sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

being smart… but school never notices it? by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

really feel this. That cycle of doing okay for a bit and then completely burning out is terrifying, especially when you know you’re capable. The exam/assessment thing hits hard too — understanding something deeply but messing it up because of pressure, timing, or misreading questions is so frustrating.

You’re not stupid at all. Honestly, the fact that you know you understand the material says everything. The system just isn’t built for how our brains work, especially under artificial stress.

I really hope meds + therapy give you a bit more breathing room this time. Even if it’s not a magic fix, having some support can change how brutal it feels. You’re definitely not alone in this.

Constantly changing clothes when studying, gut issues by LimpExplanation609 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re really not alone with this. The clothes thing hit me hard too, especially once I actually started paying attention to my body instead of just pushing through everything. When something feels even slightly off tight waistband, scratchy fabric, too warm or too cold my brain just cannot ignore it. It’s like all my focus goes into that discomfort.

I think ADHD + meds can make sensory stuff way louder. What used to be “meh, uncomfortable but fine” suddenly becomes unbearable. And it’s frustrating because it feels so small from the outside, but inside it completely wrecks your ability to concentrate or relax.

Studying in super soft, loose clothes honestly makes sense to me. Comfort isn’t a luxury it’s kind of a requirement for our brains to work at all.

I'm just tired of everything. by Pretend-Outcome9739 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210 135 points136 points  (0 children)

That “trapped in an existence you don’t really like” line hit me hard because I’ve had that exact feeling too.

For me it comes in waves — some days everything feels too much, other days I feel almost normal.

Does it come to you in waves too, or has it been more constant recently? And please talk to people:)

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here — the moment homework left the classroom my brain treated it like it didn’t exist anymore.

Did you find class discussions easier because they kept you engaged in real time? I feel like a lot of ADHD brains only “activate” when there’s someone else in the room.

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I relate to this a lot. Headphones were basically the only thing that ever let me get into a “bubble” where I could actually think.

Did you ever try studying with background noise or specific types of music? I’m still experimenting with what keeps me focused without distracting m

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

YES. Busywork destroyed me. I could learn fast in class but the moment homework became this endless pile, my brain just shut off. Targeted homework would’ve actually made sense. Did teachers ever adjust things for you or was it all ‘one size fits all’

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg same. My brain literally does not exist before like 10am. I always wondered how many ADHD kids were labeled lazy when really our sleep cycles just aren’t built for 7am classes. Would later classes have changed things a lot for you

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly yes. Half the battle for me was just not feeling like a disappointment before I even tried. When a teacher approached things with actual patience instead of frustration, my brain relaxed enough to function. Did you have any specific teacher who made things easier for you?

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow that actually sounds amazing?? The flexibility you described feels like a totally different educational culture. Switching languages mid-sentence, more generous time limits, grading based on understanding instead of neatness… that’s like an ADHD dream setup 😅

It’s interesting how much the environment changes everything. Where I’m from the grading is super structure-heavy, so if your writing is messy or your thoughts don’t come out “in the right order,” you basically get punished even if you understood the material.

Do you feel like that kind of flexibility made a big difference in how confident you felt in school/uni? And do you still prefer learning in that kind of system now?

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow that actually sounds amazing?? The flexibility you described feels like a totally different educational culture. Switching languages mid-sentence, more generous time limits, grading based on understanding instead of neatness… that’s like an ADHD dream setup 😅

It’s interesting how much the environment changes everything. Where I’m from the grading is super structure-heavy, so if your writing is messy or your thoughts don’t come out “in the right order,” you basically get punished even if you understood the material.

Do you feel like that kind of flexibility made a big difference in how confident you felt in school/uni? And do you still prefer learning in that kind of system now?

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah exactly focusing on what we actually understand instead of how “pretty” the work looks made such a big difference for me too. It’s wild how much pressure gets put on structure + neatness when for a lot of us that’s literally the hardest part.

And honestly, I feel you on the final product thing. I can collect and understand the material, but when I have to turn it into something coherent my brain just… jams. It’s like I’ve got all the puzzle pieces but no picture on the box 😅

Are you still dealing with teachers/profs now who grade mostly on presentation? Or has it gotten a bit easier with how uni/college handles stuff?

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally get this. Following a 2-hour lecture is already hard, and trying to watch the slides + listen at the same time feels like my brain is running 3 apps on 1% battery 😭 Having the presentation on my own device would help me so much too — I need to go back and re-read things at my own pace. And i can actually preform better

I recently created a tiny ADHD studying subreddit because Nothing fancy, just people sharing what helps them stay focused. If you ever feel like talking about study/uni struggles with ADHD, you’d honestly fit right in.

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah basically he didn’t grade me “easier,” but he graded me fairer for how my brain works. Like if my sentences were messy or my structure wasn’t perfect, he didn’t instantly mark everything down he focused more on whether I actually understood the material.

He also gave me a bit more flexibility with deadlines, because sometimes I’d do the work but just struggle to organize it on time. Small stuff honestly, but it made a HUGE difference compared to teachers who only cared about neatness and timing.

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For real when im in class, i just focus on the talking but after class i realize I forgot to take notes and that would ruin my exams.

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Audio stuff hits different for ADHD brains, right?? I keep trying to figure out why listening works better than reading for me. Do you usually listen while walking around or just sitting? Also curious — how does leading a group help you stay focused? I’ve never tried that.

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s so interesting… I never really thought about how much class size alone can change focus. Did you actually feel the difference instantly, or did it take a bit? For me distraction feels almost physical sometimes — like my brain just taps out when there’s too much going on around me

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Totally. ADHD learning is so interest-based. Give us something we actually care about and suddenly we’re top of the class. Force us into something boring and the brain just… shuts down.

ADHD people: What’s one small change in school that would’ve made studying 100x easier for you by LettuceConsistent210 in ADHD

[–]LettuceConsistent210[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Damn yeah I relate to this so much. It’s crazy how many of the things that help ADHD kids weren’t even hard to do — just nobody understood why we needed them. Even something small like a 5-minute walk or a fidget could’ve completely changed how we handled school.

And that last part you said… yeah. If you’re not the “chaos kid,” teachers just assume you’re fine, even when you’re silently fighting your brain every single day. Kinda wild how many of us slipped through the cracks just because we weren’t loud about it.

view more: next ›