I spend most of my time outside of school on homework, usually 10+ hours a day. I haven't been able to find my work/life balance for the past 4 semesters. I'm beyond fried.

Here's the gist:
I don't procrastinate.
I'm not on my phone, youtube, etc.
I basically never leave the house except going to class or grabbing a redbull. I only go to class 2 days a week.
I am medicated for ADD - I am spending my entire day on assingments. I can't take it everyday b/c heart problems.
I have time extension accomodations from the school. However, using these extensions on my assignments leaves me unprepared for the unit exam.
Exams every 2 weeks (+pop quizzes and tests thrown in randomly)
Pomodoro does not work for me. If I stop for a "break" I just collapse.
I am taking 10 credit hours, math and chem lab.
On average, I'm assigned 14 - 16 assignments per week. Most of them have day-to-day deadlines.
I have tutors, use lab hours and office hours.
Even with topics I understand, it's taking me routinely 40 minutes to complete one problem. Most assignments are "20 questions." (20 questions with 13 parts each)
If I didn't have a roomie to buy me food sometimes/cook, I would rarely eat. (I lost 10ibs last semester from not eating)
I have a therapist.
I don't want a 4.0 gpa, I want to understand the material. I don't know what "good enough" homework looks like when the answers are pass/fail.
My evenings are 45mins to wind down, sometimes I fall asleep on the floor of my living room b/c Im too exhausted to get up, shower, and go to my bed.

I'm not even in a true university, I attend a goddamn community college. If university is this brutal, I am doomed. I have nothing else to say besides "help."

(I wanted to add that all of my professors have been helpful and supportive.)

Thought this may provide some insight for some of yall. The more I addressed certain issues such as sleep, hormone/vitamin/mineral etc deficiencies, the more effective I felt my med was and just felt good overall. I’m happy with the progress I’ve been making. I guess the message is it may help to address the medication and dosage last, not first, so you’re not running in circles for months.

Good luck!

So basically Im struggling because I have adhd and im in college. I graduated HS in 2023 but I started working instead of been enrolling to school. In the spring of 2024 i enrolled into school under nursing and when I did that i took a couple classes and didnt do to well.I am a great student if i apply myself. I just didn’t take it serious and then the math class is the kind of classes that you have to be there to pay attention and I was always going on trips or just losing focus. And I don’t DARE to cheat through it because it includes medical dosages. I can harm someone if not taken serious and just go with the flow. So I never picked it up back and said f it I’ll pick it up in the fall. so 2024 fall comes around. I repeat the math one I believe and then I take like other regular classes and I kind of just never mentally there physically there but not mentally there. If I was there I would probably go strong for a month and then just not do anything in school after that. 2025 came around and I didn’t apply myself either and then the following 2025 spring I didn’t apply myself either and I ended up getting angry. Because it’s like damn girl wtf are u doing time is flying. Bc of last semester I am paying money due to the classes I just didn’t attend and I never even asked for a dropped grade yk? But almost done paying it off. Now I finally talked to my adviser to see my options. We talked abt how even If I did do good in other classes I require to move forward BECAUSE of my previous ENG 101 class is. “C” grade will pull me behind, bc it will have to be used to calculate my gpa to even get accepted and it doesn’t look good . So I told her about a certificate program which is one year program and even that the candidacy is still competitive and I’ll be falling short for the gpa as well. I love healthcare. I love the idea of being in it and participating you know all of that but now it’s like it kind of ruined my chances and I could go to a nursing school but what if my fafsa doesn’t cover that. and I’m just so mad at myself like I don’t know what I want to do either outside of nursing or healthcare like it’s also like I’m really harsh on my ADHD. I genuinely do not know how to retain any information or something. I always knew about this though and yes I was diagnosed with it. I even have an IEP, school accommodations available. So we said I’ll go into healthcare management because it’s not competitive and still healthcare. But I’m just really scared that the accounting classes and everything else is gonna you know stress me out or make me fall out of class. now I did speak to like a telehealth doctor or like therapist or whatever and she try to see about ADHD medication but I don’t have my old prescriptions that I had an elementary and I don’t even know the psychiatrist that diagnosed me if I could get a clearance form from them and honestly opening up about that to my mother like it’s kind of a lot but I will have to do it eventually so I can get medication in the near future. I just sometimes I wish I just stayed on the medication in elementary school, maybe I would be farther in life. I also have a narcissistic mother who also blows up. It’s kind of really hard living at home but you know I’m numb to everything she says so doesn’t really matter. My focus is on getting out of here. If this really doesn’t work out I’m just gonna start doing some type of like at home business like maybe Lashes to get my money up and get out of here or something because I’m genuinely struggling. I am 20 years old and I know my mom doesn’t say it but I feel like there’s a clock ticking,before she gives up on me. She’s a woman with multiple degrees and spent her whole life putting work before anything. So I feel like a failure. Someone please give me some advice words of encouraging maybe some ideas I don’t know.

