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I've been diagnosed with ADHD (predominantly inattentive). For the most part, I agree with this diagnosis, as I've always had trouble concentrating and blah blah blah. I take medication now, and it helps some. Mostly it helps to make the time go by faster while I'm at work. I'm a transcriptionist, so I sit at a computer the whole time and type out dictations... an extremely monotonous and unstimulating job. Since starting Focalin, that helps make my job a less miserable and drawn out and long and monotonous. I mean it still is, but to a lesser extent than when I'm not medicated. However, the Focalin doesn't necessarily seem to help me with school, particularly reading. Reading has ALWAYS been so hard for me. It's kind of a running joke in my family how much I don't like reading. Even when medicated, it's a struggle for me to just sit down and read for longer than a few minutes at a time and actually absorb what I just read. Part of it does seem like an attention problem, but sometimes I wonder if there is more going on that interferes with my ability to read. I end up having to read sentences multiple times, sometimes aloud, and I still can't seem to process what I just "read." I don't think I have dyslexia. But perhaps another learning disorder? I think a big part of the problem is my processing ability. I will say though that if I'm reading something REALLY interesting to me, which tends to be very narrow subjects, then I can sit down and read without much problem. But it just has to be extremely interesting to me. I can't remember the last time I actually read a whole book that I was supposed to read for a class or when I did my full assigned textbook readings. Like I just don't read except for a few select books or writings.
So what I'm saying is, medication helps my attention and focus in some areas of my life, but when it comes to reading it just doesn't seem to touch that. Although I can't say that I have deliberately tried very hard to sit myself down in a quiet area and just read since starting meds. I've flipped through textbooks and whatnot, but I don't remember if I've actually tried to just sit down and read for an extended period of time. Maybe part of that is just that I have this firm belief that I am not good at reading and just can't do it so I don't bother trying or I set myself up to not do well when I try to read. I don't know.
And one last thing, sometimes I question if other mental health disorders get in the way of my reading. Well actually I'm almost positive they do. I've been diagnosed with BPD, Social Anxiety Disorder, and have some mild episodes of depression (and a couple other disorders that aren't present anymore). Of course I notice that when I'm really dysphoric/distressed from BPD-related stuff, that gets in the way of my concentration in general, which makes sense. Same with depression and maybe even anxiety. And I haven't been diagnosed with maladaptive daydreaming or a dissociation disorder, but I do daydream a LOT. And "zone out." Even when medicated it seems. I think as a maladaptive coping skill, I turn to fantasizing. Do you guys do this too? Is it part of your ADHD? Or is it something more? Maybe this deserves its own post...
ANYWAY... this got a bit off topic and ranty... yay ADHD lol. But basically, what are your thoughts/experiences on ADHD and specifically reading difficulties? Anyone else experience particular difficulties with reading regardless of whether medicated for ADHD? Have you been diagnosed with a learning disorder or something similar? How did you find out if the reading difficulties were due to something other than ADHD? I want to get evaluated for a learning disability, but can't right now as it's really expensive. And it's just so hard to tease out which difficulties are caused by which disorders!
Thanks in advance for any insights...
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Jun 23, 2018, 02:42 PM
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.
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