ADHD & Physics: Finding a Career Path

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the challenges faced by a graduate physics student recently diagnosed with ADHD, exploring the impact of this condition on academic performance and potential career paths. Participants share experiences and seek advice on coping strategies and available support systems within academia.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses feelings of failure and frustration due to their ADHD diagnosis and its perceived impact on their academic performance.
  • Another participant suggests that the transition from undergraduate to graduate physics may inherently be more challenging, regardless of ADHD.
  • There is a discussion about the visibility of disabilities, with one participant noting that many disabilities, including ADHD, are not outwardly apparent.
  • Some participants propose that seeking support from medical professionals or counselors could be beneficial for improving focus and coping strategies.
  • Questions are raised about the types of academic studies or careers that may be better suited for individuals with ADHD.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effectiveness of current coping strategies or the type of support available for ADHD in academic settings. Multiple perspectives on the challenges of graduate studies and the nature of ADHD are presented.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on specific support options available at the university for students with ADHD, as well as the varying experiences of participants regarding focus and academic challenges.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students with ADHD, educators, academic counselors, and individuals exploring career paths in STEM fields while managing similar challenges.

Artus
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Hi:

I started Graduate school this year (Physics), but my performance has been awful, I think I'm going to be kicked out from University. I recently was diagnosed with ADHD, which explains my hard struggle through school during my whole life. I find this horrible and I'm full of anger, because I'm a failure while because of a problem with my mind, while everybody thinks I'm lazy and irresponsible.

I already started medication under a Doctor's prescription (Strattera), but I don't feel I'm making progress on my focus and organization. I could talk with University authorities, but I'm not sure what kind of support I can get from them, because there is not an obvious disability like hearing, sight, or motor ones.

I don't know what can I do, because I'm constantly changing my interests. From Physics to Economics to Musics to Computers to whatever I might like, except that people with ADHD are not able to control their attention span.

Is there hope to ADHDers interested in Physics? If not, what kind of Academic studies or careers are best suited to us?

Also, if there are people here with the same problem. I'd really appreciate your tips to cope with this monster.
 
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Null_ said:
You obviously did well enough in undergrad physics to get to grad school physics. It seems like, pardon me for saying this if it isn't true, your diagnosis made your condition worse? I am sure there are people (medical or counselors) who can help you focus.
https://www.google.com/search?q=adh...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

It could also be that grad school is just much harder than undergrad, and much more dense. That's the problem I've run into. I've never been diagnosed with ADHD or anything, but I have severe trouble staying focused when entering the second hour of one derivation using mathematics I've never heard of before with little to no connection to the actual physical system that we are supposedly talking about.
 
Artus said:
Hi:I'm not sure what kind of support I can get from them, because there is not an obvious disability like hearing, sight, or motor ones.
Most disabilities are ones you cannot see. I am unsure what type of support you'd get but you might be able to get some assuming you have the paperwork to prove your diagnosis.
 

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