Oh.. I was college cross country and track conference champ. This was supposed to be my 2nd season. I know how hard it is, but at one time or another you will have to understand that our circumstances are different than most. Sports seem almost like an obsession that kept us together from an emotional break down before knowing our problems came from ADHD. I personally, stoped running. It was too hard for me to deal with the medication, and seeminly intense activity made me so sick to the point were depression and anxiety took control of me. I would recommmend that if will continue you find a way to get the nutrients you need through drinks like Ensure and power bars in addition to your regular meal schedule. I can get back to you on other ways later cause I have to go now.
See, I plan to run again, but my perpective of the sport has changed. I don't feel like the only thing I can do is running, or that I need it to let go of my frustrations. Sometimes you just need to be kind to your body and take a time to relax and adapt to the new lifestyle the medicine is offering you before resuming your sport activities
Are there any college students or student athletes with ADD? After being put on academic probation in the summer, at my university, my mother sent me to a pshycologist to test for learning disabilities. Turns out, I have had ADD all my life and never knew it, as well as anxiety and depression. Finding out I have the disorder, his answered so many personal questions I have held inside about my childhood and the perceptions of other people about me. I am a junior in college,now. I have been able to "get by" for so long. I am now ready to make drastic changes in my life. I put my thinking cap on quickly last semester and earned B's in all my classes.
This semester I am struggling. The season for my sport has started. I dedicated myself. I lost 20 pounds. I am light as a feather and ready to sprint. I still have three problems that seem worse than ever ADD, anxiety, and depression. I didnt do as well as I thought I would in my first competition. The anxiety took over my body immediately and I "choked". My coach says I should relax, but how? I think about, but my body wont cooperate.
After the loss, depression took over even more. I havent been to class in a week in a half. I am behind in every class. Though I get up to go somedays, I never make it. I just lay back down as if I cant move. Instead I watch "The Golden Girls" or a Lifetime movie. Other days, I just sleep through class and show up late to practice. I miss appointments and meetings, but I have a hard time falling asleep at night and I NEVER wake up on time in the mornings. Though I am on a team, I seperate myself from my teammates and boycott any outside gatherings or meetings. I am taking Lexapro (depression and anxiety) and Adderall. I dont have any friends. I have a cell phone, but no one calls. REALLY. I live with my brother who has a life of his own.
I cant remember anything. I cant prioritize. I lose things. I cant manage money. These things have gotten worse since I have been on my own. Learning about the ADD has made me aware, but that now I feel even more confused. I have attempted therapy, but I dont see how telling someone will help. It will ony make me more aware of what a failure I am wich will lead to more misery . I am physically ready to run, but I am losing it mentally. Trapped in my apartment. I dont leave unless I have to quickly run to the store. I have asked about ADD coaching, but no one I asked seem to know what it is.
I dont want to burden people with my problems, but I feel ill, unable to do anything, but read (my own literature choices) and watch Lifetime.
Can anyone relate to how I feel or offer tips. Track is a big part of my life. If I can get over this, I may be one of the fastest women in the country, but a positive attitude has to come from somewhere.
Getting back to you, try drinking Ensure, power bars, and those smoothy power drinks like "green machine".
Try taking other supplements can help your depression and anxiety like 5-HTP, B-6 ( a must)
go to your local health store and ask for advice about herbs and eating (for example nutrients in fish always help)
Ask your doctor first and tell him exacly what you are tellling us.
I am going to tell you something that you might not like. I know that is hard, but you are going to have to take a break. Believe me, a sport can only take you so far. Ask yourself. Are you really running because you love the sport or because you love the attention other people give you? in reality, if you just simply love running, you could do it on your own. I know you might be mad at hearing this. I was too. But, I think counseling in addition to the medication would be helpful. I also had a dependency on the sport.
I still have records set at my college, but have not recieved a called fom the coach eversince I stoped running. Even the of most talented athletes in the world are now forgotten. They pay attention to you while you're good, then someone else better and faster comes and you just become a memory (hell not even that). Who set the fastest woman's 100m record in 1971? what about 1983? what are they now? do you care? Is this really worth you health and academic future? What is more important you or the people that kiss your ass while you are fast. You can die from this. I hope you realize that and really think about it!
You are right. Exercise is supposed to help confidence and self esteem. I feel stress from competitive pressure and expectations.I don't want to stray far away from the topic but i have also, in a way, medicated myself by running. I would always, and still do sometimes, run at night, at one point i was up to 60 miles a week. I would listen to music and dwell on problems, sometimes thinking i was solving them. I don't feel running has helped me make any breakthroughs in who i am but i have kept me under control in some areas of my life.While I am not currently in college and have never been on a sports team,