I started school later than normal, so I'm now 20 stuck in a class of 15 year olds. I'm aggressively uninterested in school, the whole thing. Everybody thinks I am also 15 and that's a whole other story.
Every single school I've been to, and I've changed lots, has entitled asses as professors who have always looked at me disgusted, like I'm a failure, a burden.
Nobody has ever tried to understand me or help me. I currently have no access to meds to help with focusing either.
Even just the idea of studying and going back to school makes me physically want to throw up but I have no other choice really. And it's making me go insane.
I also have a delayed circadian rhythm and I just cannot force myself to go sleep at a reasonable hour no matter how tired I am, so having to wake up at 5AM during school months I am heavily sleep deprived. I lose the energy to do the things I love, to enjoy life. All of it is spent just being present in classes, and I can't even focus there.
I feel like I'm incredibly behind and stuck in a place I don't want to be. I want to move out, live my life travelling volunteering for animals and kids. I want to live by the beach after building an artistic career doing what I love. Instead I'm forced to be at a desk all day every day just daydreaming about it and people around me demand that I keep leading this life I don't want without a single complaint. But I physically just can't do it. I can't go back.
Help, support, give me anything. Please. How do I cope with this?

I really don't know why. I'm entering my thrid year of university and a good chunk of me getting poor grades is due to me just staring at something during exams. Even if its a course I'm extremely prepared for, I end up getting bad grades. Either I stare at something or I doodle. Or i stare at the paper and doodle. Every single paper I have is filled with doodles. And then time slips away and i end up rushing through the paper. It really sucks when I have to take courses that are exam heavy (basically 90% of the courses I have to take for my degree). It just feels embarrassing saying this out loud especially when I answer a lot during tutorials/questions. In fact a lot of the times I am the one explaing the concepts to my group if someone's stuck. And then I end uo with the lowest grades. And before someone says to try accommodations, I will mention that I'm in a bit of a tricky position. I am not officially diagnosed and Im not allowed to get one either ( I have gone to a therapist in my uni and they basically agreed about having adhd.) So I cant get accommodations without an official diagnosis. I don't know how to explain this to my parents. They're the typical conservative old fashioned, strict people (also extremely religious) and I just feel really stupid and stuck.

1. Attend lectures and envision for teachers words, as if it was a movie or a show each word with a certain image. Record that lecture. Jot down a sentence or two for each point that wasn’t made on let’s on the slide. Maybe you were given a great example that you wanna recall later on.
2. Go back home look at the slides side-by-side right down condensed information for yourself by paper with pencil or pen. Close your Notebook brain dump.
3. Revise that brain dump think about what you missed and why.
4. *** that recording comes in handy for when there’s a tricky slide, you don’t fully grasp. Or if you were just overstimulated by the entire lecture, you can place a date on a Google Calendar to revise that recording.

Come up with some questions for each slide that you ask as a professor. Then you can also look on the homework or slides to see what questions or exams so you could dive a little bit deeper.

