College and ADHD-Help! A test tomorrow but cannot concentrate..

[Dreameralive_sky]

Sigh
I think i have ADHD
I have a test tomorrow and i have been trying to study it for past few days but just not able to concentrate so i could not get all my informations into my head. And to make matters worst, i became forgetful, such as wanting to buy hamster foods but procrastinated it for almost a week. sometimes i forget too much and get tired to do it. So my hamster did not have hamster foods for a week. I just give him breads. Sigh. I couldn't concentrate for my test. What can i do? This is not first time. I usually only concentrate better at the last few hours before the test or exam. Help me please!!! My grades are terrible. I am always last in class. By the way i am college now. I have this problem only in college and persisted for 3 years.

[Trooper Keith]

I responded with an admonition to get tested in your other post, so in this one I'll say:

To help study, translate the information into something that is interesting for you. For example, you may try learning history by drawing a series of comics. It helps you learn, and also keeps you mentally sound and focused, all at the same time.

As much as I hate to say it, because it's so addictive, you may want to temporarily boost your caffeine intake. If you have a weak bladder, or don't drink coffee for whatever reason, you may consider non-prescription Vivarin, which is a caffeine pill with 200mgs of caffeine (the equivalent of a cup and a half of strong coffee). Caffeine is a stimulant; it makes normal people buzz, and it makes us focus a little easier.

Study during the daylight hours, when nobody is around. Also, _do not study in your room._ Very important, as in our rooms, we can be distracted. Go out to the common room of your residence hall, or the library if must needs be. There are less distractions out there than in our rooms.

During the test, pace yourself, and allow yourself a minute or so every few minutes just to collect your thoughts, mentally "purge," and then go back to work. Be careful not to give yourself too many breaks or too long breaks, however, especially in shorter (hour long) classes.

Hope this helps!

[Dreameralive_sky]

Oh
I am not american there is no such thing for me. I am graduating soon and don't think i will be seeing a sch counsellor at this point of time it is LATE.
I like your suggestions. I will try thanks.
I am going to toilet to study now. Yes you heard that- toilet. Perhaps, Maybe gonna help my concentration.
I wonder why it is so difficult for me to see a psychiatrist or counsellor. Ever went to one. But sometimes my symptoms are very mild and i can live with it. But during exams or stressful times i cannot.
Bye.

[Slowpoke]

Hi,
I was unable to concentrate either...and a lot of it had to do with the anxiety. I have lately been taking my CD player to places to study and listening to classical music. Baroque music has been shown to help concentration in several research projects, as the beat is about the same as the heartbeat when relaxed.. so it helps you relax. It also will help to block out other people's conversations, which always distracts me.

Another thing that I found helpful was to NOT PRESSURE MYSELF about having to learn everthing in detail. When cramming, I used to go through stuff in detail, and then I wouldn't have time to study one or two chapters at all...

Instead, try really skimming fast, reading the stuff fast on the first run, and tell yourself that YOU ONLY NEED TO PICK UP THE GENERAL FEEL OF THE CONTENT. Then, go back and read it again...

I found that making my eyes move faster when I read helps for some reason, as I am getting the flow of information to my brain, instead of going slow and agonizing over each word and force-feeding the words one by one, so to speak.

Hope this helps.

[Dreameralive_sky]

okay I have taken notes on the above suggestions on my journal.
I am going to try them all out. It is gonna work. I am gonna do well in my exams.
Yeah. Wait for my good news baby~ Erm,, the effects of the coffee on my mood now...maybe!

[Energizer_Bunny]

Hamster I am so with you on the test and concentration thing. I had a test this past Monday and fortunately, I have been sick and was able to use that as an excuse to postpone my test. And in the meantime I still have not studied,

[wheresmykeys]

I have the same problem. I can't even make myself sit down to TRY to study nevermind actually intake information. I am having a lot of trouble with school too, excpet this is only my first semester of college. I am worried I will not succeed in post-secondary at this rate. It is depressing because I know I am at least as smart as all my friends, yet their grades are many times better.

Those tips on how to study by skimming, usuing music, etc.. are great, but first I need to learn how to sit down! I am not usually hyperactive but I am so distracted that when I sit down to do something, even things that interest me, I am up and down, up and down and I don't often know why I got up at all. It is terrible! I had exams last week and I had 2 weeks of no school to study and I only started to attempt in the last few minutes but my brain was so overloaded and scrambling from my busy days at work that I could not even begin to think. I went into those exams blind and I refuse to check my mark. I think by now I should have figured out how to study(18yrs, in college), but no. It is only getting harder.

I'm new by the way, nice to meet you all!

[Lisa G]

It is all about the goal, not about the process, I mean if you look at the goal you can hyperfocus, also if you look at the size of the task, and don't feel like it is infinite, but it is easier to focus on teh principles, not on the vaccum, I also find these interactive web sites with slide shows better than the text book, once I get the meaning it is not so hard to get it, I mean the problem I find is that flowing should be natural, you shouldn't have to struggle, so I get the big slides, big letters in colour, learn the principles, and those interactive tests really help, then I can relate to what I am reading.

Also if I feel scrambled, I go to bed early , get up around 5 and do the work. It is much easier when everthing around you is still asleep.

You dont want to make it bigger than it is