hey, im new to this forum. ive been on meds since 2nd grade and im now in 9th grade. ive been on ritalin, adderall, adderall XR, straterra, and many more.

heres the problem...
my body seems to become immune to the med after a certain period of time. i am currently on 15mg of adderall and its not working. so i put it up to 20 for about a week and it helped a lot, and i was concintrating and getting all my work done, but i was very anti-social and i was just to zoned in. i didnt like that so i went back to 15mg.

about 2 weeks ago i brought a grade report home to my parents. i had all Cs, Ds, and Fs. i am still grounded. :( no T.V. no computer (i am posing this in school), no nothing. i have been doing constant homework and chores for the past 2 weeks. because of this i am overwhelmingly bored, stressed, and just plain tired. mentally and physically, i am stuck. i tried talking to my parents to lower the punishment and they say that i will be ungrounded when i get all my grades to at least a C or higher. because of the stress of getting all the missing assignments turned in it has become even harder to concintrate. i am almoust ungrounded and thats good. but this needs to stop. i have to find a solution because this same problem keeps poping up. if i were able to concintrate and get it done i would be fine.

it is also effecting my social life. i am too busy to talk or do anything.

i need a solution. i need answers!!! please and thank you.

Well, my first line of advice would be to relax. There is such a thing as trying too hard. Also, it sounds to me like one of two things is happening: either you are building a tolerance to the drugs, or you are getting "used to" the feeling they produce. There is a difference. With a tolerance, it takes more of the drug to get a desired effect. With getting used to the drug, you are getting the same effect you have gotten, but it's not as noticeable because it's not "new" anymore, and because of that, you are trying to raise the dose because you don't realize it's having an effect.

Either one is possible, but there's not much you can do about either. What's more important is ensuring that you are not reliant on the medications. You have to learn how to cope and achieve without medication on your side. You need to learn what works for you. Everyone can accomplish everything that is required by schools. If you can't, then it doesn't mean you can't do it, it just means you aren't going about it in the right way. Change your approach, and try new methods of studying or learning.

When I was younger and unmedicated, I needed environmental distractions such as music or I couldn't focus long enough to get anything done. It's when there isn't enough stimulation that I have problems. This is often the case with many ADHD sufferers. If your parents realize this, they'll realize that grounding is not the best option.

You need to acknowledge your weakness, and develop methods for fixing it. If it means doing things differently, then do that. If you're having trouble concentrating, there are ways to cope with that particular problem. Find out what works for _you_, and go with it.

I got through all of school without any medication until I started college...I believe that anybody can do that. Now, part of that is because I learn well and am good at absorbing information, but I got by without doing much homework at all. If you can't do that, then you'll have to do the homework...but all I'm saying is that homework scores don't produce Cs, D,s and Fs. Test grades are the only thing weighted enough to drop a grade that low. And that tells me that the problem is not homework, it's class. Are you able to pay attention and focus in class? Do you take notes? Have you tried different styles of learning and studying? (Auditory, Visual, Kinesthetic?)

Everyone can accomplish everything that is required by schools.You can't be serious! This is not true. Not everyone can accomplish everything that schools require.
but I got by without doing much homework at all.
See even you didn't do everything that was required!
Sorry Keith -- I know you didn't mean to offend. It just burns me when people claim that everyone can do the "same" as they can ...I know you talked about trying different approaches, but sometimes students really are unable to complete assignments.

Looking4hope--
Have you spoken to your teachers? I know it's not an easy thing to do, but asking for help from your teachers might be the best approach. I think teachers assume that students who under-achieve just aren't trying hard enough, especially when the students seem to be intelligent. If you ask for help, your teachers will know that you care & you are trying ...and maybe they will actually be able to help you to learn the things that you're struggling with. If you don't feel comfortable talking directly to your teachers, go to the guidance counselor. They should be able to offer some help/suggestions & can act as a bridge between you & your teachers.

Before you talk to anyone, it might be helpful to do a self-assessment of yourself. Why do you think you are having difficulty with your classes? Don't just say "I have ADD. I can't stay focused." Be specific. When you aren't focused on schoolwork, what are you doing? What things contribute to your lack of focus? (noisy workplace, messy room, boring teacher, confusion of the assignment, forgetting books, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty getting started, feeling tired, etc). And also assess what things you do well. What subjects are easiest for you? Why? What outside activities do you enjoy? What makes these activities fun?

Okay, it's gotten too late for me. I can't think anymore. I gotta get to sleep. Please let me know if what I say makes sense and if you have any questions. Good luck!