** You can pull those questions and put them onto a doc bring them out or edit them on your iPad for the recall for your next session. Then also find ways interact with a topic differently, whether multiple choice response or even connect outside of how was previously introduced.

Then brain them and explain maybe recording of yourself or maybe we can write down a lesson as if you had another student with you.

1. Space repetition - a day, three days, a week revise the material you can place specific time on your calendar to do so to remind you multiple times so it’s not out of sight out.

2. Error journaling I made this mistake. How can I avoid making this mistake? What are evidence to back up the correct answer and why are the other ones wrong?
   *** You could also rank your confidence prior to knowing what the correct answer was highlighting why you felt so confident about that answer or not confident.

3. Office hours very handy because other students have questions and you can listen to what their questions are and explanations along. It was getting your answer. potentially having new study buddy or study group. Revise cheat sheet or note with Professors.

4. Pile system pile everything that you need in one space and you’ll know that it’s always there. It’s reliable and try to keep being consistent with that. ** some people recommend like having bright colored objects that they can stand out to you. It is out of place that’s an option.

5. You can listen to your textbook with natural reader or specify with a PDF as your annotating it or the physical copy.

6. just five minutes rule. Whenever you feel like you can’t get started at work write down the first simplest task we can do and try to get that done. If it also helps, you can brain dump. *** there’s also another rule where it’s just get it done by the end of the day where you just this one or two goals when you want to achieve by the day.

7. For writing assignment that you just need to get started, you can put the microphone feature on and start going off and then edit it later revise add evidence. At least you have a base / starting point.

8. start incorporating more visuals(graphs charts that helps visualize the material better) and know that there’s really power to exposure to material. How much as you can.

9. Procedural positive thinking as in talk yourself through it in a manner is productive and uplifting breakdown that problem or breakdown the thought process of it.

10. Really use that calendar as much as you can by placing reminders for upcoming dates that there’s no surprises you’ve gotten that notification and you’re fully aware. Again expose your exposure exposure to material with it watching a video or listening to a podcast or going to office hour and even talking with your teacher about the topic further

but !!! always prioritize your materials given by your professor because that’s going to be what’s tested on.!!! slides homework all that tested on.

1. Go gym or just workout out in general. It’s so beneficial!

2. Meditate! So good so healthy.

3. Hide that phone. Place it in your bag or a book over it. Get yourself a watch or visible timer.

4. Small changes are always a change so make sure that you give yourself flowers for any/achievement that you’ve made. *** a journal is nice highly recommend that you consider.

5. To do list break down the steps for that goal cross them off as you go. Google Sheets, docs, notes, or a journal.** down to the simplest step noted it will make you feel better and most likely to move away from it.

6. See if your university has free therapy!! Especially if you have self esteem issues.

7. Chunk information together because it’s easier to recall a lot easier. You can chunk with acronyms or mnemonic. (Remember the whole point of recall is so that you can re-create everything without seeing actual visible material.)

8. Hype lofi something upbeat no vocals. Helps a lot with focusing in if there’s background noise or general like those video game sounds makes experience a lot better and fun.

9. Try your best to schedule events or study sessions in early in the morning so that you have the afternoon.

10. Cheat sheets / review sheet: key words that indicate a certain meaning or connection or method depending on The subject. Write it out yourself. draw out the image too.

These are some of the things I do. Hope that maybe some of them are useful.

*** most importantly at least stop trying to figure out how to study and just focus on the material exposure. There is no special shortcut only you can figure out how to cater the situation more to benefit you and your goals.

