Trouble In School

[GwenDR]

I'm having significant difficulties in school. I have difficulty concentrating thrice over, from stress, depression, and ADHD. I get behind, My work becomes sloppy and rushed. Work piles up. My symptoms all get worse in response. More depression, more anxiety, more stress and frustration. That makes it harder to keep up. Both my symptoms and workload increase cyclically until I breakdown half way through the semester. I feel nonfunctional.

I really want to beat this and succeed academically. What challenges have you had in school? What have you found helpful in resolving it? How do you manage all your symptoms enough to accomplish academic tasks? Whether

 

[Bristol]

Fellow ADHD battler here, in work but same issues, i write down everything on a list into small (like ridiculously small) tasks and put estimated time next to it, makes it less daunting. Sometimes its just "check email" 5 minutes, use timer on phone so i dont get caught up in it :)

 

[Cannottakethis]

Bristol's idea is a good one. Making a list and breaking things down is a great way to make things more manageable and checking things off gives you a sense of accomplishment.
The other thing that could help, even with making the list, is prioritization.
What's due first? Work on that. In small chunks. Get it done. No multi-tasking. Everyone wants to multi task but all that does is take away focus.
Once you fully finish one thing completely, celebrate. Listen to your favorite song, take a walk, something that distracts you and re energizes you to do the next task. And definitely use the timer. I use one for everything or else I'd get caught up in 15 other things.

If you are in college you may want to consider taking a smaller course load. It might take longer to graduate but you could feel better and be more successful in the classes you are taking.

 

[Keen]

Have you talked with your school's accessibility dept? They were a lifesaver for me, getting me extra time on tests and other accommodations.
I also break up work into small chunks, however small I need that day: for example 10 minutes of HW and then a 10 min break throughout the day.

 

[Freedomfighter]

I'm having significant difficulties in school. I have difficulty concentrating thrice over, from s...

Yeah, I do similar things to Bristol, taking everything in small accomplishable steps has helped me.

What I find most helpful too is to write everything down at times: things I have to get done and then sort it to priority.
When you have many different things to get done that can really help.

Also, keep communications open with your teachers, they are not supposed to hinder students when they have trouble, they usually try to help if health issues get in the way.

What you are going through is normal for PTSD sufferers and I hope that these teachers help you. Just try to find helpful people that can assist you, stay away from all others.

 

[Muttly]

I also do what @Bristol mentioned. And when that's too daunting, I make sure I include the process in my list. What I mean is process items on the list could look like this

start list (by writing that, you already have one thing to cross off and a sense of accomplishment)
chose easiest work project and identify some tasks
identify most urgent task and identify starting point
update list or start new list

when the frustration is high, I also make sure and include other things on the list I do that aren't school related. basic chores (load dish washer, empty dishwasher, put away dishes), attending classes, therapy, etc. I brand myself with the word "lazy" a lot and if I start putting all that stuff in, I see I'm not lazy.

I will also sometimes add in things like down time, draw (I like to draw), etc. It sort of reminds me that I'm allowed to take a break and that it's not laziness or preventing me from getting things done but can actually help.

 

[freyjacat]

Not much advice to give, but I am also back in school with PTSD and ADD and find myself in a similar situation as the semester progresses..getting frustrated, finding myself getting behind, not doing my best work, exacerbated by my PTSD symptoms; the stress of school can be too much for me. I wish I had done this sooner, but next semester I plan on attaining student disability services, which I've done before and have found incredibly helpful. I also cut my class time in half at the beginning of the semester because I realized full-time classes would probably be too much for me and I didn't want to fail everything. I am also working, so I had to be realistic about what I could likely handle. I am failing one class, but passed the other...still, I am incredibly frustrated with school already, hoping that talking to my adviser and to the Student Disability Services will help me in doing better next semester. Hope all turns out well.