[Anonymous]

I am 29 years old and about to start my year-long journey of studying for the CPA. I have never been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or any type of learning disorder. Just never mentioned it to anyone, but I am pretty sure I have something, and have had it since I was a child.

In terms of education, I have scraped by at everything. And in the rare glimpses of mental clarity, I have scored very very high, but then it very quickly goes back to a scrambled tv channel, with the picture coming in clear or partially clear every once in a while. And when I say clarity, I don’t mean me understanding certain material and struggling at other material. It is this way with everything. I just have the worst time at focusing. I am a very calm person physically. Too calm and boring actually, but my brain is the opposite. It is always racing around. If I meet someone and they tell me their name, I instantly forget it. My brain just doesn’t process it. When I read just a single sentence in a book, I have to read it over 3-5 times, just for it to partially make sense, and then majority of the time it is all forgotten once I start the next sentence. So, I am absolutely the worst at studying because I struggle and grasping concepts because of my brain’s inability to solely focus on one thing. Even when I have no distractions around me, my brain distracts itself. It is like there is two people in there, one trying to focus and study and the other jumping around and wanting to play.

So, I am terrified about the CPA exam because of this. I know deep down inside, I have the ability to pass the exam, but I can rarely awaken that person deep down inside. It is not a motivation thing either. That is not an issue. I just have some type of learning disability. Anybody similar?

[June2016]

I agree I am defintly not in the position to give medical advice and I wasn't trying to, and understand some people need and benefit from the pills. I was just sharing my experience because I was surprised with what actually helped. I was ready to get a prescription and If I would've went to the dr I am sure I would've been diagnosed with ADD.. But something so simple really helped me.. But maybe it is just me or a small percent of people suffering with focus issues benefit from cutting caffeine out.

[Missy]

If cutting caffeine helps you focus, you likely do not have ADD. Caffeine is pretty well documented to help ADD/ADHD because it is a stimulant (which is all ADD medication is) just in a much lower dosage than ritalin, concerta, etc.

https://psychcentral.com/lib/caffeines-effect-on-adhd-symptoms/0003050

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[golfball7773]

mla11692 is correct. Caffeine increases the effect of the stimulant. I take my concerta in the morning then drink a cup of coffee. There is so much info out there that is incorrect or not substantiated by a professional. Dr Russel Barkley does a good job explaining and has wrote many books on the subject. He has a very substantive testing which took my wife and I many hours to do the testing to help diagnose me. His tests are 90 percent accurate. My shrink loves to use that test

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 86
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 71, 73

BEC - 74, 86

REG - 77*

FAR - 57

*expired

(I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[Anonymous]

I personally started taking Vyvanse when I began my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. I was a lot like you, intelligent, made it through college and school, but I never really did awesome. My mind is always on fast forward, I forget a lot, lose a lot. I am always rushed and never really retain.

My daughter was diagnosed ADD/ADHD and it wasn't until I went through that process with her that I realized all these years what was going on with me. I went to see my doctor, who had previously treated me for anxiety and we discussed it. I did a survey and also had performance evaluations from my work. I always did great work, but I had a major focusing issue.

I have since gotten 2 promotions, I am not so very focused on everything, Im a little more relaxed. Work is great and the CPA experience is a little more great!

I am so glad I did this, for me, it made a world of change in my life. But again that is for me. I hope you figure it out!

[Anonymous]

ditto ditto ditto! Im fairly certain I have undiagnosed ADD. I wish I could go to the doctor and get meds…

[golfball7773]

^If you read the thread, it took me about 8 weeks of counseling and a few doctor visits to finally get meds

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 86
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 71, 73

BEC - 74, 86

REG - 77*

FAR - 57

*expired

(I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[Author]

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