[Just Jenna]

Hello everyone!

My name is Jenna and I am currently a senior in high school.

I was diagnosed with ADD at the beginning of my Sophomore year, though it has been a problem nearly my entire life. It is so severe that I forget things in my normal routine I have done for years and don't even think to do something even if a reminder is staring me in the face. I have forgotten to drink or eat at times and obviously that has brought some terrible consequences. During my freshman year, my mother would yell at me every night because I would always forget to do homework or forget to turn it it. I also have terrible anxiety regarding talking to adults such as teachers, so I would go to extreme measures to avoid talking to teachers. I spiraled down into a pit of lies and almost killed myself just three months into my high school career.

I have gotten much better since then, but I fear that I am falling back into depression. I am once again lying to my parents, avoiding my teachers, and constantly fearing my future. I am an artist, going into costume design, and though I am extremely determined and passionate about my work, I am always scared that I will not do well in the organization of my job and might fail. I am even scared I will never be able to live on my own, and will always need people to make sure I remember to just take care of myself (and as an extremely independent person, that would be hell). I am becoming more and more depressed and antisocial, and I am scared of my own feelings. I need to find some better way to cope with what is going on before I go back to where I was freshman year. I don't want to give up my future, but the thought of possibly not even having one is terrifying.

- Jenna

[Nike007]

Hello. Though I am not diagnosed with ADHD - inattentive, I believe I do have it. I have trouble with everything you have mentioned too. I am in grade 11 now. It's just even worse this year. It seems like I'm going down the slide of doom. What I have been trying to do is have reminders everywhere. I bought a white board for my room and placed it by my door so I see it every time I leave my room and it has what homework and test/quizzes are coming up. I just started this now, but set a specific time for you to do your homework. Don't touch your phone or computer (unless needed for homework) and just do homework. I bought gummy bears, and every time you complete a small task in your homework (like complete 1 question), give yourself a gummy bear. Buy yourself a token that you have out when you are doing homework. If you start to daydream, step back and take a break until you can do your work. Get apps that remind you of things going on. Use a calendar, like the one of your phone. I use the one on my iPad and it's great.

If you feel depressed, you should mention it to someone. To me, it sounds secondary to your ADHD, so I would try to find skills that work for you. You can try to get depression under control, but your ADHD seems to be causing it, so trying to fix the depression may not do anything.

Are you on medication? Many people with ADHD find medication helpful. This may even help lift your depression, if ADHD is the true cause of it all. Not all your symptoms will go away, but it will be more manageable. Also, I sense some social anxiety, so maybe it would be good to bring that up with a mental health professional.

If you need more tips on how to manage your ADHD, this site is a good place to go:
additudemag.com

Also, just ask me here or through PM if you have more questions for me. Hope this helps .

Social anxiety disorder, GAD, OCD, and panic attacks

Lexapro, 10 mg