Am I alone here?? Help ADD + anxiety + getting through nursing school

ShelbyaStar · Mar 23, 2015

I have it as well. There is a fantastic thread in nurses with disabilities called "I'm not lazy, flaky, or stupid". Not so much for study tips but for hope and understanding. It's actually what finally gave me the push to get diagnosed and try meds.

I don't envy you for being in an accelerated program. That would be tough. OTOH, sometimes we do better if we are crazy busy. I know I'm one that can really only perform under pressure. Otherwise, procrastinate away.

I guess to narrow it down, what are you currently doing to study/cope/stay organized? Have you talked to instructors about this or sought accommodations? I personally haven't sought accommodations since I don't feel a need to have a note taker or to have more time on exams or to take exams privately, but those things may be helpful for you.

elkpark · Mar 23, 2015

Do you have a therapist? If you don't, maybe that would be helpful, at least for the time being and dealing with the loss of your boyfriend. Who is prescribing your Vyvanse and Adderall? I would suggest you start by talking with that person. Best wishes.

dixieyid305 · Mar 23, 2015

I can speak from experience.. You have to find your own unique study pattern that fits with your disability.. Somebody ask me how I study and when I told them they thought I was crazy, but hey that works for me and it gets me positive results.. I don't think someone else can tell you how to study we all aren't the same. I always say what works for me may not work for you. Being in the one living in my body for 30 years , I should know best what works for me :)

Good luck God bless !

From

Living life on a prayer

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2015

Nursing school is hard. But it sounds like to me you are all over the place and not balancing things. You need to take a step back, breathe, and get yourself organized which I know for someone like you it's easier said than done, but you need to at least try this.

I have 3 planners. Yes, 3. I write down absolutely everything I need to do in my main planner. Then I have a planner with just school stuff and one with personal stuff. You need a personal life also, not just nursing school. I make calenders for everyone in my support system on what is going on when. They know when I study and when I have free time. People know when to take my son and what their jobs are that week. I know it may seem silly but it keeps things under control.

This week, I have tons of stuff due and 2 tests on Friday. I take everything one step at a time. I spent 4 hours yesterday getting my assignments complete for tomorrow. I had videos to watch and questions to answer for each one which was an hour long for each video. I had an ATI assignment also due which I got done last night. I still managed to cook a nice Sunday meal for my son and boyfriend. Boyfriend played with my kiddo while I got school done and dinner cleaned up. Then my boyfriend and I watched some TV and had "us" time. That is also important.

This morning I wrote my paper for clinical Thursday. My uniform is clean and ironed for Thursday and I'm going to get my hair done which is my "me" time. Now that all of my assignments are done, I can focus on my tests for Friday. I have 2 girls I study with on Wednesdays. Our kids are on spring break together so they can play while we study. Everyone wins!

I will spend Thursday night after dinner reviewing for my tests until about 9pm. Then it's "us" time for me and boyfriend. I make sure we get that in. I love him very much and he has been great throughout this journey. But I don't neglect the other parts of my life. I need that to stay sane. I also have 2 dry erase boards in my house that have everything going on for that week. From judo practices, to study sessions, to when my kiddo goes with his dad, basketball practices, where I have to be and when for school and clinical. I spend one night a week getting my next week organized. I had to get into this routine when I started school. It helps me out so very much!! Good Luck!!

kelhou17 · Mar 23, 2015

I am so sorry you are going through this, but you are not alone! I am in my 1st semester and was prescribed to vyvanse as well. It helped tremendously with studying, however, I started having really bad panic attacks (to the point where I thought I was having a heart attack). I became sleep deprived and lost weight. I was having alot of trouble with my relationship too. My dr ended up taking me off the vyvanse and putting me on wellbutrin for the anxiety. You should really talk to your doctor about how you are feeling and how your conditions are affecting your life.

I am finally feeling much better (no more crying episodes or panic attacks, and my relationship is finally getting better). The only downfall is that now I am having some trouble focusing in class and studying! I have heard of some being prescribed to both adderall and wellbutrin though. Whenever you feel like your mind is spinning out of control, take a break from studying. Also I know you might feel like you have to stay up all night to study (I know I did), but at the very least try to get 6-7 hours of sleep! Power naps are also very helpful if you MUST stay up later that night. It is amazing how much better you will feel and will be able to study with a good amount of rest.

Another thing that helps me when I get overwhelmed is to make a daily to do list so I know what my priorities are.

My doctor wrote a letter to my school explaining what was going on with me, so that I can get the extra help if I need it. Don't be afraid to switch doctors if your doctor isn't giving you the care you need!

Sorry for the novel but I wish you the best of luck! Hang in there, you will get through this. Take care of yourself. :up:

EllenNurse · Apr 6, 2015

cb5393, I feel for you!

- Anxiety is one of the top 3 most common co-existing conditions with ADHD. Sometimes this anxiety is caused by a lifetime of struggling with ADHD and sometimes a person has both ADHD and anxiety independent of each other.

-Coaching. In addition to taking with your physician about medication adjustments and possibly seeing a therapist. You may want to try working with a ADHD coach who can help you wit the nitty gritty of your assignments and finding those personalized solutions that work for you. I would be happy to give you a free sample session if you are interested.

- Tips and tricks. I highly recommend the College Success Guide that you can get for free from the Edge Foundation. You have to give up your email address, but it has very specific concrete tips specifically for college students. You can find it here: https://edgefoundation.org/howedgehelps/add-2.html

- One of the biggest helps for me in school was when I finally realized that the syllabus provides the secret where to put my time. If something is worth only a tiny percentage of your grade then give it a tiny percentage of your time for that class.

- Also recognizing things that help you stay focused while studying can be helpful. For example, reading a textbook outloud in silly voices can be helpful for me. Sometimes, when I couldn't get a specific disorder to stick in my brain I would watch a youtube video about a real life story of someone with that disorder.

- Relationships. Last but not least, I have been shocked how much my ADHD has influenced my marriage. It is no easy think to juggle in a long-term relationship. You'll probably be putting this on the back burner for now, but here is a website by one of the best of the best on this topic (still applicable to any long-term relationship, not just marriage): ADHD and Marriage | by Melissa Orlov & Dr. Ned Hallowell

Learning to thrive in your relationship

Take care!