Posted by the blue professor on March 31, 2003, at 21:38:38
In reply to Re: Memory, Concentration, Energy Problems......, posted by GregCo on March 31, 2003, at 16:39:03
GregCo I hear what you are saying old buddy. I did have to go back and read parts again because I kept forgetting what you said. ;)
I have a terrible short-term memory. I can NEVER remember the date without looking. I lose things all the time. Went to the Mall not long back and when I came out could not find the car. I called the police because I thought it had been stolen, but of course it was right where I left it. I try to make lists of things to do but keep forgeting where I put the list or that I even made one.
Like you, I did well in school. I actually started school in the third grade by skipping the first two. Actually, being a 6 year old third grader is a little traumatic - I wouldn't advise it for any children after the experience.
I never could force myself to study UNLESS it was a subject that I was really interested in. Luckilly I loved science and mathematics. I struggled greatly with any history courses or college gen ed. courses that were not math or science related.
I was diagnosed as ADHD, inattentive type. I took Ritalin for a while and Dexedrine for a while, but my family frowned on it so I gave it up. It REALLY did help a lot, though, and recently I have gone back on Dexedrine.
I managed to get my degrees and work in the engineering field for a while, then about 25 years ago became a college professor. I did OK, you see, but what a struggle with things I didn't like. And the problems with the memory, being confused in strange situations, inability to find my way around, as you mentioned, generally not being able to follow what is going on around me for more than a few minutes and other effects. Not to mention the apathy and depression that goes along with it.
As a result of this we are thought of as strange and introverted people. We appear lost much of the time and become withdrawn and xenophobic. A loss of confidence in yourself is inevitable.
I am truly amazed sometimes that I have reached the level that I have. One would think that it would be impossible to reach this level with those symptoms as I have described. What happens is when you get older and wiser you begin to put a front up to those deficiencies and find your way around some of them. You act self-assured, confident and in total control because you must to advance in your occupation, have friends, not be thought of as odd and other things.
As an example, I have to attend many meetings. During the meetings my mind is full of 'hash' and I lose concentration ever so often. Since I am partially deaf, I may cover by going to a collegue and telling them that I couln't hear well from my position and ask them to synopsize what was said. During the meetings, though, I have learned to appear that I am immensely concentrating on what is said.
I do not have as bad a problem when I am chair of a committee and directing a meeting myself. I also have no problem at all with teaching. I have won several awards for teaching excellence. This is probably because I LIKE what I am doing and like the subjects I teach.
What I do have a problem with is paperwork and ancillary duties. I procrastinate terribly and try to avoid as many duties as possible that do not involve teaching.
This is getting a little long here, but what I am telling you is that there is a possibility that you have adult ADD (ADHD inattentive type). You need to go to a psyc and let them check you out for this. You might need to be put on an AD and a stimulant medicine, as I am.
Let us know how you are doing.
poster:the blue professor
thread:214732
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030329/msgs/214906.html