[SystemAurora]

When I was younger and homeschooled, my mom never had too much trouble getting me to stay focused on my work... it really wasn't impossible to get my work done, I just had to work hard to do it and I did.

Now that I'm older, though, especially this last year of college, it feels like I'm getting worse and worse... I've always been overly sensitive and had a short fuse and make stupid little mistakes in math problems because I jump around on the paper and compute the problem wrong... stuff like that. But it feels like it's getting worse instead of better as I get older! College this year was so much harder attention wise than the year before, and now over the summer I can barely stay focused reading books I enjoy. It's kind of stressing me out, because I know I'm going to get to college in a few weeks and have to deal with a lot of reading!

Does this never happen? I have been known to have really bad reactions to immunizations, and I could link this back to the battery of immunizations I had last summer... it also caused a heart condition, but I think this might be related to it too.

Thoughts?

[gardenergirl]

In general, ADHD symptoms decline as a child matures into adulthood, but there often can be residual problems. It's unusual for symptoms to get worse, however with home schooling, you likely had a more controlled, lower stimulation environment. College is much more stimulating, and that could make it more difficult for you to focus. Stress can also exacerbate symptoms, as can depression and/or anxiety. If you've never been diagnosed with ADHD before, it's more likely that symptoms you are experiencing now would be related to something else, either physical as you suggested or emotional. I'd check with your school about any learning assistance and/or health type resources to see if you can get a more definitive answer about cause. That will help with figuring out how to target the symptoms so you can continue with your studies most effectively and efficiently.

All that being said, I was diagnosed for the first time as an adult. When I entered grad school, the stress and the level of challenge presented were more than my adaptive skills could handle, and symptoms emerged and started causing real problems. Looking back to childhood, there were indications of ADHD then, but it's always been mild, and I'd most of the time been able to compensate.

Hope this helps, and take care,

gg

[SystemAurora]

Thanks, it really does help! I know I have other issues that are 'co-morbid' with ADD (Sensory Integration Disorder and some other things), so it wouldn't be that unusual... and I've always had tendencies, it's just that like most things in my life I've worked very hard to function despite it and pretend like it doesn't exist, which I'm not sure is necessarily a good thing.

Thanks so much again.

[gardenergirl]

Glad to help.

I don't have sensory integration problems, but I am highly sensitive, and that also has an effect on my ability to focus and such.

It's always something, eh?

Take care,

gg

I'd say....<u>yes</u>.