[Scattybird]

Hi @jonesmike921 – I tried to reply before but the system wouldn’t accept my post so here goes again.

I don’t know anything about law school but I do work in a UK university so there should be some similarities? The first BIG thing is for me to comment on what Zandra suggested. I am sure Zandra just meant that you could get an idea of what is expected by looking at previous students’ work, but under no circumstances take that a step further and copy any of it.

In fact do NOT buy or otherwise obtain work from other students or from the Web or buy stuff from companies that sell essays etc. and then pass it off as your own. As I said, I don’t know anything about your law school, but all universities in the UK use software that detects plagiarism – i.e. whether the work is in your own words or whether it has been copied.

Where I work, all student work is submitted through the detection software and it HAS picked up copied essays from one year to the next and it DOES pick up material from the web and from other sources. Even if work is not submitted through the software, it can be scanned into it if your lecturers are suspicious. Sometimes stuff slips through, but I do know students that have been thrown out of university for copying material and passing it off as their own.  I have even had to sit in on ‘hearings’ – run like a court – to decide if the student is guilty or not. I went to support one of my tutees but what can you do when the evidence is there? If you get caught and kicked out then how do you start again in another university/law school? Sadly there is no defense for it that the University finds acceptable.

Sorry…….I know that was a rant, but I have seen the heartache that results from being caught. Since it’s now a formalized process lecturers/professors no longer have the freedom to just rap a student’s knuckles and then say no more; we can’t hide misdemeanors anymore if we think they were just done out of desperation or because a student needed help.

So………back to your original post…… sorry for the digression. I am sure that you wouldn’t do that anyway, but allow me my moment of hyperfocus rant. 🙂

Please don’t be scared of going to your GP – s/he won’t think you are just after drugs.  You could fill in one of the on-line ADHD tests as a starting point for discussion. However, my experience of UK doctors and ADHD has not been positive so you need to demand to be referred to a psychiatrist with expertise in ADHD. That’s important, otherwise they will just tell you that you have stress – which you might have, but better to be diagnosed by an expert. Your description sounds pretty classic for ADHD.

That could take a while to sort out so in addition, see if your law school has any student support facilities. If it is a decent size, or if it is attached to a University there should be a study support unit and also counselors. The study support people should have plenty of experience of dealing with students with ADHD and they will be able to guide you. They should be able to arrange for you to have extra time to do coursework assignments and extra time in exams. Usually they want proof of the problem so ask them how you can get assessed. The counselor will probably be clueless about ADHD but if you get an appointment to discuss your issues they may be able to help and if nothing else it’s formally recognized that you need help. You should also discuss this with your tutor. The reason this is important is that if things go wrong there should be systems in place to help you.

I appreciate that you may not want your tutors to know, but really they would rather know than not. Students often think their tutors will judge them – this isn’t the case – we always try to help the students in any way we can. Look around at your tutors – do you think any of THEM are ‘normal’ – or maybe I just work in a particularly decent place where we’re all bat crazy anyway – but give it a go.

An immediate thing you can do is to check out the videos here. Also, have a look at ADD Crusher’s videos on YouTube. There is one about refocusing – i.e. asking yourself if what you are doing now is what you are meant to be doing and rating the importance of any distractions….are they important or are the BS?

Zandra’s suggestion of having a framework is excellent. Even if you get medication, you still need those kinds of structures in place. One last point, Zandra made it through law school, I made it through to where I am (skin of teeth and with a few diversions, but even so….), so you can too. There are others on the forum who are ‘in law’ and there used to be a thread for them. Believe in yourself. OK you might have to take 10 hours to do something that it takes others an hour to do, but accept that is how it is if you want that law degree.

Also, you are clearly very bright – getting into law school is very competitive so you DO have a good future ahead of you.

Ah yes…. The distractions. I bought myself a really good set of headphones (noise cancelling – they were worth the money) and I listen to a white noise CD whilst I work – the one I have is of natural noises, like running water, rain, waves, bird song etc. I found the track that blocks out everyone else and which doesn’t bother me and I just run it on repeat. I downloaded it from iTunes. That blocks out the jerks with the clicking pens and all the other infuriating noises.

Good luck.

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hi liamfriar199 – when I was your age I felt the same way. I wanted to do so many things and couldn’t because I either didn’t have the money or the opportunity. Life was frustrating.  But I decided the way to gain control and to have the money to do what I wanted was to stick at school and get a job that gave me independence. School did not suit me but it was a necessary evil and I had to repeat a couple of years.