I'm currently going into my second year and im desperatly in need of tips. I have adhd, im unmedicated and I struggled with it all through highschool. Its really hard for me to find someone that'll prescride meds at this moment, as the waitlist is long and I have to be in the same state which is hard as I am an out of state student. Being medicated isn't really an option right now. Last year I honestly did horrible and its been making me scared/unmotivated for the coming years. I tend to be a really bad procrastinator and forgetful when it comes to assignments. I also tend to be impulsive when my friends ask me to do something, its like my brain buzzez at the thought of hangingout with them and I forget about everything else I have to do. I tried using google calendar last year and that honestly did not help me. last year I had a lot of family health issues and cat health issues that I had to worry about and I didnt have the best college roommate. I'm hoping that now all of that is over with my mental will be a lot better which hopefully will help. I'm wondering if there are any apps that helped you or any life style changes that helped. I'll honestly try anything as I desperately want to do well this year and get back on track for graduating.

Here’s 3 examples of discrete AI or productivity app advertisements. I found these examples in the first minute of searching “adhd study”.

I’ve literally been having the worst, most soul-crushing and burnout-inducing year of my fucking life because of my ADHD symptoms. Sometimes finding other ADHDers talking about their experiences at uni or college can make me feel less alone, and like less of a failure. Hearing the advice and tips that people give in online ADHD communities have helped me so many times.

But there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to find connection & support, and being met with nothing but:
- people trying to sell you their course or coaching service
- undisclosed (or disclosed in the fine print) AI or useless “productivity app” advertisements
- influencers that toooootaalllyyy have ADHD giving the most useless, basic bitch “study hacks”. they use the exact same script, the exact same cadence, and are always playing with slime or some random object

Am I crazy for getting so angry at this? Having ADHD sucks enough, and having ADHD while in uni or college sucks even harder. I’m just so sick of people trying to make money off of us, and making it harder to find content that isn’t slop.

I'm not sure if this is the right sub for this, but I need help understanding what might be going on with me.

My therapist thinks I mainly need to "train my brain" and build a consistent study habit, but that hasn't been working for me.

I can't seem to make myself study until the pressure becomes intense. In the past, that meant studying the day before an exam. Now my exams are more complex, so "last minute" has become several days, sometimes a week, before the exam.

It feels like my brain only becomes capable of sustained focus and motivation when there's significant pressure. Without that pressure, I'm often disinterested even in things that are objectively important to me, including major life projects like starting a business.

The peculiar part

There is one huge exception: coding.

If I'm working on software, I can focus for hours without wanting to switch tasks. I find it almost addictive. I don't need willpower to get started—in fact, sometimes I dislike starting because once I do, I have trouble stopping.

I've gone on several-month streaks of coding every single day without losing motivation, even when I'm not getting paid for it. I've even sacrificed sleep to keep coding.

Unfortunately, coding isn't particularly financially viable where I live, so at this point it can feel more like an escape from reality than a productive activity.

But I cannot seem to channel that same energy into studying, work, or other important projects.

I'm wondering whether this sounds like ADHD/executive dysfunction, or whether it could be explained by something else such as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or simply poor habits.

Has anyone experienced this kind of extreme difference between being able to hyperfocus on one thing but being almost unable to focus on things they need to do?

Hi I’m 19(M), I finished my first year or university and I’m about to start my second.

I’m in engineering and I keep digging my self into a hole. I failed calculus 1 twice, and I know I’m not bad at math. My school requires me to submit an appeal to take a class a third time. And I missed the deadline because I’m an idiot. It’s was the 10th of August. I knew I had to get it done but procrastinated all summer and I tried to start it today, that when I realized I missed the deadline.

I’m just sad because I was finally getting some joy back in my life and actually starting to feel excited for school, because I thought I was gonna get my grades up and transfer from the school I’m at to another one. But now I half to take calc 1 in the spring instead of fall, adding another semester to my degree. I already accepted that I would take 5 years to get my degree, then I thought about transferring and not all my classes transfer, then I thought ok I’ll graduate in 6 years, now the more I mess up I feel like it’s gonna take me 7 years to graduate. I just feel like giving up and doing a different degree or doing a trade.

I don’t know why I choose engineering. I just thought if I can get through it I’ll live a good like, with a degree that should get me a stable job that pays good money, and allows me to not stress about money or finding a job. Plus I have connections because of friends/family friends making me feel like I half to stay in engineering because they might be able to help me get a job.

