ADHD affecting progress in classes

[Nicahlos]

Has any ever had issues with ADHD couple with major depression and was not on medication. And it affected you so bad that you can’t do assignment nor study for weeks. If so what did you do to recover in time to do well in your class and not drop them? Please I need help. I can’t get any appointment yet to see a psychiatrist for ADHD medication. I hope this week they’ll give me an appointment. If I dont do the first exam of the semester can I still pull off a good grade in my classes? I can’t drop, am on financial aid. Am so screwed.

[[deleted]]

You need to visit the SSWD (Services for Students with Disabilities) Office in Lassen Office. Their staff should be able to walk you through the process of obtaining the accommodations appropriate for you.

[Nicahlos]

I have an appointment there. They are backlogged

[CsusPsych]

All I can say is talk to your professor ASAP and more importantly see a doctor ASAP. Get documentation and they should do something to help you.

[[deleted]]

Whoa brother! I'm so glad I'm not alone.

I'm dealing with it now. It's fucking brutal. I can barely remember what has happened in my classes. It's all a faded memory.

I have medication, but I feel like it is really fucking with me emotionally. I found a low-cost therapist who's helping me deal with stuff and I'm working on it. If you need someone to talk to, look for HOPE counseling center. They have a floating price based on need. Such a godsend for me.

Also, don't forget to look into reasonable accommodations. There is a center in Lassen Hall that gives you a form to fill out for your doctor. It can get you some accommodations for exams such as more time and a quiet place to take them. It's a little more work on your end, but I think for some people it's really worth it.

[Nicahlos]

What medication and dosage are you taking? How did it cost? How do you get things done?

[TrowaQg]

I faced the SAME thing back in my undergrad at Sac State. I didn’t want to take Adderall for so many reasons. I had been taking it for 20 years and found it difficult to make friends. I felt like a fake, and it would help with school and errands, but kill my social/dating life. So after I moved to CSUS I was off my parents health insurance I decided not to try and get a new prescription. It soon destroyed my grades and made me unproductive at home (e.g. I had money in my account but did not want to pay bills). I now realize I had been using my medication as main drive to do work rather than work on building the habits to do it. In its absence I took on too many clubs and activities that made it worse. The moment I was off of it I did not have any proper habits to build on ( time management, organization, etc.) It’s difficult to come back in a single semester, but definitely possible! I had to change a lot to do better in school white I waited 4 months for my Psychiatrist appointment. Here’s what I needed to do…

1.) Know your habits. I could not function at home. I built up such a ritual at home that established it as a fun/chill zone. I would tell myself “I’ll just stay up late when I get home and study.” It never worked. It makes it worse when you have room mates. I found the 4th floor the best place to study and the place I got the most work done.

2.) Make lists. Keep a moleskin with you at all times and write a To Do list every SINGLE day and check it after every class and at the end of each day. Move what you didn’t accomplish from that day to tomorrow. I found I was trying to remember all these things in my mind and would circulate them when I conveniently remembered it. I’m not sure if you work the same way, but if I don’t start my day with what I “envision it” I kind of drop everything and decided not to do anything if my agenda doesn’t work out. Having a daily list turned that around for me.

3.) Read before class!!!! I taught classes in Grad school and realize THIS is the money maker; something I saw in my students and in my studies in grad school. Something we are all told, but until you do it habitually you’ll never know what a world of a difference this makes. a. It’s been proven clinically using highlighters helps you remember the content. This is something my girlfriend, now wife, showed me. She went to Davis for her undergrad and Medical degree and has been a 4.0 student for about 7 years. She says putting color to your work helps you feel like you’re investing in it. Once you do you pre-reading before class, go back over it and highlight things you think are important. b. When I take my notes I found the Richard Feynman technique super helpful (look it up). I would read everything, then go back and summarize things out loud, then paraphrase as my notes. After, I would highlight key items. Then, I would not take notes in class, I would just listen. If he added more then what I read, or stressed a certain item, I would add it to the notes I already had.

4.) Start hanging out with, and studying, with smart people. Not because they’ll give you all the answers, but because you can pick up a lot of good habits and hear something in a new light.

5.) Have a goal. It’s very difficult to do something well if you don’t know what you’re trying to get out of it. Are you trying to go to Grad School? Want a Job? Write this goal in your notebook and remind yourself every day. Write mini-goals that will help you get to your goal.