I guess where we are different is if I had a passion I could stick at the peripheral things that had to be done around that passion. So for instance you love motocross but you find maintaining your bike dull. That’s not a criticism, just an observation.

Have you thought about asking to shadow or do voluntary work at centres that do adrenalin junkie sports? OK you wouldn’t get paid but you’d be gaining the work experience and a perk would be to be able to take part in what they do and that would be free. There are lots of places around the UK ranging from go-ape parks to white water canoe places to karting to skydiving to paragliding …etc. who knows what that could lead to.  I know someone who did just that and they gave her a paid job after a while. She gave it up to train as a paramedic in the end – I guess that job was varied, exciting and she felt she could help folk.

The one thing I have discovered is that eventually everything can seem normal when you have done it often enough unless it’s something that has skill and depends on something being different each time to test that skill, like wind conditions, terrain changes etc.  but all these activities need the grunt work of maintaining the kit, hanging around for the right conditions etc.

If you think you have ADHD then I suggest you get a proper diagnosis now and discuss treatment. The reason I say that is that you will get treatment at your age. As soon as you turn 18 the NHS will not treat you unless you have been diagnosed as a youngster. They seem to think that when you are 18 it gets better. Amazing what happens to the human brain at one second past midnight on your 18th birthday! If you leave it then it is very difficult to get treatment. Do it now and play on your age and how you have your life ahead of you and the ADHD is hampering you. Do that and you’ll get treatment for life. Wait and you’ll have a big fight on your hands and will probably have to go private – expensive.

One word of caution though, I treated myself to some helicopter flying lessons, but because I am now formally diagnosed with ADHD I won’t be able to get my licence to fly solo. Some  activities are strict. So you need to balance the benefits of treatment against the requirements of your sport or likely future job.

The need for an adrenalin rush that you are feeling now will fade with time and if you don’t have a reasonable job that pays enough for you to be able to play and satisfy what’s left of that need, then when you get to middle-age life will be dull. OK that’s like a hundred years away for you at the moment but…….you might think about non-school education to get a diploma in something that will give you a trade if you don’t get on with school. Yeah it won’t be an adrenalin rush, but you’ll eventually have money that will allow you to spend your weekends and evenings doing whatever presses your buttons.

One last thought – the ultimate adrenalin rush job……parachute testing. Google it – it exists, although I have only found US sites.

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hi – I think I understand the difference between depression and suicidal intent.  If one talks openly about committing suicide it’s usually a call for help out of desperation and is borne out of depression and isn’t likely to happen. But statements can be made by actions that aren’t intended to end a life,  but to act as a wake up call to others. Sadly these statements may go wrong with tragic and unintended consequences. The other worry is where ADHD is a companion, people can do harm to themselves on a sheer impulse but not really have meant it, the impulse takes over with unintended consequences.

I think  I was beating about the bush before – if you feel any impulses to harm yourself or if your suicidal thoughts develop into a reality then please tell someone and be hospitalised rather than do something bad to yourself.

That said, despite your depression you have your head screwed on and as you say the key thing is to get a job. Easier said than done I know. What sort of jobs are you looking for?

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hello maomao – to be honest I don’t know what to say that will be of any practical help. Your health system is different from the one in my country – it sounds equally impossible to get mental health treatment though.

Also whatever I say will not come out right and the last thing you need are platitudes, but you are at least being listened to here and you’ll find friends here, so please vent off as much as you need and keep us updated with how things are.

You sound quite desperate and somehow you need to convince your doctors to give you some antidepressants or at least some proper help – but you know that. You said you wouldn’t want to be hospitalised. I don’t blame you. But from an outsider’s view from reading your post I wonder if that would be a bad thing if it gets you the help you need and the help you deserve to have? The reason I say that is I know someone who suffers from depression and she was hospitalised for a short period of time. But during that time she got the help she needed and when she was discharged she was able to get a job and is now doing really well.  So it helped her turn her life around and before that she was just passed around third rate doctors who didn’t help.

You are doing well to get work even for a few days a week so you have something really positive to work on there.

Don’t let them grind you down and worry about having to move when the house is sold. That might take ages.

 

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Great tip – Ill try that next time I travel.

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hello @stockholm – as far as I am aware Vyvanse is amphetamine packaged to be slow release.  So if you are sensitive to amphetamine then I would suggest that you need to be careful.

that said, I take fast release amphetamins and I notice the blurred vision and often I can’t find words and I get a headache when it wears off.

However I took a double dose last week by mistake and felt great and actually completely cleared out my office so it’s nice and tidy. So it increased my productivity and I felt fine. Getting the dose right is trial and error. But if you feel awful o n a low dose you need to discuss it carefully before you increase it. Something that makes you feel anxious is not the right drug for you. It sounds more like the dose is too high.

