Dear Charlie:

I am having a REALLY hard time focusing on anything i do. I've been sick most of the time here at BSU, and i seem to be sleeping a lot just like when i had mono. My grades are slipping and i can't seem to get them back up. I'm wondering if i have ADD and i wanted to know where i could go to see if i could get some help.

Signed: Genesis

Dear Genesis,

Charlie hears that you’re having a difficult time with your grades and schooling. You end with a question about ADD and where/if you could get help. Charlie will attempt to provide you with some answers.

You provide just a brief snapshot of yourself. In the snapshot, you say that you are having a very hard time focusing and also mention sleeping a lot. Though these symptoms may be suggestive of ADD or perhaps depression, this is simply not enough information to make either diagnosis. Therefore Charlie encourages you to seek a professional opinion. My friends at the Counseling Center (285-1736) are an excellent resource for this purpose. They can meet with you and do a more thorough assessment. If the assessment indicates that you may have either ADD or depression, your counselor can make recommendations about how to proceed. Charlie wants you to know that there are specific and effective treatments for either condition.

Hoping this helps you to begin to feel more focused and energized,
Charlie