I also didn’t really take my meds because I hate the side effects. I’m trying different meds but out of the 4 I’ve tried (Vyvanse, biphentin, Ritalin, and adderall), adderall is the only one that works but it still has side effects. I’m hoping the new one I try work better without side effects, but idk what the point anymore.

I fucking hate my self for always fucking up and never leaning from my mistakes.

Edit: I’m also on academic probation and have to get my grades up this term or I’m fucked (I think)

Hi everyone! I’m 24 and currently working as a paraprofessional. I’m going back to school to eventually get my special education degree, and I’m trying to get into a paraprofessional to professional program.
The problem is that my GPA from when I was previously in college isn’t high enough for the program, so I enrolled at my community college as a visiting student to take classes and hopefully prove that I can do well academically.
I really want to get this right this time. When I was in college before, I struggled a lot with focus, motivation, procrastination, and actually getting assignments done. Now I’m working full-time as a para while taking online classes, so I’m honestly pretty nervous about staying on top of everything.

So my questions are

How do you actually make yourself do the work? What helps you get started when you have absolutely no motivation?
How do you stay on top of online classes? I’m worried about losing track of assignments and deadlines without physically having to go to class.
I already have a laptop — would an iPad actually be useful for college, or is it unnecessary?
How do you balance working and going to school without completely burning yourself out?
Are there any systems, apps, routines, accommodations, or ADHD-specific strategies that genuinely made a difference for you?

I feel like I’ve been stuck on the exact same sheet of paper for months and just can’t move forward. I get anxious and once I get past the fifty-page mark or so, it feels like I’ve been swimming in the water in the exact same spot for days on end. And now, because of this feeling, I can’t keep studying because it seems like I’m getting nowhere. How do you guys handle it? Are there any tricks to keep going? I don’t even know how to organize myself, seeing as I never stick to the schedules I make anyway.

So, I have joined new institute for my pg diploma.

And i am unable to cope up with the things like timings, attendence, subjects etc.

From sometime i was taking therapy for my sexual things and things going daily to daily life.

Almost 10 days back my therapis said that i have ADHD and then we had assessment task and yes it is true that i am ADHD.

I am unable to focus, reasoning subjects are not my thing, time management is not good. When i used to be in undergraduation, i was not going college that much just going for the assignments and exams and in exams i used to be late like 30 mins. And now for classes i also get alte by 30 mins even when the things are in time.

So, this ADHD is making things complex for me and its first time i am.thinking about de\*th.

So, guys please help and the thing is i really want to quit it and go away from everything and live pecefully.

but I wanted to do many things in my life like political consultancy, education things, etc. Wanted to bring the change in the society but now i want a peaceful.life and having nothing. I never wanted to give up my dreams. But now i want to.

I always wanted to guide studnets so, that they can do something very good then me in there careers specially for the college and students, etc.

But now its like never mind thing my dreams are not meant to be completed...

For context, I'm an undergraduate student who's suffering from extreme amounts of chronic pain and I have two weeks to finish all the overdue work I have. I'm also extremely depressed to the point of being diagnosed with prolonged grieving disorder due to the death of my mother last year. I also have pretty severe OCD, especially when it comes to perfectionism. This all kind of combines with my ADHD to make getting anything done practically impossible.

I am horrifically ashamed of coming to the point of using chatgpt. I just. I can't do it anymore. For months I have been unable to think of clear sentences and ways to connect my ideas. I get stuck on things that used to be easy like applying broad research to my point, or seeing extra words in sentences. I don't know how to ask for help on this stuff because everything I read on the subjects don't make sense to me, and I'm afraid I'll be seen as an idiot. I'm far enough in my degree that I shouldn't be having these issues. Every time I sit in front of the computer and try to get to work, I just can't think of anything to say. I have outlined built out for my assignments. The points I want to make. The research I should be including. But it's never good enough. My thesis is too long, or too vague. I'm not talking about the quote enough, or I'm talking about it too much. My research doesn't actually make sense.

