[8thstreetbungalow]

At the age 7 i was diagnosed ADHD.

I was considered a bright and intelligent kid. I just couldn't focus in class and my grades reflected it. After the diagnosis and being prescribed ritalin my grades instantly went from F's to A's. I had problems like, we would be doing an assignment in class a fly would go by my face and i would spend 30 minutes staring at the fly instead of getting work done.

I would help everyone around me instead of doing my own work. So i would fail, while everyone in my class would pass and do well. I had anger issues and my parents would teach me at a young age coping mechanisms. I would constantly lose things and not know how or where i lost them. The doctor wanted me on ritalin 24/7 even throughout summer times. They said "its a better idea" and didnt give much reason beside that.

My parents didn't like the idea of putting me on meds 24/7 and said its not fair to me and they felt i should know how to handle my own brain in real life. They were concerned about my future like.. what if insurance stops the meds or a future doctor stops the meds thinking i dont need it. My parents tried everything to help me focus in class, they even took time to sit in my classes with me and help me focus.

Eventually i started to pile up lots of homework and take it home so i had to do my unfinished classwork and the homework at my house. My mom just said that this use to consume all my freetime and ALL i would do is schoolwork. I am in the 2nd grade at this time. So eventually my parents told me to work on my schoolwork for 1 hour get what i could get done, then turn whatever i do into school as my classwork. THen they let me do my own thing on my own after that and enjoy myself. I spent all this time on school work because my parents wouldnt medicate me on ritalin at home and only at school. Yet again they felt i wouldnt be capable of doing tasks when i got older so they wanted me to learn how to "handle" the adhd.

I am diagnosed bipolar 1 now. But i still have focusing problems, reading is a really hard subject for me because i often lose focus of what im reading and have to reread things over, and over and over and over again. I also consistantly get the wrong meaning out of the text i am reading compared to everyone else.

Eventually my parents took me off adhd meds alltogether. I am now a university student with 2.6 gpa.

Oh yea and when they diagnosed me for adhd they did many questionaires that i had to fill out, my parents and my teachers.

Hello 8thstreetbungalow: It sounds as though you had a difficult time growing up & getting through school. So congratulations on now being a successful university student! This is an achievement to be celebrated! I wish you continued success as you continue to pursue your educational & vocational goals!