Hello Everyone,
This is my first time posting. I have had ADHD since I was a child however I was always able to work around it when I absolutly have to (I got my papers in on time, studied for test, kept my grades up ect.) however lately I just can't. I know that I need to finish some articles, papers for a class I'm taking, emails, art projects, volunteer time, and so on while I'm on brake from class however I just can't do it. I'll start on an article and get a good beginning but then i just can't focus any longer and I'll take a break. I've also been deleteing my paper's accidently (I've lost at least 5 in the last week), which has never been an issue. I'm so spacy lately I keep forgetting things like finishing the paperwork for this class I'm takeing for fun. There is no consequence of course however I feel so guilty, how could I be so selfish as to not even take 30min. out to finish? My memory is shot, I've been losing things to no end even my glasses (this is really bad because my vision is terrible so I can't drive until I find them). I take adderallxr which has been a miricle but it just doesn't seem to do the trick anymore. Any tips would be excellent. I really need to get going with everything
Thanks!
~Jen

Hey Jen,

I had a few weeks like what you described. Had a project for a client, got it all wrapped up, wife had to help me on it, that's how bad it got. Then in another bit of panic and confusion, I somehow deleted all the work. I had to do it all over again, another 4+ hours. It flat out sucked, and I got so frustrated! Much like your glasses, etc. Sometimes I think we either overload our minds with so much that we simply forget the little things, IE: keys, glasses etc.

I don't know how many countless times my wife has told me, "You need to stop, and take a break" I think I purposely burn myself out even before the day is done so it's difficult to get through the remaining hours. Do you have alot going on in your life right now? It sounds to me like your in college, so if that's the case, then yes, you probably have a billion and 1 things to do which can cause added stress etc and cause you to misplace things.

Could it also be that some of these classes your taking, simply do not interest you, you could have built a wall up and therefore not wanted to participate anymore in the studies? I did that with a few classes before, it was really difficult, cause I couldn't relate to any of the teachings, so I basically stopped trying.

Im sure there will be more advice for you here, everyone on here has been great! I wish you the best!

firstly welcome to the forum. there are some wonderfull people here togive you a hand. secondly how much of adderall xr are you on. I would check with your doctor and see if mabe you need a higher dose or if something else may be a help to you. One thing that a lot of people here use that really seems to help them are P.D.A.'s that way they can make to do lists, schedules, and comitments that help them remeber things. the third things is look at how much you have scheduled for yourself and see if you have to many things on your plate. I know for me I tend to over promise, over schedule, and then I get overwelmed and cant do any of it. So I am learning to take smaller chunkcs and then I can acomplish so much more. Also if you need to schedule things remember to put in time just to be down and unwind that is important too. good luck and let us know. Thank you for posting this. In trying to help you I have helped myself look at things, so you have helped me.

Thanks for the tips and ideas guys.
Kaotik78- Well, I'm not quite a college student yet but am finishing up my last 4 months of high school so college is definitly on my mind with ACTs, applications, and so on. I also am trying to work on some articles as a freelance writer to help me pay for college and a place to stay and have been trying to kick off various volunteer projects while I still have the time however all in all it's about just as much as usual since I'm not in HS classes right now. As far as the other class and my articles the subjects interest me just as much I just can't keep on with them. I have been trying to just do some more reading on the topics which I hope will spark some more inspiration on the articles and keeping a journal. It's sort of hard to explain but I get tons of ideas at once and I know that I could finish them, I want to finish them, in fact I can't wait to finish them I just can't focus on the articles.

Does anyone here find it easier to focus on hands-on task rather than reading/writing? I'm wondering if maybe I should try to shoot for a more consistent job for now, writing is my love but I just don't know if I'll be able to disipline myself.

Lunaslobo-I take 30mg. of AdderallXR, up until last month I was on 20mg. however somehow my perscription got messed up so I got 30mg. and my doctor & I decided to keep on with it. I think making some scheduels would be an excellent idea. I'll try that over the next couple of days and see how it goes. In the past scheduels have not worked so well for me unless I know that I HAVE to finish the tasks however I can definitly see how they can if I can just stick to it and am much more specific. I'll write a scheduel up for the next couple days and let you guys know how it goes.

Does anyone here find that they can focus better on tasks that are essential for the short term (example completeing a term paper so that you can get a decent grade) rather than tasks essential for the long term (example completeing an article so you can start to save up for college ect.)?

Thanks!
~Jen

Does anyone here find that they can focus better on tasks that are essential for the short term (example completeing a term paper so that you can get a decent grade) rather than tasks essential for the long term (example completeing an article so you can start to save up for college ect.)?


YES! Very much so!


" . . . I'm not quite a college student yet but am finishing up my last 4 months of high school so college is definitly on my mind with ACTs, applications, and so on. I also am trying to work on some articles as a freelance writer to help me pay for college and a place to stay . . ."
Jen - How are you feeling about ALL THAT!! I know that I was in NO SHAPE for college after I graduated high school. My last year of high school, in fact, I missed around 40 days of school! (Yes - this was WAY BACK in the day. Can't believe they passed me!) My parents had recently gotten divorced and things were not very happy anymore. I remember NEITHER of my parents "fighting for custody of the kids" (I was the oldest of three) -- and there suddenly was this new "UNDERSTANDING" that once we were graduated from high school (and were 18), we were to be responsible for ourselves and were NOT to be living at home. (And we lived in a BIG house, so "space" wasn't the problem.) I was definitely NOT prepared for that back then!!

So - because that was my experience, I can't help wondering if YOU might be overwhelmed with the thought of the upcoming transition in your life and that is contributing to your sudden difficulty in functioning. In fact, I don't believe you need your parents to be getting divorced or any other EXTRA stressor to find one's impending INDEPENDENCE slightly terrifying! (That's how it was FOR ME anyway! In many ways I was still very much an insecure and anxious child. Having a child at 26 is what helped me grow past that.)

Anyway -- just a thought from MY personal experience. However -- please don't freak yourself out over what I wrote. This transition doesn't have to be terrifying. As long as there are those older and wiser folks around in our lives that are willing to be of guidance and support -- this can be a liberating time of adventure and self-discovery. (And in case things don't go the way you planned them - NOT TO WORRY!! Many of life's most treasured moments happen when we're involved in things OTHER than what we planned. :) )

Sincerely,
Sue

P.S. WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!! Please stick around a while. We can be one source of support for sure!