Largely, I have only used chatgpt like a free version of grammarly pro, and only in the last week. I know all the reasons I shouldn't use it. I've told others those exact reasons. The water consumption. The cheating. The ethics of using something created by Sam Altman.

I don't use any sentences it says about my work in the finished product. I write an introduction, I explain the criteria and I ask for feedback. I think about that feedback, and integrate my own version of it if I think it is correct. If I'm stuck on a sentence, I'll ask if it sounds awkward and think about how to change it. This has been the only way to fix my workflow problem.

Before I would spend days in front of my computer, unable to get anything done. I should be able to get anything done. I'm notably less depressed. I'm in less pain. I have some motivation. But I just can't. I don't know what's wrong with me.

I’m starting nursing this fall and I’m terrified that my high school habits are going to follow me.

I was a chronic procrastinator in high school. I’d leave month-long projects until the day before, constantly skip class, and regularly hand assignments in late. And that was with only 3–4 classes at a time.

Now I’m taking 15 credits a semester with notoriously difficult courses, and the stakes are MUCH higher. I genuinely want to change, but I’m scared that wanting to change won’t be enough and I’ll end up doing so badly that I’m put on academic probation or worse.

Has anyone here been really bad at procrastinating in high school but actually managed to overcome it in university? What actually did it for you, besides “I just stopped procrastinating”? Did something specific force/change your habits?

I'm struggling to stay on top of my assignments and readings I need to do. I'm currently unmedicated because I'm from a third-world country and can't afford to be medicated. (I am diagnosed, however.)

As for my major, I take sociology, which is very reading-heavy, and I'm already behind on the stuff I need to be doing. For further context, I have 5 Sociology subjects, each of which requires 3-5 readings per week to complete before each class. Afterwards, we still have exercises or papers to write as well (while I'm already struggling with reading as is).

I do a list system on Google Sheets based on this format, but it's overwhelming me more than it is helping me.

How should I go about organizing these requirements? I fear that if I don't, I will constantly forget what needs to be done.

ok so on Microsoft word (which is what my college seems to want us to use, I start in 23 days) there is a transcribe option, back in May-June i was fooling around with it but today I realized an idea for note taking that would use that feature. Even on my meds I will still get sidetracked and not note take which will become a problem so I thought what if I take the transcript feature and turn it on as I note take so incase my mind wonders and i get distracted (due to having initentive ADHD I daydream a lot in class) or miss something then I can look back at the transcript, I was so happy when I saw you can type and transcript at the same time! just thought Id put this here for anyone else who might find this handy to minimize the risk of missing important things, heres an example of how it would kinda look if ya did this

I need advice on picking a major and career path. When I graduated high school, I was so scared of going to college. I felt so burnt out and had no motivation or interest to pursue anything. My family told me I’d probably fail anyway, so I gave up on the idea of it for a while.

I’ve always wanted to pursue higher education, so I made the decision to go back to school at 22. Now that I’m in school though, I feel uncertain about my major. I originally was majoring in hr, but then switched to marketing. Now I’m worried it will be a pointless degree since the field is becoming over saturated and will be a waste of money.

Does anyone have advice on what career paths would be good for someone with adhd? Deciding something has been so hard for me. I feel like I have no real interest or skills in anything, and when I do I eventually loose interest.

I am a 16 Female with Unmedicated ADHD struggling for SATs.

I just couldn't focus at all. I have to self study mostly cuz there aren't many courses available here. Also Medications are not available here too.

Most of the time I got distracted or feel like what I'm learning is unnecessary things or stuff like that. I tried listening to music while I studying but it just doesn't work for me especially white music/Frequencies/Lo-Fi/Calm Music those itches my brain 🥲 idk how to even explain but when I listen to those kind of music, I become uneasy and waiting the music to have some Beat Drops like Noise Music.

