Help with ADHD and GAD for step 1

[WitchDoctor10]

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I have severe testing anxiety and have never been able to finish a test on time in my life. For a while, we were told it was because I had a processing problem but last September we found out I have ADHD. I've tried 4 adhd medicines to see if i could finish the test on time and none of them have worked for the test. adderall gave me panic attacks(because I get horrible testing anxiety) and strattera made me extremely depressed,nauseous, and dizzy. I have applied for extended time twice and the NBOME rejected my application. It is only a matter of time before my school considers dismissing me or further disciplinary action.

What on earth can I do? What do you recommend. I still haven't recovered from how depressed/crazy strattera made me. If I apply a third time, my school has told me the nbome won't grant accomodations. If I take legal action, it will take years to get straightened out in courts. I have absolutely no clue what to do. I could pass the test if they would give me extended time but I cannot get anywhere near finishing it on time and add medicine hasn't worked for me while testtaking. Please help if you have any suggestions!!

 

[mrmandrake]

I have severe testing anxiety and have never been able to finish a test on time in my life.

Why did the NBME reject your app? Do you think you don't finish exams because of anxiety or just problems processing the information?

It looks like special accommodations could be made for ADHD if you have the right documentation:

http://www.usmle.org/Test_Accommodations/2007Guide.pdf

 

[Nellyakgo]

If you got into med school it must mean that you took some exams and finished them on time and got good scores. Perhaps anxiety over possibily getting anxiety/performance anxiety is holding you back. Tell yourself you can do it and keeping positive can only help. How about some behavioural therapy?
I've no knowledge re.the comment about the NBME granting extra time with proper documentation. Sounds like a valid thought though.

 

[WitchDoctor10]

It was diangosed as a processing disorder and then as ADHD when I was 27. The NBOME will not grant you extended time unless you were diagnosed at the age of 7. Could someone with personal experience of ADHD and extreme testing anxiety tell me what they did regarding boards when the boards wouldn't give extended time for tests? I've seen psychiatrists, therapists, etc. yet haven't been able to find an answer. If the NBOME would just grant extended time, I would have passed a few months ago. I am close to just quitting med school because Strattera made me extremely depressed and being a doctor isn't worth that. Can I do anything to convert two years of med school into a Physician assistant degree? I've heard that PA's just have to take 1 exam.

 

[ZTA Ace]

I just wanted to say I know how you feel in some ways.

My UG freshman year was full of panic attacks in german because I have test taking anxiety as well and I had to walk up 4 floors of really steep stairs to take my german tests. By the time I got to the top, my heart was slightly faster than normal because of the climbing, and that would just set off my attacks. I ended up sitting on the bathroom floor for 15 minutes at the start of every exam in an effort to calm myself.

I did so poorly my sophomore year because I COULD NOT FINISH TESTS ON TIME that I ended up seeing my first psychiatrist. Sure enough - I had a very good case for a learning processing disorder that presents very similarly to ADD. I used to have panic attacks and they stopped as soon as I started on Adderall (I expect they had been produced from cognitive overload) and now I'm getting so I don't even need to extended time & sometimes not even the drug! I had to transfer schools though because my sophomore university refused to give me extended time unless I took a $3,000 diagnostic computer test... which is RIDICULOUS by the way. THAT would be way easier to dupe than a doctor. Additionally, my doctor is a trained psychiatrist who has been actively kept up with new information on ADD/ADHD since he started his practice 30 years ago AND the school recommended him to me (he has a temporary office in their health services building).... yet he cannot diagnose me in their opinion.

Getting extended testing is tough because so many people unethically attempt to do the same. I've had professors give me strange looks when I've had to talk to them about it, especially since I've gotten to the point where I just use it to look over the test when I get done beforehand. I am one of the lucky people who was able to get on medication, establish a STRICT study schedule, make it to ALL extra learning experiences, and get a semester of subjects that I find interesting enough to hyperfocus on. I want to stop with my extended testing/testing in a different location, but if someone taps their pencil, I'm done. If there's noise outside the classroom, I'm done. If I can't sit in the front row, I am done. If I didn't sleep well the night before, I'm done. All those instances put me temporarily back into feeling like I'm at the beginning of my ADD diagnosis all over again.

It's frustrating when people make it so strict. It can really ruin a lot of opportunities. I hope you can ask them what their requirements are so you can provide any needed information before you apply again.

Good luck!

 

[lucysbiggestfan]

I have ADHD, a couple of verbal processing disorders and some test anxiety too. I had similar problems with my requests for extended time being denied for the MCATs. I had also never been able to finish a test on time in my life- and practice tests showed that I woudn't be able to finish the MCAT on time either. So I taught myself to read faster and to skip certain types of questions so that I could get a score high enough to get into med school. I also got therapy to help with the test anxiety- which might help for your situation as well. I anticipate the same situation for my boards- I know your question pertains specifically to the boards which I haven't taken yet. I have been taking a combination of multiple drugs to manage my ADHD for 18 years now. Who is prescribing your drugs? You really need a good psychiatrist with alot of knowledge about ADHD to be prescribing them, or else you can get really nasty, negative side effects like you seem to have experienced. A top notch psychiatrist will be able to find a drug or a combo of drugs that will help you focus. Though I haven't taken the boards, what I would suggest for you is a better psychiatrist who can find a drug combination that works better (different drugs, different dosing etc), therapy for the anxiety, and trying to teach yourself to process information faster. Hope that helps. Also if you haven't tried Concerta (Extended release methylphenidate) I tolerate that well oddly enough even though I can't tolerate Ritalin. Vyvanse is good too.