I have a million thoughts running through my head! Attention Deficit Disorder?

Question

I've been feeling since I started undergrad school that I have a hard time concentrating. When I'm reading a textbook I have to re-read what I read because I can't remember what I read. I'm thinking about what I want to do later, what I did yesterday, what I'm going to cook all at the same time while I'm still reading. Its so hard for me to remember what I just read. My mind is constantly thinking of other things instead of what I should be reading. I'm in graduate school now and I REALLY need to concentrate. I visited a phychatrist about 6 months ago but they said they think I'm bipolar. She prescribed me medication but I never took it because I felt there was no way she can know what I have in one session. I have no mood swings just trouble concentrating. Is there any vitamins or something to help me concentrate? My future could suffer. I will get health insurance in about a month... I don't have time. I need help NOW!

I've looked up bipolar symptoms and I don't any of them! I don't suffer from anxiety or any of those things. A very close friend of my family is bi-polar and I am nothing like him. I get through life just fine its just when I'm doing school related work. Its like I hear them but its not processing... I can't remember or concentrate on what they are saying. I don't know how I was able to graduate from college with a good gpa not as good as I wanted but better than most people.

I didn't listen to that doctor because she had just met me and in 10 mins she tells me I'm bi-polar! How is that possible? No test, nothing! I sat on a chair and spoke to her and she tells me I'm bipolar and gives me meds.

Answer 1

You should take the medications. Your doctor knows what is best for you and it does sound like symptoms of bipolar disorder. Trust me, with the meds, you will feel much better and the doctor prescribed them to you because he/she feels that the benefits of taking them outweight all the symptoms you are going through now.

I don't know about anyvitamins to help you concentrate, but you should seek the help of another doctor if you don't feel like you've been diagnosed correctly. Good luck

Answer 2

It's called observation and diagnosis. Psychiatrists are M.D.'s with a lot of experience with clients that have mental disorders. If you've said anything at all about your sleep, your moods, your thought patterns, and your behaviors, chances are he or she has taken all this in account to determine your diagnosis and to rule out other possibilities.

If you disagree with the diagnosis, bring it up. Ask why the doctor diagnosed you so and what was considered.

Write down all your questions and take them in to the doctor. You would do that if you were seeing a doctor about other chronic problems so you know how to recognize symptoms and treat the problem.

The most important thing between you and your doctor is rapport. if you and your doctor don't see eye-to-eye, then, whether he or she is a good doctor or not, it's time to find a new one. Working closely with your doctor is the best way of treating your condition, so rapport must be there.

As far as taking medicine:

When you and your doctor agree on what to take and how, usually it takes about a month before you can tell whether it is doing what you need it to do or not. This is one big reason that doctor-patient rapport is a must.

Find out all you can. Bring it all up with your doctor. Tell all your concerns. Agree on a treatment plan that is best for you.

Answer 3

Well there is a huge difference between Attention Deficit D. and being bi-polar.
ADAH (Attention Deficit Disorder9 affects people since they are born, it is a lack of drop-amine and it provokes lack of concentration, forgetfulness, anxiety and sometimes it is accompanied by hyperactivity.
it is treated with Strattera, Ritalin, Concerta. These pills help you maintain your concentration for longer periods of time, but they are prescription medicines. A Neurologist is who treats this disorder.
Bi-polar disorder is a nervous system failure which provokes paranoia, hallucinations, fear, drastic changes of mood, and should be treated by a psychiatrist, normally patients with bi-polarity are treated with haldol, lithium, sydolil, all of these are meant to keep your anxiety levels low, they calm you down and I must say are very strong, also need a prescription.
See a specialist and don't risk your health self-prescribing yourself. Both disorders are curable, or at least controllable, but you should see a doctor. g.l.

Answer 4

You are definately not bipolar. Bipolar disorder are severe mood swings that make life barely managable if at all. And a doctor is supposed to rule out other conditions before telling you are bipolar. Even the worst doctor I've been to will make me get lab work before giving me meds unless they know my med history. (i'm bipolar and have adhd, but do not medicine for the adhd.)

To me it sounds like ADD, but always try therapy before you try medicine. Or if you need the meds right away, while you're on the meds, get determined to learn new ways to manage your methods of concentration. You may just be having a reaction to stress.

Course, I'm no doctor. I have learned from experience ways that work for me. Conditions of the mind take some time to learn how they affect you. You won't figure it out overnight.

I tried a free health clinic before my insurance kicked in. I consider it a quick fix, because the help I received was awful. But once you get your insurance, take your time to figure it out.

Answer 5

I can't feel sorry for a person with flying thoughts who won't take the dr's suggestion, and hasn't gone back to the dr. for more than 6 months. Your doctor is an expert on this subject. She's qualified to diagnose your problem and prescribe meds that help. If it doesn't work, you call her and demand she change things.

If you don't think you're bipolar, consult another doctor. But if you want to graduate college as a sane person, you've got to get help. Studying like that is like standing in front of a fire hydrant.

All the things you're juggling need to be written down on a list so you can free up your mind to study. If you need a menu, write it down and deal with it when you're done studying.

Check out this website: NAMI.org. National Alliance for Mental Illness. They have all the information you could possibly need, and they can refer you to a good psychiatrist in your area.

TX Mom
Debbie
Not an expert

Answer 6

Maybe you need to slow down you are trying to do to many things at one time. If you are trying to study then do just that, clear you mind of everything else. Maybe you need to change the area in which you are studying in. There could be to many distractions, like to much noise, to many people, to much sensory stimulation. Find a quiet place were there is no noise, no TV, not a bunch of lights or movement going on. Have you tried gingkoba that is suppose to help concentration. Cut down on your sugar & caffine intake can help also.
You should also get a second option, see another mental health professional or your family doctor. Ther could be other issues going on.

Answer 7

Do you have a free health clinc in your area, i would try there, congrats on graduate school that is how i am my thoughts are all over the place and i can't remeber what i have done or said sometimes, i agree i don't think after one meeting that the doctor can tell u what you have.

Answer 8

Not neccessarily, although i would consult with your family physician.

I live with depression, and lack of concentration is one of my *little* side effects.

I also agree that no one can diagnose you in one session, it took many sessions and a few years to get my depression diagnosis, and my learning disabilities were diagnosed over four observation sessions and a two session intelligence testing.

So, I urge you, speak with your family physician and ask for a referral to someone else.

((look up relaxation techniques, I use meditation as a way to get myself to focus before settlign down to work))

Answer 9

Thoughts Running Through My Head

Answer 10

You're Bi-Polar and you refuse to listen to authority. Take your medication and you will be able to concentrate. Mention paranoia next time you go see your psychiatrist.