ADHD-Struggling to Manage Remote Classes and Career: help me, help you, help us, encourage and hold each other accountable.We will overcome.

[cloudedmindxx]

I am a 22 year old with ADHD (professional diagnoses: 4 yrs ago, managed with continuing prescription medications; unprofessional diagnoses: 18 yrs ago) currently pursuing my masters in accountancy, studying for the CPA exam, and working a part time internship. Due to COVID, my entire masters program has shifted to online, as I’m sure many other programs and schools at all levels of education have too.

Throughout my life I have struggled with self motivation and self accountability. I managed these with sports and community involvement. I played 2 sports throughout elementary, middle, and high school and even played 2 collegiate level sports throughout my 4 years of undergrad. I had 2 majors, 2 minors, was in the honors college, was an RA, VP of a Sorority, as well as other university organizations, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

My motivation and accountability was manifested in external sources: meeting the academic standards and requirements to maintain eligibility and academic awards.

For my situation, a post undergrad life was going to bring some changes, but I was prepared for handling them. However, COVID flipped all of our worlds upside down in an exceptionally debilitating way for us who suffer from ADHD.

Many of us have been left to fend for ourselves as we sit alone at our desk at home staring blankly at a computer screen helplessly rereading the same sentences over and over again until we’re finally able to engage our hyper focus, only to disengage shortly after as we fall victim to our distraction/comfort stimulus.

CALL TO ACTION:

I am looking for individuals like me that feel they could benefit from a sort of “buddy system” to help each other with motivation and accountability. What I had in mind was maintaining some form of daily contact/check ins to make sure we both are getting things done that we need to and being a life line when tension begin to run high and crippling frustration kicks in. This offer is open to any individual who needs help with school, work, or any other obligations. I am also open to any suggestions! If something like this already exists, PLEASE let me know how to access the resource!

I need help. You need help. Why not help me, help you, help us!

[inbetween]

I struggle with the same things you described, past and present. Count me in!

[ata95]

I am a 25 years old undergrad student at physics dep. who is struggling with ADD for years (not knowing that I had it all those years) Now trying to keep up with my lectures and studies to be able to graduate and continue on higher education successfully with the help of support and suggestions given on this website, professional support and medications.

Without finding a useful way to cope with my ADD, I don't think I could make it to graduation.

Having a (safe) group in which you can freely explain yourself to the ones that experience (almost) the same issues with you and helping each other in this safe environment is a great idea and even might be one of the most helpful methods for us ADD and ADHD'ers

I am definitely in.

[peterracoon]

Hi. thank you for sharing.

I may be not able to be a full on daily buddy because I barely keep up already with all my stuff But I always write personalized advice/support for anyone sharing their ADHD problems (often quite personal) under my ADHD-issues videos - (small channel, and I dont want to shamelessly promote it here - but I can send you a link if you are interested ) I feel like its a good medium, because other people who resonate with the comment can read the thread, chime in, or just see they are not alone in this.

However, my more broad response would be - what are the medications you are on? From my experience, when I settled in on meds, that are working well for me, most of the psychological problems with Covid isolation went away. There are still some problems, but not when Im sitting alone staring at my home-office workload, that became quite handle-able.

In short, Im not sure if your meds are working quite well enough? But I understand if you dont want to share the details here.

In any case, good luck to you and try to stay positive - we are going to get through this rough patch eventually!

[cloudedmindxx in reply to peterracoon]

Hi! I have been prescribed adderall ever since my diagnosis. In high school I was able to respond well to 15mg. In college I began experiencing some issues, so I was increased to 30 mg xr and responded very well even with how involved I was (for context, the 2nd paragraph in my post references this). Now, I began grad school in Aug. and working part time in May, which is a significant decrease in commitments and tasks, yet somehow I am struggling more than ever. In Sept. I was prescribed an additional 10 mg pill to take around noon-2pm to help me make it to the end of the day. However, all together, I feel like I'm taking a placebo.... I have completely stopped responding to it.

Oddly enough, it seems like this all started happening when I received my most recent bottle... I'm lowkey convinced that there was a mistake and someone had to have messed up the pills they gave me. Obviously, I don't actually think that is what happened, but it's the only reason I can even think of. Idk if this is something that has ever happened to anyone else or if its even possible.

[TenaciousDD in reply to cloudedmindxx]

Brand name for me is the only way to go and XR. I wish I could afford the brand tablets, but they're ridiculous. Unfortunately feels like XR only works 4-6hrs and 6 is really an overstatement. I noticed the generic tablets are absolute garbage with some manufacturers making ones that make me feel sleepy & starving, what the hell. Singlecare is the only way to go when wanting brand name....I"ve done the endurance test to get past the prior-auth with ins companies---if you end up cash pay--you could do 2 xr's per day. I swear, it's like they started making adderall weaker when mydayis came out. That prescription, is like $800 for a 3-months supply--NOPE! lol

[peterracoon in reply to cloudedmindxx]

Hi, thanks for the response. As it has been pointed out by Tenacious, maybe there is something to the hypothesis of the medication itself being faulty? I really cant say anything about that subject, because I dont understand how this works in other countries... But it is a still a pretty wild hypothesis

Isnt there a possible connection to the change of activities you are involved with? Many people report that a lot of sports actually massively helps with ADHD.. while we all know, that repetitive and uninteresting job tasks are the worst. I dont have enough information to make an exact profile of all your activities now and before, but it sounds a lot like you decreased the "hobby" and "sports" elements, which have a positive effect... and increased the "boring" and "general free time" elements, which have a negative effect.

Considering ADHD is not really a generalized-low-motivation disorder, but rather, its about chaotic focus, unrestrained energy distribution and fragile emotional stability... It could be just that your new routine (even though "less involved") is much less ADHD-friendly?

[Cherryredzap]

I am 19 years old and I did have online lectures but I used to distracted allot the next minute I am on YouTube or playing games. now my college opened and I am studying programming it isn't easy I was thinking about dropping out. Last year I was studying office work. We all have to be strong and support each other.

😃

[sdbpast]

3 sessions per week are free on Focusmate.com and unlimited are $5/month.

[ECrow]

I'm in as well! I was diagnosed professionally with ADHD about a year ago. I just started a career, it's my first job in a while where it isn't mindless. I've been coasting untreated for a while, but since starting this job I've realized I need to really buckle down and figure out how to manage ADHD or I'll sink.