What is wrong with me?!

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My brain is broken. Its been broken, but its really starting to affect me now (Harder and more school work) Here is what happens in my head. (Maybe someone knows whats wrong).. The teacher will start lecturing about something and I can stay focused for about a minute, then, without me really knowing it, I have other things in my head or I'm staring off at the ceiling.When I'm given a task to complete, I have a hard time doing it alone. If its with someone else, It works. Thats mainly because they know whats happening. What happens is the teacher will tell me to grade these papers and do it this way. Real simple. I start working on it and then I wonder if I'm doing it right and get nervous. Then I will come to a paper thats a little differn't in some way(Differn't answers, but still 'right') and I will freeze. I can't do anything. I can't think of a 'right' way and I just stop and try to think. I end up staring at this one paper for 30 minutes. Its okay if the teacher is still there, because I can ask, but when there not, I just set there for 30 minutes.I jumble things I say. I will be talking and I will screw every sentence up. I will get the words in wrong places, say the words wrong. It sucks.When I set down to do homework, my mind will go blank and I will end up staring at the first question for an hour. I've had these little problems all my life, but there getting worse. I need to have well thought out answers on demand, I need to be able to work on everything. It just doesn't work. I've asked people and all they tell me is this "Stop making up excuses for being lazy".. I don't understand. It isn't an excuse. I can't seriously think. It doesn't work. So, without telling me I'm just using it as an excuse, can anyone tell me what this might be. Its starting to screw me. My grades are getting really low. -Thanks

It sounds like ADD, possibly. Have you ever been diagnosed?You should make an appointment to see a psychiatrist. They can test you and find out what it is, and then give you medication for it. There is medication that helps with ADD and concentration problems. It has side effects. All you can do is try it out and see how much it helps, and whether the side effects are worth it. I have ADD and have been through several different medication regimes... but I am now med-free by choice and just dealing with the ADD on my own. If I was still in school, though, I'd probably have to take something. In my experience, school requires a higher level of focus and concentration than anything you'll ever have to do in adult life.Good luck.

In reply to: I jumble things I say. I will be talking and I will screw every sentence up. I will get the words in wrong places, say the words wrong. It sucks Oops, I overlooked this part. That sounds like social anxiety, which often goes hand-in-hand with ADD. It's very common. There is medication for that too.

You remind me of someone... I know... myself. I have the same problems. Especially with the social anxiety part about getting nervous and stuttering or jumbling up sentences. The ADD part, I've known about that since gr. 5 (gr. 11 now), and I took medications for it until gr. 9 , where I decided to handle it on my own. I know what you mean, how the really hard things to focus on are instructions, where you'll be listening, and then kind of drift off. It's a problem that you can get over if you try your best to focus - I find it got easier when I started working towards something, rather than just looking at it from an "in the moment" perspective. Last year, and at the start of this year I was constantly drawing a blank and not being able to think clearly on tests that make you think hard. That also takes more focus, but here's some pointers to help with that:-if there's something that's making your wheels spin in circles but you're not getting anywhere, just go on to something else or reread another part of the essay/assignment/test whatever it is. It may make more sense when you come back to it after clearing your mind.-keep a positive attitude about things. If you go into a test with negative thoughts, that'll just make things worse. Expect to do well, and expect to do your best.-try to focus too long on anything that's difficult, unless it's the last question you have to do.-be sure to study for the test, this helps in keeping a positive attitude, and you'll probably feel more confident.-have a goal that you're working towards. As far as homework goes (god, I am the worst procastinator for homework) you need something that makes you want to break your bad habits and get your work done, whether that be good marks or whatever works for you. Try isolating yourself from any games, chat, phone, TV, whatever's the distraction, and not allowing yourself to go on, at least until whatever needs to be done is done (this takes willpower)Hope some of that helps ^_^

I just looked over some stuff at WebMD. If I was to goto the doctor, what would he do? Give me pills? Send me to a specialest? Do nothing? If the doctor was to give me pills, would things get better? I mean, would it make school easier? I would be able to pay attention? One last question (for now). For those with ADD: Have you found math to be really hard and really make no sense? I have the hardest time with math. I was wondering if its because the possibilty of ADD?

