I am a undergrad college student struggling with severe ADHD. I am currently taking 70 mg of Vyvanse and 2 mg of Guanfacine to help me manage my symptoms, and it doesn't seem to be helping a whole lot. I have currently been hyper focusing on finding tools that can help me manage my symptoms throughout the day, as well as doom scrolling through Instagram. Which are time blindness, lack of concentration, difficulties with short-term memory, as well as others. With in the past few days, I have noticed myself researching new tools to help me combat those problems, but then I spend all day doing that and not my assignments. I feel unaccomplished and dissatisfied with myself at the end of the day. The tools I have tried in the past are: time blocking my day, setting timers (which then I just ignore or reset), prioritizing the important things, doing the hard assignments first, taking breaks in-between assignments, and so much more. I wonder if this has to do with the semester starting to wrap up. But this has also happened during the middle of the semester as well. I have met with an ADHD coach once before, and it didn't help a whole lot. And don't have the money currently to see another one. Any advice on what to do in this situation? Or have any of you experienced this or something similar, and what did you do to help yourself? Just feel lost on what to do. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
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crossfitter15
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Hi crossfitter15My ADHD was untreated all my life until now I dropped out of school but when I went to college to get my hischool diploma
Because of my dyslexia I had to read aloud all my class books into a tape recorder and then silently read those books while I listened to my self reading them this helped me focus up I also suffer from short term memory its like an ocd for example did I put the gas cap back on then did I check if I put the gas cap on then did I check if I checked to put the gas cap on.
I also spoke to the teachers alot built rapport with them got to know and this helped me get a passing grade. Thanks for reading Doomann
I relate to your situation. I’ve been struggling with this condition my whole life and nobody could help me. I can feel your frustration of not being able to accomplish your tasks because I went through that as well. When I was in college I felt the same way as you, I couldn’t concentrate on my studies and I ended up doing things that were not important like cleaning my closet or baking. The only time I could sit down to do my studies was at night when everyone was sleeping, that was the perfect time for me. I could focus and make progress on my assignments. Also I used to make a weekly calendar where I wrote down my assignments. I had it in the cover of my binder, so I can see it all the time and know what I need to work on. This peace of paper helped me to not forget the classes I needed to attend and my assignments due. I used to do it every week and I focused only on that week to not overwhelm myself having the whole month in front of me. Back then I wasn’t under medication and not even diagnosed with ADHD, but I knew something wasn’t right. It was hard, but I graduated from college with good scores. Now that I’m older I went back to school to get my BA. Oh my goodness! It was even harder it was hard to concentrate, most of the time I couldn’t focus at all. I tried to do the same thing as I did in college but this time it didn’t work. Maybe because I got older, I don’t know. Like you, I was taking my ADHD meds and I looked on social media for something that could help me, but nothing really helped. So, what I did was to turn off my phone and I shut myself up in my room or any room in the house and I told everyone to not disturb me. Also when I wasn’t too tired, I stayed up at night doing my assignments. Honestly that was the only way I could get through this. It wasn’t easy, I had to put all my effort on this. It was a time that I couldn’t concentrate even when I was by myself in the room, my brain said “I can’t do it”, and I talked to myself back “we can do it, we have to, we can do this together “. Sometimes you need to talk to yourself and make it clear that you have to do what you have to do and nobody is gonna come and help you, it’s just you who can make the impossible things possible. You have to do it or you fail the course and unfortunately sometimes there is no other way. I wish I can give you a magic answer to help you, but I’m not a therapist or anything like that, I’m just a person who struggles with ADHD as you. But I just want to let you know that you are not the only one who suffers with this, you are not alone. If it helps you as motivation I want to let you know that I just got my bachelors degree this past month after almost giving up thousands of times and fighting against my own will every day
I hope my experiences with school and ADHD help you and motivate you to continue and not give up. I wish the best to you!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! I like the idea of putting your assignments on the front of your binder so you are constantly looking at it! I might have to steal that idea from you! Talking back to my brain is something I have to do constantly as well and sometimes it wins… which I’m not a huge fan of. 🫤
Major props to you for trying new tools and tactics! With ADHD it is such a challenge accomplishing everything in a day and managing symptoms. I am a college student as well, and just like you struggle to find the best tools to manage my symptoms and get assignments done. I typically turn in stuff right at the 11:59 deadline on the day it's due, sometimes late. It can all be very overwhelming. Also like you struggle with doom scrolling. My phone is the main issue, once I start doom scrolling and can't stop for like hours. So during study sessions I try to put it out of arm's reach or at least out of direct line of sight!
