Suspected ADHD and my PhD

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I'm working full-time and doing a part-time PhD in a Humanities subject. I suspect I might have ADHD and wonder if any of you with ADHD is in a similar situation and can help.

I really struggle with the referencing. I think my supervisor feels I can't be bothered with it, but I assure you I try to get it right. And yet my reference lists is full of errors. I really struggle with processing and producing accurate lists of any sort (spreadsheets, for example). Could this be linked to my possible ADHD and if so, do you have any tips for me?

Generally speaking, I'd say I work very hard but sometimes I don't "get" what, exactly, is required of my academic work. This is particularly true when I have to "reflect" on something. This might or might not be due to my possible ADHD, though.

I don't know, I feel so disheartened. I know my weakness is attention to detail, whereas I'm very good at seeing the overall picture and creating ideas/solutions to problems. Maybe a PhD is not ideal for me for that reason. Yet I'll be ashamed if I don't complete it, especially as I'm partially funded by work and there's an expectation that I will finish it.

Any tips/hacks will be greatly received .

Any thoughts? 🙂

What exactly do you mean by struggling with the referencing? Getting the right reference, or formatting the references consistently?

Hi, I make errors with things like getting the format correct or spelling the scholars I cite consistently. It's just a matter of paying more attention, I know, but my eyes can't detect all the mistakes.

I’m an ADHDer whose part way through a PHD. My dept have agreed that when I get ready to submit they’d pay for a proofreader - part of their job will be to point out any formatting issues with my reference list

Are you using a reference management tool? It's not perfect but a tool like Endnote will make things much easier. Most Uni's fund those tools for students. I find it helpful to go through my reference lists by category and check them off. E.g. have an example of a correctly formatted journal article up (from the Internet) and then check every journal article off my list. Endnote will give you a great starting base to make this achievable. If that doesn't work then yes I would consider paying a proof reader / editor who will look through and correct errors. Even if the department doesn't fund it, if you can find the money then it will probably be worth it if this is a huge stumbling block to completing this amazing achievement.

I'm midway through a PhD (albeit not humanities) and have ADHD. To my mind being able to see the overall picture and solve problems probably makes you a better student than one who can do all the details but can't put it together.

For referencing as a pp has said something like EndNote will help. Mendeley and Zotero are both free but EndNote is often free through uni. Very easy to convert all your references from one formatting style to another.

Any software that will read your text to you can be helpful as you might hear the errors better if they're spoken to you whilst you're also reading it. Mac has this built in or ask your uni disability service if they can recommend something - I get DSA so it funds Claro. Grammarly is also free (the non-premium version) and is great for picking up simple typing errors etc.

Is there anyone else on your course you could ask to proof read bits? A remarkable % of PhD students are neurodiverse so you might find someone who needs similar help and you can trade proofreading each others work - its much easier picking up errors in something you didn't write.

Thank you! It's so lovely to not be judged . I do have Endnote through uni and will try that.

Apols, I got distracted and forgot to reply. Yes, get to know endnote and linking it into word. It'll sort and order your bibliography at the very end too, will save hours and hours. Does your uni do training on use of referencing software? (Mine did, but you can find everything on youtube!). Also second getting a proof reader. I had my mum proof reading some of my chapters for consistency/grammar, and I have done this for others.