Missy - You're going to make it. Study for that GED (if you haven't already taken it) and get your butt into College. Do what it takes to succeed. ENVISION yourself succeeding. Eat Well, Sleep well, Exercise regularly, Spend time with people who are positive and appreciate your for YOU. I have found that a lack of an exercise plan -- a RIGOROUS one -- can have very negative impact on ADD - especially when it is compounded w/ BPD. EXERCISE. Pray to whatever higher being you believe in. (Or find a new one if you've lost your way).

Good luck and God Speed. Keep us posted of your SUCCESS.

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i know exactly how you feel. i don't have bipolar, although i grew up living with someone who does, so i know a little about it. I do have ADHD, and i'm in the process of being tested for learning and mental processing disabilities. I'm a sophomore in college... although i'll probably be here 5 more years.. i keep failing.. but one of the good things about ADHD is that i just don't give up. i fail the class.. i take it again.. (one class i had to take 3 times) one problem with ADHD.. i make the same mistakes the second time.. so if you fail the GED test.. just take it again... TRY to study more the next time.. even a little extra could be enough. anyways, i'm probably not the greatest to be giving you advice, when i'm stuck in a similar situation (now i just feel hypocritical) but i guess i can say i feel for you.. i understand. you really want to do well, you don't want to acomplish nothing in the day.. it just passes by, and nothing gets done. i wish i could honestly tell you what to do, or how to follow the advice of others.. but if you're anything like me, self-discipline is next to impossible. i guess just try not to get too down on yourself. it won't help. if you're stressed, and you're not going to do your work anyways, why not just forget it for a while and watch some tv? i guess just TRY not to do that every day.. or for hours on end..

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Hi. Completing high school or a GED is very important in our culture today. What one does after that depends on one's interests and options. A college degree does not guarentee a job is waiting for you. It does not mean a person will have job security. Having a niche that can set you apart from the herd is helpful. And for some people I know they have chosen a trade school of some kind. It may not get them the top of the line job, but it gives them a skill and a step in a direction and a foot in the door. Based on that skill and interest and honed abilities, they've done on to earn a degree. But it cannot happen with out the high school dipoloma or GED.

I have been dx with ADD since Dec. 2007. I've had ADD all my life. I'm now in meds. What I've discovered is: I used to spend most of my energy trying to pay attention and alert. Now I don't have to work as hard on that. But I've got other life style practices and issues to work on.

I have a Masters Degree. College and Grad school were hard for me. I didn't "get it" when it came to the book work and tests -- even though I loved what I was doing. I worked hard to be average and get Bs & Cs. I quit thousands of time. The #1 character trait in my family (for generations) was "bull-headedness". I was not going to let the course work beat me. Also in college, I had a bad drinking problem. (that is another character trait of my family.) I've learned now that booze keeps one even more unable to pay attention. It was a solution that helped me to cope with my problems. But I lost so much time, lost so many friends, and who knows how many opportunities. Drinking like that was an unhealthy friend.

I don't believe there are easy answers or solutions to ADD and other forms of mental disorders. But I know that there are ways to work with it so that it does not render a person completely unable to funtion in this life. Yes, meds are good tools. But meds alone will not fix things. I am learning that. I wish a pill was all I needed. I cannot find solutions or ways of doing things differently on my own. I need coaching. I'm trying to learn not to be so defensive to their criticism. (Old habits die hard.) I've lived with this for over 40 years and I've developed some deep patterns (or ruts). It will take persistent work and a willingness to learn new behaviors for my life.

To the young lady who started this thread, don't give up. There are ways to treat and to work with whatever problems and/or diagnosis you face. It will take persistence to complete the marathon you are now running. But please remember that this marathon is going to be for the remainder of your life. Don't give up!

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Hi,

I am new here also. I know how you feel. I dropped out of highschool at 16. I went and got my GED when I was 32 and then went to college. I wont lie, it was hard, but I DID IT!!!! I went for 8 years. I am now a teacher of students with emotional and behavior problems. I love what I do and I am glad that I stuck with it. Many times I wanted to quit, but I didn't. I used the resources that the college had for ADHD students. I took tests in a different room, etc. Use what the college has, dont be ashamed..

Good luck

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