Hey guys I need help.

[Psychodic_Greak]

Im not good in math whatsoever. now, Ive never really had to study in math too hard because once math got hard for me, I got tranferred into ESE because the people at my school thought that it would help me more because of my shunt (A tube that is in the back right hand corner of my head) they thought that I was retarded with the shunt, now ive been in ESE for 4 years and to be brutally honest I want out. Since ive really never had to study, I need help to form a study habbit for an 8th grader. what I was thinking was come home from school/do homework/play on the computer for an hour or something/finish up the homework/ jump in shower/eat dinner/ go to bed.

I want a better one because I have ADHD. (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and I can't keep my mind on things for very long. if someone can help me that will be great.

Thanks, Kevin

[HAL9000]

You should be checking into any government funded learning programs for ADHD. We have one where I live and they help fund computers and software for people with learning disabilities and it makes a huge difference in these peoples lives. Having a learning disability has nothing to do with intelligence, it just means that the system doesn't cater to the way you need to learn. These programs cater to these needs with the proper tools to learn from the same eduactional system as everyone else.

[SARGE]

2 of my kids allegedly had ADHD. They doped 'em up and I said bull to that. At the time we got 'em they had just been dumped by their parents and were still young (very). I diagnosed their problem differently, threw out the pills and DL put her love machine in high gear. Behavior changed dramatically. The pills they had tried made 'em worse and since there is no valid test for ADHD, I figured the wackos just wanted to dope 'em.

[HAL9000]

That's the problem with the drugs these days. My nephews teacher diagnosed him with ADHD and suggested in a note to the doctor that he needed ritalin, so the doctor, without any further diagnosis, wrote the perscription! In other words, the teachers are making the diagnosis and perscriptions now.

[SARGE]

Yeah, Ritalin is what they tried and made them loony. As with Prozac, both deserve the trash pile.

[Psychodic_Greak]

I don't want to do nothing, i dont want in no damn program, ive done everything on my own, I will learn by myself.

[lpc300]

Oh, boy. I feel like I need to tread lightly on this one. Since I've been dealing with teens with various issues (including depression and ADD/ADHD) for more than 13 years, I'd like to give some feedback on this. I have seen both Prozac and Ritalin work wonders for the right person...Prozac has been a main component in saving a few young lives and Ritalin was an important reason that several kids I worked with were able to do well in school, rather than dropping out because they were unable to focus. These and other medications are not for everyone, however, and I have seen some negative reactions, though these are far rarer than the positive ones.

More specifically for your issue, Psychodic_Greak. Firstly, sounds like you have an incorrect school placement. Your parents may need to get involved in helping to change that as schools are notorious for not listening to students. Secondly, you seem to be on the right track with your plan. Here's a plan that I've suggested and seen work with others similar to how you've described yourself:

Home from school
30 minutes snack/TV/computer
60 minutes homework
60 minutes dinner/TV/computer
30 minutes homework
60 minutes TV/computer
30 minutes homework, if needed.

Obviously you can adjust the 'break' activities to match with your likes/homelife. The key here is to break up your homework time into blocks, getting progressiviely smaller as the night goes on, to help you manage fatigue. Two things to remember: you can adjust the times to suit your needs...if 45 minutes is waht you can handle, fine, just match it with your break time. Also, have a stop point about an hour before bed.

A key in dealing with ADD/ADHD is learning to organize yourself in the way that works for you.

Hope this helps.

[HAL9000]

Why not use a program, I'm not talking special ed classes or anything. I'm talking normal education, but with the tools to help you understand that method better. Why turn away the free tools to better yourself.

[figarowa]

I'll have to get up on my box and preach here for a little cause i feel that i'm qualified through out my working experiance to tell a little of my opinions. I currently work in a Juvenile Detention Center, which is maximum security, basically the rottenest of all the apples fall here. From what i've seen is that as a society as a whole have basically created excuses for poor parenting, in that we create a disorder (ahad) and then instead of working closely with the individual to figure out their problems, doctors dope them up to the point that they are zombies. The kids that i work with day in and day out usually come all drugged up on these drugs like depakote, ritalin and what have you, i'm concerned for a few reasons in that 1, no one knows the long term effects of these drugs and the effects to the body, and if there are what will it do to their brain functions in that dosage usually gets increased as the patient builds a resistance to the drug. In the facility i work in, these drugs are taken away from the individual, and in fact clinically proven that these kids act somewhat normal mind you that they are criminals but don't need these drugs to function in every day life. I guess the reason why i don't feel all warm and cozy with the prescription drug scene is that I know what it is like to be young, and grow bored with school lessons, lectures, heck i'm in college right now and i hate going to lectures, and yes my mind does wander as the prof babbles on and on, but in reality it happens to almost everyone...so what are we to do, drug every one up? THe bottom line is that parents are too busy with other things then to pay attention to their children, i've been there i know what it is like, I haven't had the easiest childhood, living through a divorce then 2 parents who worked full time, it comes down to what values and morals are taught and learned, as well as the home environment in which one lives. My advice to you Psycho Greak as I myself hated math is relate it to something you like, to learn the things. In all honesty i got poor grades in high school in algebra, trigometry, and geometry. I failed calc in college myself, but i didn't let it get me down, as i focused on the areas where i was strong. If you are in high school and are looking for secondary education, take the ACT's as they aren't easier, but don't rely on math or reading/grammer abilities like the SAT's. Other things to do is find someone who is willing to tutor or study with you, it does help although you hate the material....

[Lord Prism]

In every circustance..........IT DEPENDS..........but
Drugs ALONE are NOT the answer. Mediation in combination with counseling is a good start on moving towards the elimination of medication.

I agree that teacher are mis-diagnosing ADHD and jumping to drugs as a solution.

[ktkendall]

Only thing I know here that drugs may help treat the symptoms but do not cure the root cause of the problem especially when we're talking mental health!! Not saying they are bad or condemming anyone using them but while they are being used to help with symptoms that is the time to get to the root cause and find permanent cure, and perhaps for some there is not one to be found!

[Tuf]

I think I have to agree with Sarge on this one. We are all different and most of us learn in different ways as well. My wife is a Psychiatric Nurse and when I visit her work place I don't see that the Doctors are doing anything more than trying to get their "medicine" right. Which pretty much means dpoed up enough that the patients don't bother anyone but not so much that they die. I think these drugs especially when it comes to children should only be a part of the treatment and way down on the list.

[lpc300]

Last couple of posts aim towards a point that I always tell clients I work with and their parents: medication is only a tool in treatment. It can help releive symptoms while the real work (therapy) takes shape. I am always happy to assist kids to feel well enough and to cope well enough to get off their medication.