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Evening class with ADHD - adult

3 replies

FattyandtheFeast · 29/01/2022 12:49

I wasn't sure where best to post. I've started ice skating lessons in the evenings and I love it but I'm quite bad at it. Everyone else seems to understand the instructions except me. I take elvanse in the morning but by 4pm it's wearing off and by the evening class it's pretty much gone. Does anyone have any tips of how I can pay better attention in the evening? It doesn't help that we never really do the same thing twice, every lesson is structured differently and I have no idea what we're going to do. I practice in the week but then in the next lesson we do something different so again I'm way behind everyone else. It's so frustrating because I understand what they're saying, I know it's simple plain English but when I try to do it I can't remember all of it or implement it, it's starting to make me feel so stupid. I've booked a private lesson in the day time to see if I can focus better that way but it's not something I could do frequently because of the cost.

OP posts:
FoxRedLabbingtons · 29/01/2022 13:04

That sounds hard, especially if it’s something you really want to do. Assuming you can’t take an evening top up dose? I work with several kids who do, for similar reasons.

My son has adhd and I think I might too. A strategy that helps us is to break down the task or instruction in our head ( actually, often out loud), using words. And then say the words back when we do the task. My DS has golf lessons and his teacher asks him ‘tell me what I’ve just asked you to do’ which really helps. His teacher is excellent and instinctively knows what works for kids like DS.

I do dog agility ( my Labrador has adhd too obvs Wink) and my teacher knows we can only use three commends, and need to act out ( often actually going over jumps myself!) what needs doing in little chunks. She breaks the course down and then builds it back up for me. Again, I link each step to a key word each time.

The other thing I would say is that feeling anxious causes a big problem ( I have zero executive skills when anxious!) so I do breathing exercises before we start. My son has learned ( took months!) to count to three before he hits a ball.

You really have my sympathy. At dog agility, because of these problems, I often feel like the stupidest person there ( despite having a doctorate in educational psychology). But my teacher is very patient and has listened when I’ve explained I find this stuff hard. And I now the other ladies there well enough that I can have a laugh when me and DDog end up off course!

Good luck, please don’t let this out you off enjoying your classes.

FattyandtheFeast · 29/01/2022 22:17

Thank you for such a kind and helpful reply. I've been offered the top up dose before and turned it down because I wasn't sure but I think I will have to if I want to function well in the evenings. I guess it's never been an issue until now.

I'll definitely try the saying the instructions out loud, even just to myself because there's a lot of people in the class. And try to work a bit more on my anxiety because that's always high, I do forget to work on it.

I'm glad your teacher and class are patient and kind to you, it really is hard not to feel stupid in those situations and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. It's lovely to hear about your son and dog too, that they are able to get on well with their classes too. Knowing other people are managing and getting through the same challenges helps to feel better about it all.

Thank you, I won't let it put me off I think because I even just enjoy being on the ice. I hope I get better at being on it soon though Grin

OP posts:
EssexLioness · 29/01/2022 22:59

I am autistic and have the same problems with instructions. I find that I cannot process verbal instructions on their own but need visuals and to act it out myself too. So before I actually do a move I would maybe replicate it myself with small discrete hand movements eg two fingers to stand in for each leg, then kind of move them in the way the instructor shows if that makes sense. I will also say the instructions in my head to myself and do this on repeat as I am learning a particular action.

I understand what you mean about feeling stupid. I am actually quite bright but feel like an idiot when other people always seem to pick these things up quicker than me. I also can only handle a few short instructions at a time. Too many instructions means that I have forgotten the first ones.

Also, if you find that your mind wandering / anxiety is a big issue, you can try mantras in between instructions. Mantras that I often use are ‘calm’ and ‘focus’. It helps stop me thinking of random things, or getting so stressed that I can’t do anything

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