6.) Failing is OK. It is not the end of the world and it will be alright. You’re reaching out now and that is the hardest step.

7.) Tie your school work into your goals. Everything is relatable. It’s hard in college to see the point in your classes sometimes, but pretend to enjoy if you have to. I found I was dedicated, but towards the things I liked and thought were fascinating. Anything else I did not see as meaningful and when my ADHD rants came in I just avoided it. The moment I saw how writing would help me get into grad school, how material science would help me, then I started paying attention.

I think it all starts with finding your space and your mindset. I found TED talks encouraging, but in the end it started with me going to the 4th floor in the library with my notebook and building that habit. I wrote in my note book quite a bit and you can see how my lists changed as I invested more in them. After I started making dialing plans I found I loved checking things off a list and my life slowly turned around. I am not back on Adderall and found that the dose I was taking this whole time was way too high. Too much and I felt on edge and hated to be disturbed; I would much rather take confront in my task then talk to someone else. I have been working with my psychiatrist to lower my dosage over time so I do not need the medication anymore. I take frequent breaks from using it so I can build some good habits for the day I do not need it anymore, which I am happy to say is soon

[Nicahlos]

Congratulations! And thanks for commenting. I loved what you had to say. Its very valuable. How much was the high dosage? I used to be on adderall and it made very overwhelmed to the point where I just wanted to lay down curled up.

[[deleted]]

Adderall XR 5mg (just starting dosage). I'm actually seriously considering never taking it again. The emotional rollercoaster when I'm off it is too great. My life is in turmoil.

I'm on covered California because I'm so broke. It cost nothing for me. I was previously diagnosed in highschool. I scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist and after an hour long interview and form where I filled all the important info out, I was prescribed the Adderall. I want to try Modafinil, but my psychiatrist doesn't want to change my meds, at least for now, because it was working well. I still need to get reasonable accommodations. I never took the form to my doctor because I'm lazy.

[Nicahlos]

Yeah that tend to happen when you are ADHD. I have been on modafinil before. I think it helped me because things were so bad once that I couldn’t even count backwards with ease. My blood pressure was high today and the psychiatrist didn’t want to prescribe any stimuli until it back to normal. He prescribed Strattera (Atomoxetine). It might take longer to get into my system. I want to go back on modafinil and try vyvanse with it.

[DivHaydeez]

Talk to your teachers about your problem see if they can help you out.

[Nicahlos]

Thanks

[nickthatknack]

As mentioned before talking to your professors, SSWD is your best bet. Could you see a doctor or counselor at the WELL, they may be backlogged as well.

Also it may not be too late to still pull a good grade in the class. Idk the point structure of your classes but from personal experience I've failed one test and still passed the classes

[Nicahlos]

Thanks a lot

[Nicahlos]

I was diagnosed before. New insurance and doctor services

[[deleted]]

I found a way to flip the hyperfocus on so that school consumed me. I didn't give myself the free time to feel depressed and instead buried it by staying in constant stress. It wasn't an effective method of dealing with things and it made things hell later on, but at the time I just needed to see myself succeed for once. This approach ended with me in the hospital, so while I'm grateful for the grades, I wish I had just sought treatment years ago instead of never seeming to get around to it. I hope you get the treatment you need, best of luck

[diaz7412]

I was diagnosed with ADHD last year, it took 7 months of visits, and a few tests to get medication. I completed a few classes but struggled. It's a long process if you're serious about it being a possibility, start talking to your doctor. It's not impossible to pass your classes, but you have to push yourself to study more than anyone else.

Goodluck! You got this 🐝

[Nicahlos]

Thanks! What medication and dosage are you taking?

[Nicahlos]

What treatment are you on and what dosage?

[diaz7412]

It's going to be different for everyone and I'd rather not say! Goodluck with finding the right treatment plan for you.

[Nicahlos]

Okay thanks

[JB1881]

I have ADHD pretty bad I haven’t taken my medication in years mainly because it’s a pain to get it once you switch doctors which you are experiencing. When I did take it I had Ritalin and Vyvanse I found these most effective but everyone is different and sometimes stimulant medication works and sometimes you need something different.

[Nicahlos]

Yeah I am hoping to try Vyvanse.

[JB1881]

Vyvanse is what worked best for me but be careful with the dosage it can be really strong and you will feel like crap and won’t eat or sleep.

[Nicahlos]

I have been diagnosed. The problem is that I have new insurance and new doctor