Thank you for reaching out for guidance. This is a sign that you are capable of participating in the planning of your treatment and carrying out the recommended treatment. A full history and physical would be a place to start in this case. That may best be accomplished by your primary care physician. You can then receive recommendations for the next steps. There could be many variables involved in your problem. It would be helpful to begin treatment with a neuropsychologist to work with your cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues. A neuropsychologist could assist you with your difficulties of attention, stress, and sleep. There are a multitude of things going on for you in your final year of college. Perhaps you are overwhelmed by all that you see ahead of you...?.....Perhaps you are afraid to move forward because you may be frightened about finishing school and heading out into the "real" world. A good therapist can help you sort out your feelings and prepare to move forward now.

All the best to you~

Agreed, good question. I prompt visit to your internist is in order. It sounds at a distance like an endocrine problem. Be very careful taking a friend's meds...it was safe this time, and does provide a good clue, but be very cautious about doing this. I'm guessing maybe you took a Cortif, or similar. Tell your internist this, and ask for a VERY through blood workup. Your internist may send you to an endocrinologist. If you have adrenal exhaustion, or thyroid issues, an endocrinologist is the best Doc to get you balanced. You will have your concentration back, when your levels are correct.

Can't focus,

Based on what your experiencing definitely go to your primary care physician and get a complete workup. If there are any types of medical issues that may run in your family you definitely need to know. Early detection is so important for any medical concern. How has your appetite been? Have you noticed any patterns that have taken place before this started? Where there any major changes that has happened to you?

These are some of the questions that your doctor will ask you.

Dear "Can't Focus",

Here's a list of possible 'culprits' you may want to eliminate before seeing a Doctor:

1. What's Distracting You?

A new love interest? or perhaps a recent breakup? Relationships, for all their glory and pain, can be a major deterrent to focusing on your long-term goals (finishing college!).

Are there other distractions? Like work, family ...

2. Are you 'partying' (many college students are). The problem with this, in terms of a lack of focus, is the disruption to a balance in your brain chemistry. Stop all substances for a week and see if you experience an improvement.

Otherwise, it may be that you DO have a chemical imbalance, most likely, depression. Taking your friends ADD medicine is dangerous. And besides - If you had ADD, it probably would have been diagnosed when you were much younger.

Good luck!

If the fatigue and attention issues you are experiencing are new symptoms that you have not routinely struggled with in the past I would start with a comprehensive health history, physical exam and blood work. Your family physician or a skilled integrative practitioner like a chiropractic neurologist or naturopath would be good place to start. Fatigue can be the source of your attention problems or be an additional secondary issue you are having. The causes of fatigue are multi-faceted and can be anything from anemia, a virus, mal-absorption of essential nutrients, drug use, poor dietary habits (too many carbs, too little protein or infrequent eating habits are very common), sleep apnea, hormonal imbalances and many others. A health history, exam and blood work will narrow down the physiological contributions. In terms of ADD/ADHD, regular physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy have shown to be the most effective. As a chiropractic neurologist, I specialize in evaluating the ADD/ADHD by evaluating the sensory-motor processing involving gaze stability, visual tracking and physical feedback systems--all of which need to be working properly in order to read, sustain attention and learn. You can find a board certified chiropractic neurologist in your area at acnb.org and ask if they are up to date in the last few years as many advances have been made in this field recently.

Examine how your life may have changed over the past few months - any significant losses, setbacks, frustrations. Is there undiagnosed depression, anger or diminished self-esteem for some reason. The sudden loss of energy or motivation usually results from emerging depressive feelings which may have been delayed in the past or repressed and are now for some reason coming to the surface. You may be feeling some sense of futility or disappointment with yourself, questioning where you are headed in life, wondering whether all this is really worthwhile. Are you beginning to wonder who am i really and have my efforts to date in school really been worthwhile and what I want. Please sit back and take honest stock of yourself and your life currently. Don't hesitate to see a counselor at school who may be able to help you make sense of these new feelings and behaviors. Good luck in the future.

Dr. Michael L. Fields

Most likely you suffer from ADD. Read the following article. It contains the answers to your questions.

http://philaacupuncture.com/acupuncture-for-add-and-adhd/

You can find more information here:

http://www.vivahealthylife.com/adhd/

Go to your school's counseling center. If they don't have one they likely will have a referral service to local therapist s for a discount. What you describe sounds like senioritis, stress, and/or anxiety! If this is the first time you are having these types of difficulties focusing it is unlikely that ADHD is in play. I am sure adderall helped you focus... IT HELPS ANYBODY and EVERYBODY focus. lol! don't fall into the "it helped me so I must have the disorder" trap!

What is your blood type?

What is your favorite food?

Try writing responses to your class questions on a notebook.

Get a large poster and write by hand on a large sheet of paper.

Try taking a nap about 3pm daily.

Try Fasting for 24 hours. Drinking just water or green tea.

Stop eating wheat, sugar & milk.

Break your fast with vegetable soup you made by hand: carrots, onions, celery, garlic, tomatoes, herbs.

Go to bed at 9pm every evening for 2 weeks. Get a felt sleep hat, that comes down over your eyes & ears. Just close your eyes & relax.

Do not worry if your mind keeps moving. Just keep your eyes closed and pretend to sleep.

Take the herb: White Willow bark, 2 caps, 1 hour before bed, along with 2 grams of vitamin C, Cod liver oil, and pro Biotics.

Upon waking, take 3 grams of vit C. & Pro-Biotics, chromium with each meal.