situation. Procrastination is a common problem for students struggling with untreated ADHD. </p>

<p>My best friend didn't realize she had ADHD until she returned to college for a second degree.</p>

<p>Prescribed medication may help you regain your focus. It is common to see a 30-35% improvement in concentration with prescibed medication alone. </p>

<p>That's for you and your doctor to decide. Ask at your campus infirmary or your medical doctor for advice on how to proceed.</p>

<p>This procrastination you descibe can lock you in a trap of indecision. It can undo your greatest plans.</p>

<p>I encourage you to find the solution that's best for you as you map out your future.</p>

<p>Sincerely yours in success,
Debra Sale Wendler
ADHD Parenting Tips</p>

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<p>Every once in a while I see a post on CC where a person is suffering, or possibly, from some condition like ADHD or depression. And they are wondering if they should get checked. They are dithering in other words. And it reminds me of when I had a pretty severe situation I faced along the same lines and I sat there wondering "hmmm, maybe I should get myself checked." And I did this for a year. And then I got myself medication finally and was better almost instantaneously. After that, all I could think was what an idiot I had been to wait. So don't be an idiot. If you are reading this, get off your computer right now, get on the phone either to your health plan or to a doctor or your primary care physician and tell them you need to get checked for ADHD as soon as possible.</p>

<p>In the meanwhile between making your call and the appointment, go to GNC or some nutritional supplements store and get L-Tyrosine. It's an amino acid, a protein, and won't harm you. Get it in 500 mg dosages. When you wake up in the morning, a half hour BEFORE you eat or drink ANYTHING ELSE other than water, take one or two of these pills. Also, start mega-dosing on fish oil -- though this is less important. Tyrosine is a precursor to neurotransmitters in your brain that are known to help ADD/ADHD folks with focus. I take it to help with focus myself, but you have to take it on an empty stomach. You can take more later in the day, but be aware it can keep you up at night if you take it too late. This is meant as a stopover until you get to your doctor and get evaluated, though you might just find it does as well for you as, say, Strattera or possibly even Adderall or Ritalin.</p>

<p>I hate to sound dire, but if you are bored now, imagine how bored you are going to be in life if you screw up your community college grades and can't get into a college you want to go to and can't connect with a job that interests you. In other words, shake yourself up and get out of the situation you are in today. Much more important to happiness than making a lot of money, in my opinion, is for people to connect with something in work that interests them</p>

<p>As a word of caution, every once in a long while I run into people who clearly it seems to me are living with untreated ADHD or ADD. And I always note how they have the same dilemma at hand: they haven't been able to get much accomplished and they are living marginal kinds of lives. If you know what to look for, it can be easy to spot them. And believe me, you don't want to be one of these people. It's always so sad to see them. In some cases, they self-medicate with cocaine or meth, and that's horrible to see. So do your thing -- NOW.</p>

<p>Oh, and the other thing, put aside an hour a day to exercise vigorously. If you have ADHD, that can help too....</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks for all your responses. I've made an appointment with my doctor already, but it won't be for 2 weeks because they're booked. Thanks again</p>

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<p>Omega 3 and a lot of exercise...these really help.</p>

<p>Do not go into a PCP expecting medication; you need a real evaluation by a qualified specialist.</p>

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<p>Omega 3 = fish oil, but it also comes as other oils.</p>

<p>Your prescription:</p>

<p>500-1,000 mg per day of L-Tyrosine (on an empty stomach)
2-3,000 mg per day or more of Omega 3 Oils (I would take 4-8,000, but that starts to get expensive)
1 hour of vigorous exercise -- even 30 minutes is good.</p>

<p>Let us know how the doctor appt. goes. And just as Allmusic wisely said, a primary care physician is unlikely to prescribe much (maybe Strattera) or anything until you've been checked by a specialist. So you could be talking 2 months before getting medication. I wouldn't delay trying some to these otherr things first (they can't hurt, can only help.)</p>

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<p>ADHD is when you're constantly distracted and/or always hyper and tend to do things without thinking. Or even you want not to do something, budget your money, but you can't. Or it's REALLY hard to do so. You can get images in your head and have to act on them. Sometimes you know that you shouldn't do something but just don't care. You fidget, you can't focus, you might have trouble reading, trouble managing your emotions, and just feel like you're watching yourself react without thought. Just like watching a movie. For me, I wondered, after starting college, if I had ADHD. I diagnosed myself, carefully, like I did with another disorder (A genetic one). And like that other disorder, I got a professional to recheck my diagnoses; it was correct. In HS and earlier classes were easy. I was an A and B student, most of the time. But I noticed that I never read anything, as far as text books. I would constantly daydream when I tried to read, or it just wouldn't stick. When starting college, grades weren't based on lectures but the book. So I started getting C's at best, unless it was a very easy freshman class. Note that ADHD symptoms change over time, but some stay the same. I too, since starting college, have had a hard time getting things done on time, going to class, and just procrastinating. Also note that ADHD people might never notice their symptoms until someone points it out or after a long time they finally notice it... I went to get diagnosed and I couldn't list half the things that ADHD effects in my life... after getting on medication, I can. Luckily the Psychologist that I saw was really good, so I got diagnosed accurately anyway. He gave me a personality and intelligence test. Those showed that I tend to fail when I know I can succeed, and no reason for it... Since I try and know I can do it, don't procrastinate or have lack of motivation. I just can't do it. This is usually the lack of details, sucks for tests. But if you think you have it, go see a professional. See if there's a Psychologist at your school that will do it, only cost me $300 since I'm a student. And look into the DSM IV. If you meet most of the criteria, you have a very good chance of having it... or even google ADHD online tests and take it. If you get a high score, then yes go see a professional. I'm a psychology major and my theory is that everyone has a psychological disorder, even if they don't know it. So it might be something else: Bi polar and OCD sometimes get mixed up with ADHD. Depression can also mimic some symptoms. Hope this helped.</p>

