Hi venus3813:

To address your concern about going to the student disabilities office: With only a few months remaining in your final semester of college, my feeling is that it might not be worth your time and effort to get formal accommodations.

Instead, have you tried talking with your professors? Approach one or two whom you’ve gotten to know well, or whom seem informed about ADHD and learning differences, and open about flexible due dates, term-paper requirements, and so forth. Explain your ADHD symptoms and the steps you’ve taken to manage them.

I think if you frame the request in a POSITIVE way – where you don’t use the condition as an excuse – you might be surprised to find that teachers will allow special considerations, even without a letter from a professional. If you’re uncomfortable talking about attention deficit, brush up on your ADD speak with this popular article on myths and truths about ADHD. Get the full story at http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/873.html.

Regardless of what you do in the interim, it’s important you seek proper diagnosis and treatment. The symptoms you describe sound like ADD; and left untreated, it can be a major cause of your anxiety. If your physician seems dismissive – but you’ve long suspected that you have ADD – seek another opinion. Here’s a helpful checklist on things to ask your new doctor about a diagnosis: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1860.html.

Why is it critical to get diagnosed, even as an adult? Up until now, you’ve managed to compensate for your ADD behaviors—picking hands-on classes so you don’t get bored or lose focus, making eye contact when you’re actually zoning out—but eventually those survival skills only go so far.

It sounds like you reached that point and are feeling increasingly frustrated … and it doesn’t get easier once you start your career. But, if you get diagnosed, start treatment, and set up good support systems, it does get easier.

One last thing: To help you finish (or get started!) on your next paper, try some of the expert tips in “Surviving Semester’s End” to minimize distractions, prioritize, increase focus, and more, as you enter the home stretch… It’s at http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/822.html

ADDitude has just released a comprehensive, six-part report called ADHD 101 that has everything you need to know about ADHD. If you suspect you have the condition, this valuable resource provides the latest info on ensuring an accurate diagnosis, steps you need to take in the first year post-diagnosis, finding the right treatment plan, and more.

Read more at http://www.additudemag.com/RCLP/sub/4280.html.

Good luck!! Also, when you get a chance, you might want to read up on ways to manage your stress better. Relaxation techniques, exercise, restful sleep… Just my $0.02.

Joanna

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I love reading and research and writing despite the fact that organizing my thoughts for a paper and writing go very slowly for me. I was undiagnosed and dealt with my issues on my own when I was an English major in college. Lots of reading and writing! It helped that I was motivated. I did very poorly in classes that were hands on because I wasn't motivated. So in that way we are a bit different. But I think I came up with some coping strategies that might help. (This is going to get long. If you think this will help you please feel free to ask questions or talk to me more. I'd be willing to help you through e mail. I wouldn't mind trying to help you through a paper. This is something that took many hours and tears for me to learn to do and now I make a living researching and writing as a paralegal.)

For research: Note cards and a note card box with tabs, just like keeping papers filed! This got me through my 30 page Senior paper without a major meltdown (just small ones!). Keep a bibliography card section. One card for every source (book, magazine, etc). Number them on one corner. Make use of color. Either different color for each source or different color for each kind of card (bibliography card, direct quote card, summary/note card, for example). Whatever works best. Read the source once and highlight or underline key passages. Go through a second time and this time make notes on your cards. Either a summary or a direct quote. At one top corner of the card write the page number, on the other write the number of the source (from the bibliography card).

For writing: For college most writing is very structured. Keeping the structure in mind helped me a great deal. Maybe make up a cheat sheet to remind yourself of the structure (an English professor might be able to help you with this, or ask a TA if you are at a large university). Remind yourself of the structure every time you are feeling lost. Break the writing down into a series of smaller tasks. First, you need a thesis for a research paper. Review your note cards for things that support that thesis. Then break those down into several different supporting points. Separate your note cards into these different points (paperclip together, or use another box with tabs, whatever works). This is sort of like doing an outline, without the outline. If any note cards don't fit your thesis or supporting points, PUT THEM BACK IN THE BOX.

When writing, try to stick with your plan. Sometimes it doesn't work, or has to be reorganized, but this is best done after the first draft. (That is the part I have the most trouble with!). Work on each paragraph as if it was a mini essay by itself. What is the point that supports your thesis? What is your evidence (research)? How does this support your thesis?

I really hope this helps. It may or may not work for you.. everyone is different. Again, if you want to follow up I'll be watching the forum and let me know if you'd like to talk more in email. This is something I love talking about.

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I had a really thoughtful reply to your struggles with writing in college, but when I posted it was consumed by cyberspace. I usually keep a copy in Word until I post it just because of this issue and the fact it can take me a very long time to finish a post since I often do 100 things between the time I start it and finish it. Plus, spell check is my best friend!

Well, I can't rewrite it, but my best suggestion was to try your student health center. The university I attended had therapists and pdocs (residents from the med school on rotation). You may have better luck getting diagnosed since it's likely they'll be aware of how ADHD manifests in students. If you can get in soon, you may be able to get a diagnosis, meds and accomodation in time for it to help you make it through the semester.

Best of Luck!

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