Two things that have helped me to get better with time management are the Pomorodo method, where you do a 20 minute study session then a 5 minute break. Though I usually do a 25 minute study session and a 15-20 minute break where I just sit for a bit or start on a new task during hyper focusing time. I got the app and the countdown takes up the entire phone screen, so it makes it really satisfying to do work to it.
If the Pomodoro is too long for your brain, to just sit down and say "I'm going to work on this for 5 minutes". Typically for me that tricks my brain into a longer study session.
Second thing is, Google calendar is a lifesaver. Tasks for homework assignments, really satisfying to check off.
Ah, one last thing too! I've been working with an ADHD therapist, and she mentioned something interesting that we really shame ourselves for ADHD, this shame is a big component of it. We should practice radical self-acceptance. You can do this! Be nice to yourself when you may not accomplish all you want to instead of punishing yourself with shame. "Ok, didn't do this today but that is ok. I'm not giving up."
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I have tried the pronomo method and sometimes it’s a hit or miss for me. I need to get better at using google calendar! I have heard it’s a lifesaver for many people. I agree with you on how shame plays a huge factor with this as well and radical self-acceptance is something I need to work harder on. Do you like having a therapist solely for ADHD? I’m in therapy now for depression and anxiety but maybe it’s time to make the switch.
This is my first therapist ever, so I don't know if it would be helpful or harmful for you to make the switch. To summarize my own experiences, I believe it's different than regular therapy. In ADHD therapy, we talk about the ADHD struggles this week brought and reflect on how to move forward. She is like a guide providing great ADHD tools and insights, rather than an "expert" telling me this is exactly what to do to figure things out.
We are learning together figure out together what works best! ADHD therapy for these past couple of months has been an exploratory self-development process, rather than just here is the medication, do this, do that.
Like other comments said, before thinking about making a therapist switch, I'd talk to your provider about the meds you are taking. There are lots of "flavors" of ADHD, each person might need something different.
About Google calendar, do you have an android or iphone? I like setting up my Google calendar on my android as you can make it into a widget and see the calendar on the homepage. It also is nice that it connects to my computer, so I can see what to do while doing homework.
In college, I didn't know I had ADHD, but I knew I had all the symptoms. Exercise was a great treatment for me. Aerobics and weights. A benefit of exercise--I mean consistent--was better sleep, which is always a struggle for people with ADHD.
Also talk to your provider: tell them you need more help. You may need to change meds and try some new meds. Never overlook that a different med could help a lot!
And what about some help from your college counseling center?
I feel for you, I was in the same shoes at 19, in college. I quit after a year and a half, followed my Air Force sister to Germany and had the time of my life. I went back to college at age 26 and got a degree, much easier that time around. Now at 53 I know it was the right choice as my brain had time to continue to make more neural connections, all while getting some great life experience, too. That's the time you should be out there encountering life and all the different ways to live it. I came to realize that working minimum wage jobs was not how I wanted my future to look like and it helped motivate me to get a (practical) degree if I wanted to have any kind of financial stability in the future.
For those of us with ADHD (and even for those without) I would HIGHLY recommend joining the Air Guard (Air Force Reserves) for a few (minimum 4?)years. The military will, by default, teach you great life skills that could help your ADHD, and will give you TIME to also let your brain "finish cooking". You'll get free money for college and only have to commit to a weekend a month and two weeks a year (to continue working on whatever "job" you get assigned). You'd have to check and see about the ADHD diagnosis, though, not sure if that would exclude eligibility. And, of course, you'd have to be (or close to) "in shape" physically. You would do this "reserves gig" in addition to having a low-responsibility, hopefully FUN job, for health insurance or food/shelter.
Or you could really have some fun and work for the DOD at an AFRC location in Germany called Garmisch-Partenkirchen!! Either option......good luck!👍
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