Excuse typos – am using my iPad and if I go back to correct it crashes me out. Leaving in the typos is good for my OCD tendencies……aaaagghhh.

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hi @jill223  – I have been meaning to say hello for a bit but last time I tried my computer crashed me out and time just disappears.

It’s hard to reach out – but this place is a great place to start. Have a read through the forum threads and you’ll see we all have a lot in common.

I know what you mean about clutter, not sending off your medication receipts and being irritable. You could have described me there – and indeed lots of us.

I have a real mental block about sending off my expenses and work now owes me thousands – I am not exaggerating either. Yet somehow I just can’t do it – it’s ridiculous. I  really must do the last lot or the receipts will be out of date. It’s not even like I can afford to lose the money and I am getting into debt over it – yet I could have got it all back!

Also, clutter. My house is so bad that I worry that if I die, I’d be so embarrassed that someone would have to clear all my stuff out that I’d die of embarrassment!  OK, I see the flaw there….

Last week I motivated myself to tidy my office at work. I just threw everything away. I now have a paper-free office and it’s lovely. In fact the cleaning lady thought I’d left when she saw it. I even got joke emails from people saying my office had been burgled. But it’s lovely to go into it and it’s lovely not to have to book the meeting room when I need to talk to anyone – I can use my office again.

I just need to try to declutter my house now. I seem to move stuff from one room to the next. I just need to throw it all away. In fact, maybe we should be declutter buddies!  I think folk at work have a sweepstake going to see how long my office stays tidy. I have had clear-outs before and it doesn’t last long – but it WILL this time.

The irritability you mention could be because you’re at home and not feeling happy about the clutter. I find if I get out I feel a lot better. You don’t have to reach out as such, but doing something to get you out of the house might help. Of course it could be your medication, but the only way to find out is to get out and see if that helps.

You describe it as living a dark secret – that’s a great description. I keep my blinds shut so nobody can see into my windows and I don’t need to answer the door.  But how much nicer to throw them open and let in the light.

Anyway, stay in touch. You’re not a mess – there’s a lot of us out there. 🙂

 

 

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Logsdon – Congratulations –  I am seriously, genuinely impressed at your composure and professionalism whilst dealing with Jackie the B*t*h. OK she upset you, but you dealt with her really well.  Her attitude was dreadful. How dare she make a comment like that – you need to put in a complaint on Monday for sure.

I don’t know why, but in the UK we have receptionists like that too. It’s like they are paid to be obnoxious, judgemental, job-worths and sadly it seems they are the same across the water with you too. They are not doctors and have no right to make presumptions and no right to make a judgement about whether you need to talk to a doctor or not.

Last time I visited my GP I could barley stand, was in dreadful pain and was clearly running a temperature. I struggled to the surgery to see if I could make an appointment to see my GP – I knew that surgery hours were just finishing and the doctors will see people then if it’s urgent. The receptionist told me to go away – I told her I thought it was a bit of an emergency but she still sent me away – no explanation – she said if I felt that bad I should go to ER. I had to then struggle across town to a drop-in health centre  – they took one look at me and got me into hospital where I remained for just under 10 days whilst they put me right. I later found out that my doctor’s surgery was short staffed – at least thats what they said when I complained, but there was no explanation or niceness from the receptionist. So I know the type of person your Jackie is.

So, one last thought – you’re clearly a great Mom to want to ensure that your son gets the treatment he needs.

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

It happens to me too. I rarely go to our office breakout room at lunch time because I just can’t cope with the noise and it’s impossible to focus on the person I am with.

It also happens if I am I am talking to someone in my office.  The walls are thin and I can usually hear the person next door – although they are quieter than the person in my office I can’t focus on the conversation I am meant to be having. This is because I am intolerant of the intrusion. The breakout room scenario is just overwhelm at having to listen to so many conversations.

Also I sometimes can’t actually hear the person I am with. I had to travel in a car with someone recently and they kept turning to look out of the window at the ends of their sentences. I told them I couldn’t hear them but they kept doing it. The trouble is my intolerance then kicks in. 🙂

Multiple layers of noise are worse when there are multiple layers of people – like in a shopping mall.

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Thanks for posting that Rick and to your friend Jim.  I enjoyed reading it. It will be interesting to see what else comes from that research group in the future.

