O.C.D. and Nursing School???

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this past year while studying for my nursing classes i have found my self re-reading almost every line in the textbook and my mind wonders alot of time about off subject thoughts and it makes it extremely difficult and time comsuming for me to study (sometimes all day). im thinking i have ocd or something and have complained to my dr about it and he seems to think its just poor study habbits and just recommended that i use an index card to cover lines that i've already read to prevent regression- which helped some but my mind still wonders and i have to force my self to stay on task and to complete the assignments. so far i've never failed a test and im at the top of my class so my study habbits must be worth something! although i strongly think i have ocd and its becoming increasingly frustrating and i don't know how much longer i can do it. does anyone else have similar problems or have the actual disorder? any advise?

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Are you having recurrent thoughts that you cannot control, or are you having trouble focusing on your reading?

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OCD? Do you mean ADD?

I do some of the same things you have mentioned, rereading lines, mind drifting off, etc. My problem is dyslexia. I really don't even bother to read my textbooks most of the time for that reason. When I do have to read the textbook this is what I do:

First I read any headings in the chapter. Then I go back and read the first sentance of each paragraph. Those two things tell me where the chapter is going and makes it a little easier. Then I basically scan all the paragraphs looking for buzz words or technical terms but I don't worry about them meaning anything. Then I finally read the paragraphs. I read them one at a time and write a 1 - 2 sentance summary of each paragraph as I go. Then I like to use my notes to make up a few practice questions that I could imagine being on a test.

It's a lot of work and really tedius, which is why I don't bother with my textbooks unless I absolutely have to. That is one of reasons the current thread about people being annoyed that some people don't read the books bothers me. Some of us get very little useful information from the textbooks.

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Yeah, sorry i meant ADD or could it be a mixture of both? lol.

I do sometimes have trouble controling thoughts (which is a symptom of OCD though). I also sometimes regress when reading because im always thinking i missed something important or didn't get the main idea and i force myself to go back a reread it until i understand it or retain it.:argue: Maybe NS is just driving me crazy!!

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I have the same problem at times. I've found that making notecards while I read really helps me stay on task.

I don't think I have ADD, I think that I have too many things to do and have a hard time shutting out the rest of the world while I study.

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I too have the same problem with you. Im almost finish with NS but it was really2 hard work as my mind wanders quite often and I have difficulty concentrating when studying. Its likely OCD as I have recurrent thoughts playing in my mind and its really upsetting to not be able to finish my reading as quick as I would. I find that if I study in the morning Im more focus compared to later at night.

To be an efficient nurse Im going to be not only thorough with my work but QUICK as well. This is where my problem comes in as I go over and over with my work making sure everything is done and then Im behind with other tasks as well. Its an everyday struggle and very frustrating.

Any advise please would be greatly appreciated.

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I found this happening to me a lot also and like you I am a good student so it was very frustrating! I came to realize that my inability to concentrate came lack of sleep, exhaustion, and quite frankly boredom! Studying for hours on end is boring! So I take study breaks every 20-30 minutes, get up and stretch my legs and walk downstairs to get away plus the physical moving gets my blood flowing again. Also, lots of coffee!! Sometimes I even run up and down the stairs 4 or 5 times or do jumping jacks to jolt my brain back to life!

Oh and good music to study by is stimulating to the brain. Sometimes I will have to repeat what I just read to myself out loud or read out loud along with the book. I just try different things in attempt to do whatever it takes to keep focused. :)

If you try some of these things it may help and if you are seriously concerned about OCD or ADD be sure to talk to your doctor about it. I was so concerned about ADD at one point my doctor had me tested but I don't have it, thank goodness!

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Retirement Residence.
OCD? Do you mean ADD?

I do some of the same things you have mentioned, rereading lines, mind drifting off, etc. My problem is dyslexia. I really don't even bother to read my textbooks most of the time for that reason. When I do have to read the textbook this is what I do:

First I read any headings in the chapter. Then I go back and read the first sentance of each paragraph. Those two things tell me where the chapter is going and makes it a little easier. Then I basically scan all the paragraphs looking for buzz words or technical terms but I don't worry about them meaning anything. Then I finally read the paragraphs. I read them one at a time and write a 1 - 2 sentance summary of each paragraph as I go. Then I like to use my notes to make up a few practice questions that I could imagine being on a test

OMG, thanks for this, I'm gonna start doing this, it sound like it would help. I have not been diagnosed with OCD or ADD, jus depression, with some anxiety and I'm on Cipralex 10mg which really helps... but I think I do have some (at least mild form of) OCD and ADD, because sometimes I have repetitive thoughts that sometimes bugs me, and a couple of harmless routines but it's ok, and it's under control enough to not disrupt my life or look weird... and as for the ADD I sometimes can't focus, and my mind starts to wonder, and I can't sit and study for long. I don't even know if it's possible for a person to have some OCD and some ADD at once, but it should be because I have symptoms of both... but mild. :rolleyes: The Cipralex helped make the some of the OCD symptoms milder and some of the routines go away.

What I do is I read the chapter summary/review first, then I start ready the actual chapter, and when done, I reread the summary/review. If I have to split the chapter into 2-3 sittings, I make sure to reread the chapter review/summary before picking up where I left of in the chapter.

I also take frequent breaks, or at least mental breaks. For example when I study and start noticing my mind drifting off to something, So I consciously make myself think about something completely unrelated for about a minute, and them go right back and I'm able to keep studying for another 15 minutes, then I do it again.

I noticed that it helps to consciously have mental breaks, instead of just drifting off and wasting a lot of time. It actually saves time. And I also need to get up for about 10-15 minutes every hour. :rolleyes:

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