[TheatreKid]

I was unofficially diagnosed with ADHD by an OT awhile ago and with the difficulty I'm having right now I'm considering pursuing an official diagnosis. My pdoc's office doesn't like labels though.

Is this consistent with ADHD?:

I think I've reached the limit of my attention ability now that I'm in university. All through grade school my lack of attention was documented in my report cards but I managed decent marks in most subjects (not math). I'm floundering right now - most of the classes I have taken until now are applied music and theatre courses, which I excel at. No written tests, no readings. Just writing music or doing theatre. I also have bipolar disorder and dropped out during the Sept 2012 - April 2013 year. I came back Sept 2013 and dropped out again in October. I came back in January 2014 and just held it together enough to get 3.5 courses. Two of those courses included readings. I didn't do them. One of the courses had 3 hour lectures. I couldn't sit through them. I pulled through with a C+ in both courses.

I'm a smart person, and I have a lot of artistic talent, but when it comes to paying attention in class or sitting myself down to do readings, I sink. My current summer course is very heavy reading-wise. I need to read two textbook chapters per week and a whole other book for an essay due July 17th. It's taken me all week to get through one chapter of the textbook. I understand the material. I'm interested in the subject, but I can't maintain my attention on it for the life of me. The lectures are also 3 hours long. I haven't sat through a whole one yet.

My OT suggested I start with 5 minutes, and when that's up, take a 5 minute break or keep going for another 5 minutes. My problem is I do 5 minutes, and then get distracted and never get back to it. But if I try and force myself to keep going, I burn out after about 30 minutes.

The only things that kind of help are studying in a library instead of my house, and reading the book on a kindle instead of the textbook.

I'm going to print this out and take it to my OT. I'm so frustrated that I'm a smart guy but can't manage above a C+ because of attention difficulties.

I'm also wondering if the reason I dropped out for the past two years is complicated by these symptoms and if I find treatment for them maybe I can manage to not drop out this year. It was a bipolar episode that made me drop out both years, but I'm sure if these symptoms weren't stressing me out so much the bipolar symptoms wouldn't be so triggered.

[Travelinglady]

Could be.

Good idea to show this post to your therapist.

[Numbed]

Not sure the affect of bipolar on focus, one of the disorders I haven't actually read in depth.
Yes, problem with dry uninteresting repeative text, is a problem for ADHDers.
Art, no problem usually.

But yeah, it is worth getting official diagnosis if can get treatment which helps.

BUT there is a stigma still and some ignorants will think it's just focus when it's so much more. This is one of the things you'll come across in beginning treatment of ADHD though (if are) and I think you have to disclaim ADHD to insurance for car, if recall correctly. Screw them though.

Well, say you get diagnosis soon and medication, it's gonna take a while before you'll be "stable" on it and in the routine of taking regularly. As long as doc isn't overly cautious and an anti stimulant nazi, can't see why not you wouldn't be able to pull your socks up a bit into the year, and catch up.

Don't rush it though! That will send you backwards, you'll burn out, and, well i'll leave it at that. Try not to let the excitement get to you though, take your time , if the medication does "open your eyes".

Goodluck!

[Confusedinomicon]

Try looking up kinesthetic learning styles and apply them to your study routine. Like for instance I found walking and reviewing note cards to be helpful. Art often involves the movement of the body which can help with staying engaged. (Another helpful thing is finding someone/something to verbalized content to and try to teach them the material)

I have a really short attention span too. I can stare at a sentence for 10-15 minutes and suddenly realize I should be working on something. I'm not dx but had similar struggles in uni