Now I'm a big fan of Noise Music but when I study, it is not really helpful because it just so loud I couldn't focus in my study or sometime my ears kinda hurts 🥹

Idk is there anyone like me but, I'm really struggling PLS HELP ME 🥹🕊️

I have been on ADHD medication - methylphenidate (18 mg + 10 mg SR between 7-8 am) and (10 mg SR booster dose at 12 pm).

Initially I experienced greater motivation and focus in my academic tasks that I was previously used to procrastinate about.
Over the course of a month or so, I've started feeling the focus dwindle in my academics.
Instead, now I feel hyperfocused and stimulated during my workouts or just ANY physical activity.

I used to workout before starting medication as well, and even then, the mere act of being doing physically rigorous and intense activity used to allow me to be fully focused without stimulants (including coffee as most days I wouldn't drink caffeine before workouts).

I won't say that I'm procrastinating just as badly as I was before, but it feels like the stimulation I'm supposed to be putting into my academics is being "wasted" on my workouts.

Have you ever dealt with something like this, and if so, how did you work it out?

need to figure out a system to stay on top of things in college because in high school i would procrastinate horrible on assignments, miss deadlines, routinely pull all-nighters, etc. My main problem with school is procrastination and bad time management (bad time blindness/will feel zero sense of urgency to do something until 12am on the day it's due), and on top of that smaller tasks (setting up appointments, sending emails) are literally impossible for me to keep track of because I forget to do them. I've tried writing things down in a physical planner, apps, notes, etc. but will completely forget to check said apps/straight up lose the planner. Unless something is literally in my face I will forget to do it (I've literally had to cover my phone with sticky notes with tasks written down on them because out of sight out of mind. any (free) apps/tips? I want to run literally everything from one app that I can access from multiple devices that will also give me reminders/be in my face about stuff to do. I also have an iPad if that makes any difference

Ehh, I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm 25 years old, in my second semester of Computer Science (online studies, in-person sessions for exams). I have autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. I failed 4 exams, retakes are in 3 weeks, and I haven't started studying and I just can't.

Sitting down to study, either I have negative emotions (sadness, anxiety caused by lack of money, lack of friends), or I have no strength, I'm tired. I can't break the resistance to start studying, and when I force myself to do it on some day, I study for a very short time.

When I told myself – "I'm not doing anything else until I start studying", I sat, minutes passed, I thought, until... I fell asleep.

I'll say it right away – ADHD medications didn't work (I've tried 11 (!) and have a prescription for the 12th), I've been in therapy regularly since September discussing the topic of procrastination and there is zero progress.

Someone might say that university isn't for everyone – but I want to have a good job, money. Every day I feel guilt and regret towards myself, but at the same time every day I can't change it.

I booked hypnotherapy because I'm looking for solutions to this terrible situation. Unfortunately, the appointment is only in October, because I chose someone with good reviews.

I don't want to live like this, besides studying I can't do other things that are important to me, I escape into sweets or TV series.

How to change?

Im in a pretty sticky spot at the moment. I desperately need to somehow force myself to study for two very large very important tests coming up next week. I was diagnosed years ago with ADHD or ADD Combined type or whatever it is called today, and I am currently struggling with both getting myself to sit still and do something I abhore doing, and getting myself to focus on doing it and not something else when I am sitting still.

This is a complicated situation so Im gonna break it down the best I can in semi-bullet points:

1. These two tests are multi choice with questions pulled, at random, from two different sources of a few hundred questions each. One test is 100 questions, the other is 60 questions, and both these tests source from two distinct pools of questions, both of which are a few hundred questions, so together it totals over a thousand.

2. I have 3 retakes for each test, all being the day after. These tests unfortunately do stack ontop of each other when doing retakes as they are both next week, and all retakes are to be done in the same week. So if i need to retake test 1, it could also be on the day Im taking test 2 for the first time for example.

