Frustration!

You are in the right place! I was frustrated too and I came here for the same reason you did…and I found people here are so helpful and supportive..I’m sure you’ll feel the same.
Let me assure you - as I was assured by people in this forum - that you are not alone. Two days ago I was in exactly the same boat as you are. It is extremely frustrating to know what to do and wanting to do something but not doing it in the end.
One suggestion I can give is that you may want to get back on meds - i tried ritalin for some time and i had the same feeling of restlessness and innattentiveness once it wore off - my doctor prescribed extended-release ritalin (Ritalin-ER) - but they were not helping me at all - finally i went back to normal ritalin but increased the number of doses per day - i found that i could generally time it when i needed the medication - it took apprx. 30 minutes to kick in and lasted around 3 hours - i took the medication only when i needed to really concentrate on schoolwork. you should work with your doctor and find the right dose/number of doses that’ll fit you. you can try meds other than ritalin too - your doctor will know.
Also, if you read through the messages posted here you will find invaluable information that will surely help you managing the ADD.
Good Luck!

Hi J,
You made the right turn when you came here. I think you will learn a lot from others and maybe not feel so bad about yourself when you learn that we are all going through the same thing. But I know that doesn’t help you.

So….why not zero in on a few things and post them and we can all give you our opinions. Right now you are talking about taking or not taking the meds. It would be nice if you didn’t have to and that may be an option that you can stay with. But let’s see what things that are really really hard for you that you wish you could change.
Glad you found us.

There are 3 main things that just bug me: 1) wanting to get stuff done and not getting as much as I want done or getting nothing I wanted done, 2) forgetting in 2 seconds what I want to write (that wasn’t really one, just wrote it cuz I forgot what I wanted to list :) ), 3) organization problems.

I just went to my Dr. tonight, and he gave me a script for Ritalin (I’m only gunna take it when I want to get something done, I’m not a big fan of taking a lot of meds).

Forgot to add something to my post. I’ve never finished my 4-year degree, though I have accumulated many credits from a few different schools. I have been through so many different things that I want to do, and then I lose interest and don’t finish. I’m hoping to start a program in October that I *want* to finish, but I have done this so many times that no one takes it too seriously anymore. It’s kind of frustrating. :)

Hi J. I have never finished a book. I get to the last three or four pages and close the book. I can’t believe that it is my ADHD that compells me to do this. :)

I have started the fifteen minute routine. I make a list at night of things I NEED to accompish. Some things may be overwhelming. So I spend fifteen minutes at it. If i feel like doing more, good for me. If not i haven’t messed my brain up.

If i were you which I guess we all are pretty much one person in here. At least we all understand each other. But if I were you, Itoo would have three posts instead of one. But now I try to remember to do my posts in word and taking my time and then posting it. I’m bad. Really bad. No meds and a real laugh to be with because of the durfy things i do.

I also have two things I cannot loose. My keys and my cell phone. I now have a beeper for them. It is one unit purchased at brookstone. I think you can orfer it on the net. It has two beepers to it. there is a small remote on your keys and phone. Beep the base unit and whala. It is $50.00 but the best money I ever have spent. People do not have to listen to me saying help! I can’t find my keys. :)

J,

You’re not alone. I haven’t been able to finish my 4yr degree either and worse fellow students become aggravated with me because I forget names and dates although I do understand what’s going on, sometimes much better than they do. I become defensive and end up dropping the class. I’m also very anxious in social situations so that doesn’t help much. I didn’t realize that these were symptoms of ADD. I ‘m looking for a place to get diagnosed and if I do have ADD, learn some strategies so that I can get on with my life. I feel like I’ve wasted precious years.

Wow! What great suggestions you have Bojangles. I am so going to buy one of those beeper thingies. I have one on my cordless phone at home, but not on anything else and I get so PISSED when I have to look for stuff. It wastes so much time. Bojangles, I’m not so sure about the one post thing. A lot of people prefer to read a few short ones, than a long one. Just a thought.

In terms of not being able to get things done?? I paid about 12,000 for my Master’s Degree and nearly lost the chance to complete it when I procrastinated finishing my “Action Research” (which is much like a thesis). It was a bloody good thing I had a professor who liked me and was willing to give me 2 extensions. I ended up dropping off my finished paper in his apartment door at 8:00 on a Sunday night so that I didn’t lose credit for that class….thus, delaying my degree. I realize I was lucky, and I THANK GOD that I didn’t blow my degree…I had 4 pointed everything else.

The funny thing is about the whole incident, that I had the ENTIRE summer off. But, I much preferred playing my on-line multi-user roleplaying game (I had a wizard chick who was a “Priestess of Nature”—she ruled), than working on that monstrosity. I sometimes just could NOT bring myself to do it, even if I was sitting at my computer with the paper staring me in the face. I got so depressed for being such an idiot, and I am definately going to get on meds before I get my next degree.

I fortunately, have been mostly lucky throughout my education. I’ve had professors who were willing to work with me because they knew I was bright and they liked my insight as well as my writing. In most cases, I did not tell them about my ADD, but in some cases I did, and it mostly worked in my favor. I don’t know about any of you, but I find that when I am under stress (from doing whatever) my ADD symptoms tend to triple, making it a vicious cycle. I would suggest sharing with professors, and perhaps explaining what your particular issues are when it is warranted. You do not “deserve what you get”. Also, check out tutoring, or the other services available at your school for people with LD/ADD. Hope this helps, and thanks for listening guys.

Traci
Las Vegas, NV

Stress is kind of like a double edged sword for me. On one hand I work my best when I have a deadline, but my symptoms always get worse when I have *too* much stress.

I don’t usually tell professors about all my disabilities. It’s kind of a long list, so I just tell them what accomodations work for me. I am very honest with them about my disabilities, I just don’t go through all of them.

I have no idea where I was going with that, but hey. :) Anyway, I have a perscription for Ritalin now, which I’ve only taken once since I got it. I forgot how great it was to be focused and get stuff done!

J,
Frustration is my middle name. I dont think that there is a day that goes by that I dont get frusterated over something.

I have learned for myself that I cant get down on myself for the things that I did not complete that day, instead I say to myself ok. I have to do it tomorrow.

I have found that by leaving post it notes all over the house really helps me to remember all the things that I have to get done. They may be annoying but they work for me.

Another thing that might work for you is a tape recorder. One of the little pocket ones that you can record yourself reminding you to do something. Instead of trying to remember what it was that you wanted to write down.

OH!! I have found that you cant just take your meds when you want to be focused. In order for them to work you need to take them everyday. I have tried to do that for years and finally realized that it just doesnt work that way.

Hope these help….

Amy