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Dear Unfocused,
Thank you for voicing your concern. It is indeed frustrating to feel trapped in a seemingly endless battle within yourself to do what needs to be done. It is even more frustrating to want to get the tasks done, to realize the consequences of not following through on things, and to simply continue to not do them. This often leads to feelings of demoralization and depression. You wonder if you might have Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder, and if this condition might be contributing to your struggle. I think it would be important for you to find out if this is part of the problem. At NIU, the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), can help you understand this disorder and assist you in finding an appropriate assessment resource. This office is located on the fourth floor of the University Health Service. You should call their secretary, Kathy, at 753-1303, and tell her you would like to meet with the coordinator who works with students who have Attention-Deficit Disorder. Another option for discovering whether or not you might have Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder is to speak with your family physician about your concern. He or she may be able to suggest a referral to an appropriate assessment resource as well. If it is determined that Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder is part of your difficulty, then help is available in the form of medication, as well as certain accommodations regarding your academic work. The CAAR Office can explain these options to you in detail. In additon to clarifying the issue of adult attention-deficit disorder, I also want to strongly encourage you to consider counseling as an important ally in your efforts to overcome your struggle with procrastination. Whether or not you have adult attention-deficit disorder, meeting with a counselor can help you overcome this self-sabotaging pattern. Despite the intensity of your struggle, it is important to realize that you can learn to face things differently and to overcome your avoidance patterns. You have a significant role to play in the creation of your life. With the help of a concerned and experienced counselor, you can develop greater self-understanding regarding the role that any personal or emotional factors may be playing in this conflict. Our experience has been that students with concerns similar to yours often struggle with painful feelings such as low self-esteem, anxiety and fear, as well as a kind of "learned helplessness" regarding their perceived ability to help themselves. We are here to help you clarify these obstacles so that you can develop meaningful and effective strategies to resolve this problem. To seek the services of the Counseling and Student Development Center, simply walk into our office located in 200 Campus Life Building between the hours of 10am and 4:00pm to have an initial appointment with one of our staff. There is a lot at stake for you in this struggle. You have articulated the negative consequences well. Now it is time to take concrete steps to get your life back on track. Please give strong consideration to following through on these recommendations. Good luck, and we hope to see you soon. Sincerely, Barb Wired |