ADHD help.....

[paying_it_forward]

I have posted this in the ADHD forum but thought i would post it here too...in the hopes that someone might be able to help....I do know a fair bit about the disorder though i fall short in the department of coping mechanisms in regards to maintaining focus. This is a genuine post for help. So please do not attack me...negativity will not help in this kind of situation.

This is my the post in the other forum:

I am currently having a lot of trouble keeping my focus in my studies and completing my assignments on time :\  (though the assignments i have submitted I have passed with fabulous feedback)

I take between 30-50mg of dexamphetamine (not usually 50mg these days). I have written down a list of all assignments and their due dates on my whiteboard so i can physically SEE what i have to do and so there is some kind of order to what i am doing.

I am nearing the end of the course, with placement starting in mid October :S ....ALL assignments MUST be in before commencing placement. I am quite behind and feel overwhelmed. I want to get them done this year (rather than coming back next year)....I can not deal with the feeling of another failure. I know I'm still adapting to the diagnosis and medication....sometimes i feel empowered and confident that i will get things done, yet other times I feel as though I'm too far behind and too far gone....

Does anyone have any strategies that you have found to be effective in keeping focused and motivated?

Please help this girl with a mega mumbled mind.... :\

[Punkinhead75]

Glad to hear yer gettn some help.  It's good to know that there are things in place to help those who need it.  Good luck!!!!!

[paying_it_forward]

Thanks guys :)

I find the whiteboard helpful in the sense that i won't forget what i have to complete and know the time i have to do it in.

I'm fantastic at researching and when i get an assignment i automatically know what I'll be doing and feel good about it. I've been through a lot of things that have impacted my studies...

Today i had an appointment with my employment agency (they paid for my course because technically i don't have to be working or studying at the moment...but I'm choosing to) and i let them know that I was starting to struggle with the adhd and keeping my focus etc....she was so surprised when i said I have never had counseling of any kind....ever. (i told her that i had already searched for some kind of adhd support group in my area but there are none....)

So I thought it might be a good idea to see a psychologist (for a number of reasons)... I've tried to change my thought patterns, and have succeeded to a certain extent...my downfall is staying in a certain frame of mind. So my employment agency have organised for me to see one free of cost.

Also I guess I'll finally have the opportunity to deal with some other long term issues too and hopefully learn some techniques and coping mechanisms :)

Ah well I guess i better try and get some sleep :S gotta be up in 8 hours...

:) thank you for reading and replying...I just don't have any close friends to talk to anymore

[Punkinhead75]

I am more on the OCD side however I think  the end results are the same.  I tend to get too focused on whats in front of me and either forget or not have enough time to take care of other things.  The result is too much to do with not enough time which leads to feeling overwhelmed and sometimes hopeless which for me turns into self pity and depression.

I make reasonable lists of things that need to get accomplished along with things I'd like to do.  The key for me here is prioritizing and balance between work and play.  I often set the alarm on my phone to hel[p remind me to look at the list and move on to something else.

I like what laurel had to say regarding being disciplined to putting in some effort.  Chip away at the overwhelming mountain and eventually it will be easily managed or gone.  I find that when I put in some effort that overwhelming feeling isn't nearly as strong and more easily overcome.  Best of luck with your projects. Now get off this site and get to work!!!!  LOL!!!!  

[laurel453]

i can tell how i would do it... you are already feeling quite overwhelmed and behind so i would not lose more time... having a list in front of you with all the assignments is of not help if you don't start working on each one every day even if you don't accomplish a lot at first, start working a little every day, no matter what happens.

So i would plan and develop each of the assignments, try to figure up the small steps and make some work each day.... have a timetable you could follow daily... at what time do you work best ? in the mornings, evenings ? ... developing the discipline of sitting down every day will be the first step and things will work out if you are not in a hurry of doing it all at once, this is the best way of not doing anything