I think I need some help/guidance

I'm 21 years old and I'm not know if I should seek help. I scored a 98 on the self-test and have been told all my life that I'm oblivious to my surroundings and that I look like I'm on a different planet half the time. My mind wanders from topic to topic daily and I find myself daydreaming constantly. I've gotten into car accidents due to looking off into the woods instead of the road. I also cannot sustain conversations with people because my head feels constantly confused/disshevelled and this forces me to have scary anxious episodes. In school, I'm not able to focus on anything and it's literally torture to complete an assigned paper, read books, or sit through a class. My GPA is not anything to brag about. I'll sit at my desk at home and tell myself over and over that work needs to be done, but I can never get myself to do the work promptly and thoroughly. I'll sit through college lectures and by the end of the class, I find that I did not retain any of the information told to me in those 50-75 minutes and I become very frustrated. For as long as I can remember, I will check the clock several times every class I'm in because I wanna bust out of there. I'm very disorganized and I become very frustrated when it comes to school work, losing things, finding goals, and trying to sustain friendships. I'm constantly uptight and seem to be becoming more irritable the older I get...My parents have always thought of psychiatry as a last resort due to personal past reasons... Help?

HelloTraMac. Perhaps since going to a therapist for treatment you can go to a Medical Dr for an evaluation to see what it is exactly that you are going through at this time. Take care of yourself. Soidhonia

Hi TraMac

Welcome to a great community with lots of supportive people!

Soidhonia has some great advice. Perhaps a counselor at your school can assist you further. Good luck and welcome again!

I have found that I had to do my own research, go to the doctor and "tell" them what I had, ADHD. I had already been put on the Effexor, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, with all of these making me feel like crap and they made me depressed. Adderall helped me tremendoulsy and a cognitive psychotherapist is good. You don't necessarily need to go to a psychiatrist. Make sure they are positive and that they understand who you are. This connection with your therapist usually happens immediately or so I have found that it happens that way for me. If I am uncomfortable on the first visit (you'll know what feeling I am referring to) then I don't waste my time on another visit with them, just move on to the next one. Start now while your young so you can be the best you can be for the remainder of your life. People with ADD or ADHD have alot going for them. We are go-getters when we get on the right track. Look out world, here comes the 21 year old. You are on the right track as you know yourself so just find the right meds and the right therapist so you can continue to grow.

Thank you all. It is nice to finally express what I'm going through with positive feedback in return. Since I'm now in a place (college) where everyone "claims" to have ADD/ADHD, it becomes frustrating for someone like myself to try explaining it to anyone, due to all the ridicule and negative feedback it brings... I hope I can soon take this positive advice and get some help soon.

Whole college *claims* to have ADD/ADHD? And yet at the same time give negative feedback ...?
I don't really get that ....

Anyway, you are on the right track. You have a lot going for you. When you learn to deal with the harder aspects of ADD you will certainly experience that there are a lot of positive aspects as well.

Here's some positive feedback:


and


Peace,
Luthien

"whole" didn't mean to be taken literally..I was trying to emphasize the large amount of students in college that claim they suffer from it (whether they are or not, it causes negative feedback from others such as laughs and comments like "You and everyone else I know have it, so get over it") ...and thank you very much

thats sooo true i feel like no one ever takes me seriously about my concerns of having ADD because everyone says they have it. I have a doctors appt on monday and im going to discuss with him how i feel. Im going to explain to him how im starting college at the end of august and that i don't want to blow it for myself especially since im going for a pretty tough major with classes where I NEED TO PAY ATTENTION. If he thinks i need help so be it if he doesn't im sure he'll help me regardless. Im fortunate enough to have a really cool doctor who will understand where i'm coming from. As long as you go see a doctor who cares if others believe you or not. It may be one of the most over diagnosed disorders but some people really do need the help. Doctors are non bias and it's their job to help you so def go see your doctor!