 

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

These are great kc.  That’s my brother’s Christmas present sorted……and an evening wasted! 🙂

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hey – I don’t know the answer to “who cares” but it’s a big question. You should care, and whilst it probably doesn’t seem like it whilst you’re ‘at a low point’ your family and teachers and friends will care too. It’s just that folk have a funny way of showing it sometimes. And we care too!

I don’t know what your setback was but don’t give up hope. When I was at school I kept failing exams and then passing some really well. I was always the kid who could do better.

When I was at school I wanted to be a biologist – but I had setback after setback. But I didn’t want to be anything else and nobody was going to stop me. The teachers called my Mom into school one day to tell her how crap I was and that I’d never achieve anything. She told them if I was crap it was due to their teaching methods. I guess looking back I always had her moral support so I was lucky.

The point of me telling you this is that I retook exam after exam and eventually built up enough school qualifications to enable me to go to college and do a higher diploma. I struggled at aspects of that but got through and then did a bachelors degree. There I found my direction, loved it and now I have a PhD and teach in a good University.

So the point – I just kept moving forward despite setbacks and eventually got to do what I wanted to do.

The advantage of not being put off is that I enjoy my job – it’s an ADHD friendly job in the main although it does get overwhelming sometimes. Also, I am now comfortably off.

If I had listened to my teachers I’d be some bum somewhere probably begging on the streets.

So don’t give in to setbacks. Keep going.

If being a psychologist is really out of the question then look outside the box. You enjoy writing and you DO write well. So if you can’t focus on a novel why not be a science writer – or a medical writer and write about psychology – or a journalist? But don’t lose sight of your dreams. Dreams can come true – but you might have to deal with a few nightmares along the way – but hey, that’s OK because when you get through those you’ll feel pretty good about yourself. Things can be a struggle at your age, but don’t be put off by those around you!

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Hello eastcoaster – I am not sure that taking medication will give you the answer with regard to whether you have ADHD or not, only a proper assessment will do that. Even ‘normal’ folk may benefit from meds, hence the issues with college students taking them to help them study.

However, if you do get benefit from taking something then I see no reason why you shouldn’t take them. It is very likely if your son was diagnosed that you also have ADHD and the description of how you feel suggests you are ADHD, although of course that’s just my opinion.

I took fast-release Ritalin for a while and liked it. It’s a good starting drug.  My body got used to it so I need to think back to the side effects. If my dose was too high it turned my into a Zombie and I had a ‘come down’ when it wore off, although that was easily relieved by drinking a coffee.

I tried Concerta which is the slow-release version and I hated it. The side effects for me far outweighed any benefit – yet it is the same drug as Ritalin.  The main side effect was that I felt very emotional, sad and weepy.

I now take dexamphetamine – fast release. I like fast-release because I am in control and can adjust the dose as I like. For example, if I have a late morning or don’t feel I need it then I can take one later in the day. I like the flexibility. I get a bit of jaw clenching with the dexamphetamine, but nothing more. I like it in fact (the drug not the jaw clenching!).

My understanding is that Vyvanse is the slow-release version of dexamphetamine. I have never tried it, but I have heard good reports. The only reason I haven’t taken it is because I like the flexibility of the quick release version.

You are very fortunate to have a doctor who is willing to prescribe without an assessment. Give it a whirl. Start with fast-relase so you can play with the dose and get it right.  Start low and increase gradually until you feel ‘normal’ but without side effects. There is a balancing point beyond which, the drug no longer helps. Everyone reacts differently and most of the side effects that you have read about occur if the dose is too high, although you will probably experience mild ones (but which are manageable).  I just remembered my main one with dexamphetamine is that I get very dehydrated so I need to drink plenty of water.

So Ritalin is a good one to start with. Slowly increase the dose. If that doesn’t work, you could try dexamphetamine/Vyvanse. The side effects are trivial, unless you really do react against it. The advantage of the fast-release meds is they are out of your body quite quickly so that’s useful if you are concerned.

Let us know what you decide and how you get on.

 

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

@Pallist – don’t be concerned about BabaD’s post. I doubt it was meant as a slight to you or to me. Sometimes ‘we’ have a warped sense of humour – I know I do.

I wondered whether his/her post should be taken as an insulting one or just as a joke and I am choosing to believe the latter. The reason is that it’s good to be able to laugh at ourselves and I really wouldn’t want to believe that ‘one of our own’ would want to offend – not within this forum – not within the forum that is our haven and where we can be honest, seek advice and feel safe in what we divulge about ourselves. That sanctity should not be broken.

 

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Scattybird]

Well both those names are fabulous….. until you look at the acronyms. 🙂

 

REPORT ABUSE

[Author]

Posts