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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Hello, I'm new to this web-site so I will start off by saying I'm a 36 year old man and dropped out of school when I was 17 years old back in 1989. It was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. I wish I new know what it would be like without a high school diploma. I lived a pretty ruff life had a very broken house hold a mother that loved me and my brothers but had her own demons taking control of her life. We moved from the west cost to the east when I was 13yrs old. I was a really good kid loved school and had alot of frinds. I wish know looking back at my life why coulden't I have made some better choices in some of the frinds I made in the 8th grade thats pretty much when my down fall started. I was already learning disabled and took special ed classes through out the years in school and maybe thats why I just wanted to be cool. So I would start acting up in class to get attention of all the cool kids and it worked. I had alot of frinds the girls always liked me so that was not a problem. I met this kid named Jerry he was another kid that was a so called problem child. We became best frinds in the 8th grade and thats where my life took a change for the worst. I remember one day walking down the streets of Baltimore Md with my frind when we were stopped by some kid Jerry knew so how. I remember this kid lighting up a JOINT and started to pass it around well I thought ya it would be cool to try this so I took the joint and smoked some of it I got so HIGH that I just remember loving it. I was 14 in the 9th grade getting high. I went to this high school for the next year and a half before my mom telling me she was going to move to North Carolina so she could be with my younger brother that was in jail there. YES said jail he was like 14 at the time. I was so mad because I was doing ok in school and knew if I could stay 2 more years I could have graduated from that school. But I knew that was not an option now I had no one else that I could live with so I moved to North Carolina boy I hated it. I went to a school out there called ragesdale senior high and boy haveing learing problem there was a mastake because they sure diden't try to help me and it was just a matter of time before I met the wrong crown there also and started to skip school and party doing alot of differn't kind of drugs. I knew my life had changed for the worst what made thing even worse then that only 10 months later me mom said they are going to transfer my little brother to atlanta Ga. I told my mother I did not want to go I just wanted to finish high school I'm in the 11th grade know and just wanted to finish. So I told my mom I was going to stay in North Carolina with an old guy that was a really good frind made why I was there. I was living there with him for a while when he told me that he was gonna move back to Buffalo Ny. Man I was diden't know what to do so I said the hell with school by that time liked the party life to much by that time and I was not going to go to Atlanta at least not without checking out Buffalo first. Well we left for Western New York it was summer 1990. I moved with him there really liked it was making good money working under the table doing roofing job with him. I was staying at a pay buy the week motel room with my new frind Mark diden't really like that to much and got a little home sick from my mom so I told mty frind mark that I was going to leave and go to Atlanta to live with her. It was aboult a week before I was going to leave New York when my and him went to the county fair I was drinking that night yes under age drinking not proud of it. I remember seeing this BLOND older girl looking at me I knew the first time I saw her it was love at first sight I FELL MAD IN LOVE with her oh my GOD crazy love remember spening every wakeing moment with her. she had her own place a small apartment she also had a young girl she was 4yrs old. We really liked each other and made a strong relastionship with each other. I remember when it was time to take off to Atlanta it was going to be real hard leaving them yes it was only a short time that we had with each other but that was enough for me. I left Buffalo got to atlanta was living with my mom and it was just a matter of days before I was so SAD and just wanted to be with my new girl frind and her kid. I't was about a month later when I told my mom I was going back to Buffalo to be with my new girlfrind. I remember taking a greyhound bus back to Buffalo Ny. I was so happy and that I was when I got back to her moved in with her and thats when our life together started. I knew I had to get a job and at 18 years old and no high school diplomia it was going to be real hard. I remember filling out a job applacation and them asking if I had a diplomia I lied said I did. Well I have been at the same job for 19 years know I have moved up in the company and yes me and my wife are still together after 19 years. We have 3 boys 17-13-10 love them all to death. But everyday I wish I still finished school. I think about it all the time I really want to get my GED but dont thing i can pass the test it looks really hard and after not being in school for almost 20 years now I dont think I can do what they teach kids now days. But anyways thats my life soory to have posted it here but I just wish I made it through school.

TONY

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You will do well in the GED just keep the fate you will. Look at your kids books and go to a Barnes and Nobles and buy a review book it cost about 12.99 and if you can't afford the loss of money go to the library and borrow it. The economy sucks so that why say if you can't afford it . I just found a job after being fired because of my mouth. And it was tough ;but being persistant it will work out. College today can also be done on the computer I have 3 classes before I graduate with a bachelors from the University of Phoenix . This took along time for me since I am hyperactive and I can't sit in a class for a long time. Just believe in your self; and ask for accomindations if you need them especially if the papers that you will have to write. If you go to the campus instead still add the accomindations because when we have alot on our plate it easier to have some leway. I always had a hard time in class because it took everything I had to focus and not just walk out. I also am impulsive and if it real nice out I would cut class and go to the mountains or the shore. If it wasn't for the fact I was on the student council and went to conventions and things like that I may have dropped out of nursing ; but I didn't and graduated with Cum Laude. The point I am getting too. Believe in yourself and I am sure you will do it . Just think you were able to stick with your wife and family and realize for many with ADD/ADHD this is a feat in its self. (Judi)

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You are a brave young lady to admit all your problems. Soon as your medicines begin to work you will succeed and getting your GED is just the beginning. Their are so many who have Bi-polar and ADD /ADHD who are successfull For example Ben Stiller is Bi-polar and It is believed Einstein was ADD .So you are in very good company one thing I know there isn't anyone who could tell me "NO" because once I got a thought into my head it I would be off and running with it. I went to Mexico when I found out my house in 1988 I rented out was turned into a boarding house. One thing you must understands impulsiveness goes hand in hand at time with some of the most positive things such as creativeness. Hey I don't understand the bi-polar very well but there is Bi-polar support group just like this forum you may want to check out. Run by David Oliver who's mother is BI-Polar and I read it because I think sometimes my huband shows the signs. I also have a cousin who is brilliant and is Bi-polar who is very successful graduating with her PHD soon so it can be done. Do you have a support group that give solutions not just talking problems because I don't think it would help if they don't disccuss solutions. Keep in touch YOU will DO IT I believe in you (Judi)

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