Driven to distraction

I've always suspected that I might have undiagnosed ADD and it is really complicating my life. I'm 23 and graduated high school in 2000. I started college right out of high school, but flunked out my first semester. I couldn't keep up with the demands of college and soon became so overwhelmed that I totally shut down and quit going to class. I went to a junior college for a couple of years, and then tried the same school. This time I thought being a music major was the answer. But I fell apart two weeks into the semester and the same thing happened. Now I've been in school for four years and have nothing to show for it. I jump from majors on a daily basis. I'm looking at a private university in my home town that's small and has a very supportive staff. But the amount of hours I still need to complete a Bachelor of Music Ed. is massive and now I can't even be sure that's what I want to do. Things are getting worse. I find myself exploding in rages over things that aren't that bad. This morning I was trying to iron a shirt on one of those stupid table top ironing boards and when the shirt kept bunching up, I slammed the iron down several times. Well, that punched a hole in the shirt, which enraged me further. I rammed my finger in the hole and ripped the shirt apart. I don't know what's wrong. I'm so scared and very much alone right now. I wish I could make a decision and stick with it to make everyone happy. But I can't decide what's best for me. I can't narrow down the list. I just wish I could slow my brain down long enough to get things done.

Hi there,

I would recommend you wiat until you know better what you want to do before you jump into it. I did my undergrad i npolitical science not because I just had to, but had an interest in the subject matter and I am still glad I did. In retrospect I wish I would have chosen another field. But I am taking are of that in grad school now. I would recommend some of the career books like "what color is your parachute" and actually go and visit some professions in which you have interest and see if you really want to do that. Sometimes travelling can put your life into another whole perspective. I participated in an exchange trip in my undergrad and it was the best thing I ever did. Your school might also have a career aptitude test of some sorts to give. But bommom line, it is better to wait and make better grades than to take something just for the heck of it. Do some research on what you are interested in. I never would have thought Geography would appeal to me so much in my undergrad and now I am getting a masters in it. OH and it took me 8 years to complete my bachelors because of money, so hang in there.

Yes, I'd just like to say don't jump into a music education program before you get this problem under control. Student teaching will be a nightmare.

(been there, done that)