Procrastinating/Focus issues?

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Do you guys have any focus issues when it comes to things outside of your interest. My mom says I get distracted by computers but even with no technology around my mind will distract myself. It is often the reason I need extra time on test even though I know all/most of the answers. I tried taking Strattera, it helped but it started making me act crazy and eventually got me suspended from school (can't even go to my own prom or graduation)

My mind seems to love making me sleepy or space out when ever school work is involved.

I definitely have those issues especially when it comes to things that involve executive function.

All the time, be it at work to cleaning up my house to even sending a message on Facebook.

there are times I wonder if I have ADD, don't think I am actually severe enough for a diagnosis though, I also would refuse to be medicated

Yes.

I completed Year 12 last year and I went alright, but the result was far from my potential. I'm not sure if it's completely my fault, executive dysfunction or a mix of both but I was always lead to believe the first option.. I mean I couldn't really see it any other way.

The thing is, throughout the whole year I'd do these things rather than working at school:

+ Look up reasons as to why I couldn't concentrate
+ Look up reasons how to cope with boredom at school (mostly did this when alone in a quiet room)

Also:

I went to a select entry school, so it was pretty intense. In class everyone was easily able to follow verbal instructions where I was not (especially in chemistry when we had pracs) and I couldn't really think of a reason for it. I just felt really confused and would always finish the prac incredibly slow or not at all, or if it was a group all I'd do was ask what we need and help set it up. In other classes sometimes the teacher would move on too fast, and I'd just give up because I'd be stuck trying to organize my sheet of paper or word document properly (I am some what of a perfectionist). Other times I would just blatantly become distracted or disinterested and not take any information in. In these times, I could have been talking to the person next to me (strictly only if they were 1 of my 4 friends at the school), fiddling with my pencil case, doing online personality tests etc.

I had a few counselor appointments because I kept sending e-mails to teachers complaining why I couldn't seem to study properly like everyone else. At several points I even told some of them that I thought maybe I had something like ADHD. Everyone just seemed to be able to do everything better than I could, even though I was obviously more intelligent than some of them (shown in tests you couldn't study for). I had many blood tests throughout the year because I would be fatigued a lot (and of course the concentration issues). In the original blood test before year 12 even began my iron and vitamin D were both really low, so I took supplements. Throughout year 12 my levels were some-what normalized but some doctors still told me I had low iron, but eventually a more specialized doctor told me that the others were looking at the wrong number and that my levels were actually fine. This left me confused.



Answer to topic - Yes I do have those issues. I can't determine whether or not I'm just extremely unmotivated and lazy (in combination with being a perfectionist to my standards) or if I actually have some executive problems. I'd rather not call it executive problems because that sounds like a cop out, but I've always been this way and I told myself every year that I'd improve, but I never did. Instead of doing things like studying at home I'd be doing personality tests or watching astronomy documentaries, or of course playing games (if I stopped playing games, I'd start work, get pissed off at inconsistencies or from getting distracted and end up researching ADHD etc). Even for my exams, I would basically rote memorize the key terms the night before, and sometimes I lucked out and got an A, other times (harder subjects like chemistry) I wasn't so lucky.

I most definitely have this problem. And it has gotten worse with age. Instead of doing what I should be doing but am not particularly interested in my mind is thinking about what I am interested in.

It is executive function and special interest. Special interests are defined as an interest that interferes with your life. Another words my obsessions are a factor in making me lazy.

I sometimes think the same thing.

Yeah. Whether he realizes it or not, the OP is talking about the "Executive Function" thing.

The stupid thing is, there are times you can be SO organized, but possibly it's connected to special interest subjects. Stuff in general? Nah. Total disorganization. Not good, but at least it's a common thread in the lives of many on the spectrum...and those who suspect they are.

Well, I just like to be entertained...
If I don't like the topic or it doesn't interest me then it is hard to focus on it.
I have gotten a lot better while working full time though, most stuff there is not entertaining but I have to focus as my job depends on it!

I had that problem in high school - school work was torture. But college was different - I could find a way to become interested in my courses. So then courses became the focus of a short-term special interest and I was self-motivated to study because I enjoyed learning the material.

I'm worried about going to college I'm screwed if I end up treating it like I do high school. I'm gonna see if I can get prescribed any other ADD/ADHD medication to help me focus.

Ohhhh I could spend hours doing research for school/academic projects, it was my pleasure. And I loved exams too!

I do have the concentration span of a goldfish with Alzheimer's for stuff that I find boring such as household chores. I have to do them in short bursts usually or use routines to help me.

I very much have this problem.

I have a lot of difficulty concentrating and staying on task. I set up things to-do and try to do things in bite-sized pieces to get around this flaw. I have found that if I am left to my own devices I am much more capable in learning and performing tasks than when people try to micromanage my learning to teach "habits" and stupid crap like that. In classes where that was enforced I had a lot more difficulty.

This is so true. It is really weird that we can be so inconsistent like that.

Yep! I know what you mean.