I'm in my senior year in college and I was diagnosed with ADD, inattentive type I think. I've been put on adderall xr. I vary the dosage, as told to do so by my doc, from 20 to 30, taking the extra 10mg when I will need to be able to work until late.

I noticed a significant change when I first started, because the distractions were limited then and there wasn't a heavy burden on my time. I could focus on whatever I needed to, whenever I needed to.

But with the increase in work as my semester has gotten busier, I can't focus anymore. My mind has gone back into overdrive, constantly shifting from topic to topic. This is one that I haven't been able to get across to anyone. Does anyone here know what I am talking about? Your mind just constsantly shifting from topic to topic every couple of seconds? It's exhausting, but it just doesn't stop. And usually it's not important stuff, it's basic "I'm bored" nonsense.

My inability to stay focused is now becoming even more irritating, but I just can't seem to keep my head there. Last week I wasted so much time thinking about and researching the most miniscule point that a prof made in class, because I had to know the right answer. What he said was the direct opposite of a historical point I had been taught previously. Tonight I just killed 3 hours looking up stuff on ADD. Tomorrow I have a presentation (already did the work for it, but I feel like I should still be working on it), an exam Friday(been trying to make progress on it all day, and I've made very little), and then another 100 pages of reading(of the original 250) that's still hanging over my head because it's so boring that I can't stay with it.

Basic question that summarizes it all: How do you deal? I know the concentration is in there, but when I really need to get stuff done, I still can't stay on task.

Yes. I do know what you are talking about. i have been throug the exact samething you are experiencing right now. I was not diagnosed until by Junior year of college. You are not going to like my answer though.

With increased stress, comes increased brain activity. For us ADHDers that means fighting our disorder that much more than usual. Meds will only help you so much. You really need to begin working on some coping mechanisms both for your stress and your workload. You can deal with all of it, but you will need to reevaluate how you are going to.
I suggest two thing to you: 1) go get a copy of Jonathan Mooney and David Cole's book,Learning Outside the lines, immediately and skim pgs 87-221 (I know you already have a lot of reading, but this one will actually help you get the other done). It will give you some wonderful advice on how to handle everything; 2) (this is the part you won't like, because it isn't a quick fix) ease up on your class load next semester. It takes some time and patience to retrain your brain to work with new techniques of learning. College is not a race to see who finishes the quickest. Delaying graduation for a semester or even two really won't matter squat in the long run, but it will be a tremedous benefit to you both now an later.

Good Luck. You can do everything you want to, you just have to be a little more diligent and creative about it. Let all of us know how you are doing.

MM
:yin-yang:

Sage words, MM.

Cngd, listen to him...he knows his stuff. It's gotta be driving you extra nuts, being in your senior year and so close to the finish line and all.

Something else to think about: You have experienced some success since your diagnosis and med therapy. You said you have 100/250 pages left to read with some time left to do it. Think back to before your dx/medication; would an accomplishment like that have been probable? Are you raising your expections of yourself in light of the success you know you can achieve? Does that make any sense?

Once I know I am capable of accomplishing something difficult, I can get even more upset with myself when I later find myself struggling with that same thing. I just try not to expect single trial learning with myself (or anybody else, for that matter).

Cgnd <----- hang in there.

i take a while to read as is. no meds here.
so it takes me 10 pages an hour.
when i am done. i am done.
for me i got to go to library. soemtimes i can study with noise like
at a dennys in the back tables. i order a coffee. refills keep coming.
wherever you decide, do a little each day,. remember, inch by....[see below]
you can do it too!
you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!you can do it too!

i got diagnose btw after marriage in 30's.
with adhd come many strengths
any strength add or not comes with weak points.

i would rather have add and the strong points than no add


=================================

so study in bite sized time slots.

Paul :) try it.

Thanks for all the responses. MightyMouse, I'll get that book this weekend. I never expected a quick fix, but it definitely seemed like that was what I got when I first started. Now that I get back to reality, it's impossible for me to maintain that level of performance. This part is more frustrating than it was before I started.

This is my last semester before I move on to working on a graduate degree at a different school. The drop date for classes has long since expired so I'm stuck with what I got(16 hours). I will be taking a lighter workload over the next 3 semesters while I make up some credits outside of my major, since the degree I'm going for is completely unrelated but much more interesting.

FlakeyGirl, you're probably right. After that initial success, my expectations of my own performance went way up. Getting through even half of the reading I have this semester would have been impossible. It's frustrating because everyone up here can get it all done with time to spare. At first I was seeing that same benefit, but now with so much to do, I can't focus on one thing because I have 5 or 6 other things I need to be doing at the same time.

Bnsforu2, that's about the rate I was at with reading. But how much time I would spend was irrelavent unless it was something I wanted to read. I'd either read the words and remember nothing, or just sit there with the book and in my head be off on something more interesting. Now I can focus for a few minutes but if it's boring I fall right back into the same problem and it's not like I can just tell myself to stay on it, I imagine everyone here knows that one all too well.

I'll try a different study environment tonight and head to the library. I used to be able to get nothing done there, too many interesting things to look at, but maybe I'll see a difference now. My performance in class and on tests has improved. I can focus on lectures and don't get distracted by EVERYTHING during exams, but when it's me having to control my attention and what to work on, it gets a lot tougher.

cg You can do it! if i can , you definately can do it!

Paul :)

and welcome to this group!

A word of advice about grad school: What I said before applies two-fold.

I can remember how frustrating it was right after diagnosis, too. You think to yourself, "Great! I have finally figured out why I'm struggling so all I have to do now is take my meds and i'll be able to do even more than before I was diagnosed!" Unfortunately, that isn't how it works. Believe me! I soooooo wish it worked that way! If you want to make it in grad school, you need to work on new learning techniques and skills. The stresses and requirements you had in undergraduate will either triple or quadruple. I'm not trying to scare you, you can definitely make it, but don't expect it to be like undergraduate. Its not.

You will do great, however. You want to know how I know that? Because I can tell by your posts that you have already begun the process of learning to live with your ADHD. Keep it up!

MM

You are going to drive yourself nuts if you keep comparing yourself to others with regard to study habits. Keep in mind that you are just now learning *how* to study effectively, a skill that a good majority of other college students and certainly most graduate students picked up in, oh, say, about the sixth or seventh grade. As hopeless as that sounds (and I am never one to be hopeless) you'll discover that you have a leg up on them in other areas that will serve you just as well. I'll bet you write a dang good essay, making connections/comparisons that no one else has thought of or turning an interesting phrase. All this self discovery is what college is about, right?

I have a law degree.

GET A STUDY GROUP.

Get a bunch of people in your concentration who are taking the same classes that you work well with and you trust. Then you are accountable to friends to get study outlines done by the end of the semester, AND you have someone you can depend on to help you when you really don't get it. (And in the things where you are brilliant you can help, and you get an extra dopamine rush from being the brilliant one.)

I wouldn't have made it without mine. I didn't have one my first year and my grades were lousy. Our group formed the second year and I stayed with them through the third year and graduated with honors.

Get one.

/end rant