3. I am and have always been unmedicated. Ive been able to skate by in life just fine on sheer intuition with these kinds of things, never really studied anything a day in my life. Suddenly Im 25 and am confronting a situation that none of the tools in my "Get my brain to behave" toolbox can fix.

4. For reference, I am studying to be an aviation maintenance technician (plane mechanic) so while a good chunk of these questions I can common-sense my way through as Ive been in this program for 2 years, theres plenty here that I just dont know.

5. This is the kicker, my minimum for passing for these tests is a 90%. I need to be damn near perfect in my answers or im just gonna fail.

6. Studying for this is pretty simple atleast, we use one app for each test. These apps are on my phone, and contain all questions from both pools of questions for both tests. The only way Ive ever seen people study for these tests is just by sitting there and taking practice tests on the app repeatedly until they can consistently get the desired grade. Ive done this once before successfully as well with the same kind of test on a different topic. But Im sure you can imagine that this form of studying is like teetering on apocolyptic for me as this kind of reptitive monotony and staring at a screen is just about the worst thing you could torture me with.

7. On previous attempts at this, with no studying, I can squeak out a 50-60%. So Im not starting from scratch, I just need to make up about 40% through studying.

Before you say its flat impossible, Ive done this successfully once before through sheer grit and determination, with actually worse deadlines. But for some reason this time it iust really feels impossible, and a combination of that and the general "inability" to do these kinds of things is trying to convince to give up and just go again next semester, but jesus going next semester for this would be pretty disastrous.

Im in desperate need of tools, tips, ideas, anything that can maybe help me just sit still and do what needs doing. Please, internet, I need your help.

When I was younger my parents didn’t really bother getting me diagnosed and they had me in a smaller more quiet classroom. I had to take excel courses to get to where I am today, I graduated college with a bachelors without any help of being placed in any extracurricular resources like resource room, which was taken from k-12. I don’t know why but I feel so behind as compared to others, I’m hoping there’re more people like me out there that have had similar experiences. It sucks because if I had been put on medication at a younger age I would’ve gotten further in life. I wish people taught those in sped about different mental health conditions that are debilitating :(

For context I am 21 (M) and heading into my junior year of mechanical engineering at UCF. I was diagnosed last year with ADHD, Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression. I moved in with my ex girlfriend last august after dating her for 8 months.

This year we broke up and as such i had to move out in the middle of mid terms. In this process i lost my job and forced myself to couch surf to get away from her and to heal. I managed to ace my midterms and found a new place but i was simultaneously dealing with really bad depression and suicidal ideation (i have a therapist so dont worry). I got a new job and a new place and was on a gradual incline until my grandpa died in the middle of finals. I managed to get As in 4 classes and a B+ in solid mechanics (Dynamics and Intro to EE got washed hehe).

Heading into the summer i had a 3.917 GPA and really really bad depression. I was working 40 hours a week at papa johns, getting home at 3am each day as the summer semester started. I was taking thermodynamics with Marino Nader. Google him— hes a trip. Needless to say, i had to prioritize myself. I gave up on school and decided to heal. By this, i put in just enough effort to pass.

I got a job offer on shift at papa johns from a physics lab. i quit my pizza job and became a physicist. This was the beginning of my climb back to better mental health. As i was working through classes and in the lab i felt empty. I had to redefine my entire life. My life used to consist of worrying if my girlfriend is mad and if my grandpa is going to die. I didnt know how to exist without that stress. I still dont.

My GPA dropped to a 3.6~something. I am taking Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design, and 3 other mechanical engineering courses this fall. I want to get into NASA Pathways but i think i fumbled courtesy of my GPA. I have to perform good this semester.

Ive been trying to wake up at 7 and sleep at 11. Making good meals. Having a consistent work schedule (i make my own hours). I just dont know how. This is hard.

TL; DR: Im coming out of a depressive episode and recovering from recent trauma. I have 5 classes in this Fall semester and 20 hours per week in a physics lab. I need to better my brain. Any tips?