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<p>If you're like me, and don't have insurance... try Inositol. My chiropractor recommended it... should see a difference in 4 days to two weeks. Inositol</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

<p>After getting diagnosed, or even if you have access to one, you should see a Psychiatrist. I've had trouble with MDs telling me that I'm a drug addict and not giving me the medication I need (I'm on beta blockers that cause depression due to an enlarged aorta... so I need both medications together or none at all lol. Adderall is what I'm on now, but thinking about switching to something that doesn't decrease my motivation: Vyvanse or Provigil. And I have a healthy heart BTW; my heart doctor approved of ADHD medication. The doctors around here wanted to mess with my heart meds... decreasing them... so yea, they didn't know what they were doing). And the Psychiatrist will have an understanding of the ADHD vs a MD that has a lot of malpractice and doesn't believe in ADHD, only drug addicts. But they can also help you work in areas that the meds do not. Meds aren't a fix all solution, you have to take time and work to become as normal as possible. Helps if you're a Psychology major too lol.</p>

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<p>Ah sleep and medication go a long way too... 3 hrs of sleep and adderall xr don't mix! Just like having ADHD, un-medicated, and being wide awake. But if you get on strattera... a friend recommended to take it at night; he said that most people make the mistake of taking it in the morning (like I did). But I had sexual side effects, Adderall XR has some too... but not the total dysfunction! It's more off and on for me; then there was the urinary problem with Strattera. I had insomnia too, so I don't know how good I'd sleep with taking it at night... but if I need to, I might take the samples I still have and try it when my Adderall is used up.</p>

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<p>You should definitely seek some counseling right now. You should go and please see a counselor at your community college, and you should talk with the counselor about your difficulty.</p>

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<p>Also. Don’t try to diagnose a medication condition by yourself. You might have ADHD, or it could be something else. You should definitely seek a professional help to determine whether you are suffering from ADHD, or it could be some other psychological issues. You shouldn’t try to do it by yourself, if you are helping some trouble. While taking some pills might work, it’s no substitute for some professional help</p>

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<p>I am a returning student at a local college. I had retired from the Army and another chance for a 2nd undergraduate degree. I was diagnoised ADHD and am having a very hard time. My problems are I am having a major problem getting to my classes on time. Even though I live about 10 miles away from the campus I get distracted at the house and then I think I can make it to campus in 10 min. I know there is traffic, parking places, and walking to class but somehow I think I can do it every single time and still think I can make it. I have no idea how I can make it better. I have changed all of my clocks at different times so I know I have to leave at one of them to get to class on time. Still it doesnt help. I need help with time management. ALso, I have problems being organized…I forget everything in the world and have to return home to get what I forgot. I had always had problems when I was younger but being in the Army caused me alot of stress and now I have gotten worse with everything. What can I do about time management and organization. I get so distracted it is ridiculous. I can get some more water for my dogs and I think why the water is filling up their water bowl, I can take out the laundry from the dryer but then I forget the water filling up because I think of other things I need to do. I can do one tiny thing around the house and then I get into major projects when I should be doing homework. Help me!</p>

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<p>Okay so I see I have missed some words and made the sentence totally unreadable, and questions do not have the question mark. See what I mean??</p>

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<p>slsmith, ask the doctor who diagnosed your ADHD about medications. Potentially, they can prescribe a “focus” drug (there are about 4 different ones) which could make a big difference in your life… similar to someone who cannot see the board getting fitted with eyeglasses.</p>

<p>The medications have various side effects and may only last half the day so you are able to sleep at night. And getting the dosage right may take some trial and error; taking too much can actually make things worse and cause other problems.</p>

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<p>I have problems with ADHD/ADD as well, and I have had similar experiences in the past (and the present, for that matter).</p>

<p>Normally I will be so motivated to study for a certain class and after a few weeks this motivation wears off completely. In fact, it is virtually impossible for me to get motivated to do my homework at home due to all the distractions and my mind racing a mile a minute. That is why I try to do everything at school or under supervision of a tutor or educator.</p>

<p>You could very likely have ADHD, or it could just be a form of commitment issue. Perhaps the two are linked. Why not get tested? If it turns out you do have ADHD, I’d consider trying medication. It didn’t work for me so I stopped in middle school, but my younger brother is in elementary school and his ADHD is worse than mine to the point where he relies on medication.</p>