Help needed- ADHD: Difficult to function

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e_a_22
e_a_22 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
in Autism and neurodiversity
I have been on the waiting list for a ADHD assessment for two months. I anticipate it to be a very long wait. I actually decided to see the GP myself after evaluating my symptoms. I am annoyed that my symptoms had not been picked up by anyone else. It has effected my ability to study at school and at university. I can’t study and complete work experience to enable me to get a better job. I have problems returning to a task such as studying a topic, which means that I am unable to revise or understand that subject in more depth. Can I get any advice on this? Also I would appreciate advice on how to concentrate on studying for a set period of time. How to prioritise my time so that things actually get done. Actually any advice would be good right now.

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  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @e_a_22 thanks for reaching out. 

    Keeping focus and concentration when you're studying can be a really difficult skill to master, especially with so many distractions around us these days!

    One method I've heard that some people like to use is the Pomodoro technique, where you break work down into 25 minute chunks with breaks in between. Give it a read and see what you think.

    Let me know if you need anything else, and I'll do what I can to help :)

    Alex
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    edited April 2022

    Thanks for reaching out to us @e_a_22. I can hear how difficult things are for you at the moment, especially with returning to tasks, prioritising tasks and concentrating for a set period of time.

    Honestly, you know your brain best. However, what works well for me is setting an alarm on my phone or a timer that tells me when I need to go back to the task. Additionally, I find it helpful to make sure that I leave tasks when I am happy with the progress of them. I find it easier to go back to tasks when I know what to do next and feel comfortable with the next step. On this note, I also find that it helps to break tasks down into manageable steps and know when my next break is. I find these tips also help me with concentrating for a set period of time.

    More specifically related to supporting with concentrating for a set period of time, I find it helpful to set a Pomodoro timer as @Alex_Scope suggested. An app I am finding helpful at the moment is called Focus To_Do as I can connect it to my computer, phone and tablet. It will depend on what device you are using though. If you would like to share the type of device you are using with us, we can help you to find some if that might be helpful for you.

    In terms of prioritising tasks, I think this comes back to being able to create a list of tasks. With this list of tasks, you can use something called the priority matrix. As you seem to want this for studying, you can find a template of the priority matrix for students here. Additionally, as your difficulties seem to be related to ADHD, you might also find it helpful to check out the ADHD Foundation’s website.

    I hope this helps but please do let us know if you need any further clarification, have any other questions or if we can support you further  :)

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