Your not the only one, I'm failing all four of my classes

First of all...hang in there! I wasn't diagnosed til I was 28, and school was a nightmare for me. At this time, you may not be able to renegotiate things with your parents, but there are a few things you can try that may help you with them in the near future. Most importantly, these things may help YOU. Meds are tricky...sometimes they work, sometimes they don't...sometimes they work more effectively than other times. I know for myself, the more I make sure I have eaten enough, slept enough, and gotten some mental and physical exercise, the better my chances are for the concerta I take to do its best. Ultimately, medication or not, it's up to me to push myself the most. It took me a long time and a lot of practice, and truthfully, I'm still a work in progress...so please keep working on you! I have a few ideas that have worked for me, or others I know well, and they may work for you, too. Look for the positives, because it is far too easy to see the negatives. Especially when that tends to be all other people notice. It's not who you are, it's just sometimes all they are able to see. The important thing to see is what is inside you. I see someone who is trying very hard to make life better, and that's a huge positive. I highly recommend you speak to your teachers and guidance counselor at school, and ask for assistance in developing a personal effective time management plan. If you do not already use one, invest in a daily planner. Some schools have them, if not, they can be purchased at discount or dollar stores. Have a reliable student in each class help you remember to check it daily, to record any work due, and to record what supplies (books, etc) you will need to successfully complete whatever the assignment/test/whatever will be, and put these items in your backpack immediately. Have the classroom teacher check your planner every class, and sign their names in the designated class space. Make a point not to leave the school at the end of the day until you have everything necessary according to the day's planner. One thing you can do is check things off as they go into the backpack. Use a filing system, such as the trapper keeper, with a different folder for each class. This way, your assignments stay organized and clean. In the back of your planner, have a page (insert it if necessary) where you tally daily points possible per assignment and daily points earned. Keep track of how every thing you do is impacting your overall class grade as the points come in. This will help you see immediately where you are gradewise in any class, and lessen the anxiety over not knowing for sure what to expect on midterm reports/final quarter report cards. See about testing in less distracting environments. Ask about participating in study groups. Request the possibility for additional testing time if necessary, to be determined by you and the teacher per test. Sometimes, you may need it, other times, you may not. If you take the initiative to do this, the teachers will notice, your parents will eventually notice, and most of all YOU will notice. I realize this can be extremely overwhelming--take it one step at a time, one day at a time, and break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Learning positive habits takes time, but it IS worth the effort. I feel your pain regarding the grounding. I was grounded nearly all thru high school. One year, I missed winter (yes, as in the entire season). I barely graduated. Today, I have two degrees, and I spend my days helping ALL students to learn. The best part is that now they pay me to be here, and it's a lot better on the other side of the desk! Please do not hesitate to keep me up to date on how things go for you. You CAN do this! You also need to remember that it helps to mix things up for yourself...figure out w. the teachers where your areas of strength are, and where you need a little more assistance. When doing the homework, alternate the strengths and more difficult material...give yourself time for more breaks in between. Reward yourself here and there with preset things for each task completed. For example...I finished the math problems so now, I get fifteen minutes of listening to music (drawing, reading for pleasure, whatever). This list can change as you get your social life restored post-grounding. Give it a chance...it takes time to do this effectively. Some days will be better than others. Take time every day to list for yourself at least three things that were positives. KEEP YOUR CHIN UP!

I was reading over some of the other comments, and would like to respectfully add that in many classrooms I am aware of, homework and class participation are weighted equally with tests, quizzes, and papers. Therefore, not turning in completed homework in full and on time can adversely effect one's overall class grade. Also, many teachers do not offer homework as optional. It is an immediate way for measuring whether a student is understanding the material being presented. It is also a way for a teacher to ensure that the state and district curriculum guidelines are being addressed and achieved per student. Many states now require these concepts be passed via a single cummulative exam given prior to senior year in order to graduate. If a student doesn't turn in this type of daily assessment, the teacher may not know important concepts have not been learned by that student until long after the rest of the class has moved on to other things, creating a gap in learning.
lol I would also like to mention that when I was in school, I was notorious for completing my homework on the busride to school. I do NOT suggest this to others in any way other than as an example of what not to do. In other words, learn from my mistakes :P

ms sunshine-what wonderful advice. Everyone has posted some really helpful ideas.

I've had similar issues in school, but always somehow managed to pull off good grades. We each have to find our own ways to cope. Now I am an elementary teacher, and have just figured I have ADD.