I know what you mean! Math tends to be one of the much duller classes, it's complicated, and I know exactly how you feel. That went from my best class to my worst in junior high, because I just couldn't pay attention in it. I'm doing good in it again, but I've found that all you can do is make sure that you copy down all the material, and if you don't understand something (because you may not have been paying attention in class), study. It'll help alot. I'm actually studying for tests this year (didn't except for the major ones before), and my marks have risen by so much. Another thing, make sure that you eat a good breakfast, it honestly helps. I've also found that since I've stopped getting caffeine in the morning, I've had a little easier time paying attention, especially after lunch.

Something I really hated was going to see a psychiatrist, since they're supposed to be the ones prescribing medications and evaluating conditions like ADD, rather than doctors. Maybe it's just me, but I hated the thought of going to see a psychiatrist about getting medication, mostly because I hate people trying to "pick me apart and understand me", it makes me feel like I'm no longer an individual. I only had to go maybe three times a year to get the medication (which helped a little, but wasn't all that necessary), but I still hated it.

In reply to:

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I hated the thought of going to see a psychiatrist about getting medication, mostly because I hate people trying to "pick me apart and understand me", it makes me feel like I'm no longer an individual

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This is exactly how I felt the entire first appointment I ever had with a pyschiatrist. I had the thought "is this guy just picking me apart like I'm a wad of trash?" I guess it depends on the pyschiatrist that you visit, because I visited a different one about 3 months later and I did not feel that at all.

I am the same way as Fab, though. Concentration and staying focused has been a major problem to me recently, but I believe it may be linked to having depression. Either way, I think sooner or later I'll get it checked out.

maybe its all that weed you've been smoking.. doesnt it kill your brain cells?

I wasn't smoking when I was younger, so no. Actually, weed helps it. I'm able to think out complex things when I'm high.

I've figured out another feeling I have alot of!! GUILT. I feel guilty when I do alot of stuff. Is that related? Or a totally differn't issue?

I've been trying my hardest to figure out what is wrong with me the last couple of weeks. Things I have had all my life, but now figuring out they might not be 'normal'. So bare with me and I try to figure this out. I'm trying to get my mother to take me to the doctor.

Good luck FaBMX. It's hard to say what's related and what isn't. It's best to explain the whole lot to a professional and let them sort it out - that's what they're there for.

you do know that these signs are all just addiction to hash dont you? cant even begin to tell you the amount of people ive seen this with. people who can no longer function correctly without hashi can honestly say that ive never seen a succesful recovery from it either. ive noticed people get slightly better after a few months completely off of hash, but the problem is nearly everyone i know never gives the stuff up truly.ive never really believed in ADD, and the rest of that crap, as it is crap to me. i was in the behavioral 'holding area' for people who have trouble with school. EVERYONE there had ADD, and all taht crap. i was diagnosed with it. maybe there are the one or 2 cases where it truly is the problem. but everyone there used it as an excuse to do whatever the hell they watned and be able to blame it on the 'disease'. plus the free drugs. so i dont agree that it could be that. more probably the hash. either get it so you can keep smoking it to keep your attention focussed and only further increase the problem, or layoff it completely and be prepared to rough it out. like i said, ive never seen anyone make a full recovery

Its not the weed. I've had these problems before I ever started. Addicted to weed? WTF? I don't know what the hell you guys smoke, but over here I can just set this stuff down anytime I want (and I have in the past, if I need to quit for a few weeks, I do. Its not hard) I've quit for about a month before, and didn't have a single problem.

oh god, math is HORRIBLE i have ADD and wow math gets me so angry and stuff because a lot of it makes no sence and i hate asking the teacher if i dont understand somtin cuz i feel embarressed since everyone else in the class gets it (not just the nerds, my actual friends that arnt the "smart" get it too)

and even after the teacher explains it, still don't get it. You ask againd. Then after that you give up because everyone is staring at you and the teacher is getting irritated. I hate that.

Yes, that's horrible. Sometimes the best teachers are your fellow-students.

I've tryed it with a girl I knew. That didn't work. Both parents have tryed helping me (After asking a few times, you just pertend like you understand and leave the room) I've even went to teachers I was comfortable with. Thats what leads me to think its ADD. As soon as this cold pasts Im going to tell my mom I want/need to get this checked out, BEFORE I fail My homework used to save me, but now its more checked and its like indivudual assiments (Writing) .. See how it goes.