To start off I’m 26, and was diagnosed with ADD (they said I didn’t really have the hyper part of it) when I was around 8-10 years old. I was prescribed Concerta and took that until around middle school. My mom and my pediatrician at the time I guess decided that since I hadn’t ever needed an increase in the dosage that I probably no longer needed it. I have severe anxiety (untreated) and I’m socially awkward so the thing is if I felt it wasn’t working anymore I wouldn’t have ever spoke up for myself about it.

I probably did need an increase, but instead I was taken off medication and I feel my education suffered because of it. I wasn’t doing homework, or if I was I would rush at the last minute (usually in homeroom) to scribble anything on the page so I would at least get the grade for the effort. I never thought about the future, I was always worried about just getting a passing grade so I wouldn’t get yelled at. I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school, so I was pushed into doing a year of trade school in an automotive course.

For the last 8 years I’ve been working as basically an entry level technician for the same company. I absolutely despise and detest what I do for a living and what my life has been allowed to become, I never wanted this for myself and I don’t want to progress any further with it. Being an entry level tech, I don’t really make great money. All this time and I have nothing saved up or anything to show for all my hard work over the years. Not to mention the physical toll it takes on your body, why put myself through that when I’m not even happy or paid well?! It’s literally just torturing me at this point. I just want to feel like a real person, have a career I’m excited about that pays me well, and a future to look forward to. I want to go to college, I never decided I didn’t want to. I’m just worried ADD, depression, and anxiety will make it near impossible for me to achieve what I want.