QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I have a serious problem. When I try to study my work I get really distracted. I can never stick to it. I just feel sometimes that I am wasting my time trying to learn it because I wouldn't remember it. Another problem I have is that I never can seem to be happy. I hate it when all my friends are happy, especially when they come telling me about such high grades they get in exams. This makes me feel really bad and worthless. I tend to get jealous really quickly. Also I tend to get very scared of living because of all the bad things I hear about that happen in my country. There was a movie I watched that really disturbed me - "The Exorcist" - that just keeps replaying in my mind. It also triggers fear.
Please tell me what I should do.
ANSWER:
Like everyone else, you need all your diagnoses made and comprehensively treated. You
almost certainly have attention deficit disorder and depression, and other diagnoses are
likely as well. The
screening test
I use for my patients will
likely be of enormous assistance to you.
Most of these diagnoses are genetic. I go over all of them at length in "Biological
Unhappiness".
You can do profoundly better than this. Those with ADHD tend to be extremely bright, but
they don't believe it because their ADHD keeps them from learning. Once you've
been medically treated you may be surprised to discover how smart and creative you
actually are.