Looking4hope, just another idea: have you thought of getting a tutor? I know sometimes schools offer peer tutors or even maybe finding a college student to help you out. The one-on-one may help you to focus more, and just having someone by your side can really help pull you through all the work.

I really wish you the best. It isn't going to be easy, but you've come this far. Judging from your post, you express yourself very well.

I don't know if you have issues with perfectionism or not, but I remember that is what killed me in high school. Looking back, i just wish I did those assignments and stopped worrying about the best way to do this or that, and getting stuck.

I'm not sure if I've been helpful ot not since ADD can be so different from one person to the next. As gingagirl said, you need to really look at what your specific problems are (having a hard time getting started,keeping on task), then you can tailor a solution.

While meds may really help, I think studies have shown that you really need to combine that with other behavioral strategies to get the best results.

Don't give up hope.

You can't be serious! This is not true. Not everyone can accomplish everything that schools require.

No Child Left Behind: Under the act's accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. They must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.

Furthermore, IQ has a greater than +.5 correlation with academic performance. Unless an individual is severely cognitively impaired, it should be a short order to achieve average academic success. Because the original poster does not appear to be cognitively impaired in any way, I can only imagine that they are certainly _capable_ of performing well. ADHD can be handicapping, yes, but it can also be coped with. ADHD is not a free ticket to complain about schools being too hard: success is determined by individuals, not the system. I will say it again: any individual is capable of meeting the (remarkably low) requirements set forth by the public school systems in the United States. I will make a disclaimer this time: the severely mentally disabled (i.e., those suffering of M.R., Cerebral Palsy, and so forth) may have a lot of trouble in doing so successfully.

See even you didn't do everything that was required!

Not true. I obviously did, because I graduated and am now doing very well in college. What is required is not "all the work," it's "all the grades." Success on tests is what counts in the longrun, burning oneself out on homework assignments is a waste of time.

It just burns me when people claim that everyone can do the "same" as they can ...I know you talked about trying different approaches, but sometimes students really are unable to complete assignments.

It is my experience that completing assignments has very little correlation with academic success. Almost all public schools use standardized teaching methods. That means they use test-based evaluations. Those account for the majority of grades. While it may be possible that it is very difficult to complete assignments, the fact is, if it is not working, it is not the individual who is flawed, it is the method they are using. If you can't accomplish an assignment in the way you are attempting, use a different method. If you are cognitively capable, however, you CAN learn...

...unless, of course, you're willing to say that people with ADHD are inferior to people without? The fact of the matter is, people with ADHD must sometimes use unorthodox, different approaches to accomplish things. But ADHD is not disabling in the way, say, deafness is. Deafness = you cannot hear. ADHD simply makes it very difficult without medication to pay attention, sit still, etc. While there is a degree of disability associated, the fact is that by changing approaches and adopting coping mechanisms, we can accomplish the same things as everyone else can.

The best way to improve education is not to lower the requirements, but increase the caliber of individual attempting to learn. The mission is not to pass school: the mission is to learn how to learn. You will hardly use anything you learn in HS in real life. That's not the point of it. The point is to give you an opportunity to discover HOW you go about learning things, and what the best ways for you are.

Trying different ways of studying is the best way to go. I can't review notes and read textbooks the way normal people do. I just can't do it, my brain doesn't let me. So instead, I type up summaries of chapters, and type up copies of my notes. That way, I am on a kinesthetic task when studying: I'm typing something up. I refresh my memory because in order to type, I have to read it. It works for me. Something else might work for you.

In class, it doesn't work for me to just sit and listen. Some people can sit, listen, and absorb everything anyone says. I can't. I have to write it out. If I write it out, then I get kinesthetic learning which lets me retain it better. Again, it works for me. Something else might work for you. Try! Experiment! Find out what works best, and use it! That's the best way to achieve success.

Hey - if yur anythin like me, these nice looong replies wud 'ave me sleepin after the first 3 lines!

why don't u try to negotiate with yur parents and break the 'punishment' into smaller bits. xplain to them that this thing is doin your head in and makes e'thing worse.

trade them a 'good deed' with a reward, like being able to go out for an afternoon, or whatever it is yu'r doing for fun.

you can't just FIX those grades by being grounded for the rest of yur life. you can fix dem if you work a little step at a time. so start with just ONE subject and ONE bit of work.

trade sections of work (homework or revision) with your parents for some fun... that way they can see how yur doin'.

hope it helps.