can't focus on my work

I don't know if this is asperger related, but I would like to know if it is... and maybe get some advice to go with it?

anyways, ever since I've discovered Asperger's Syndrome I've been obsessed with reading about it and collecting information about people with AS. I find it very important to find ways to cope with AS in normal day situations. But now i can't let it go...
I've been struggling to do anything at work (stage/"school working experience period") the last few weeks (programming a piece of software), although I'm almost done. I can't focus or drive myself to type anything simple or think about an approach to finishing the product. All i can think about is 'why?'...
no interest in finishing it? somewhat true, because i NEED to finish it in order to finish school
afraid to finish it? ("afraid") doesn't sound like me, but I do feel allot of stress when thinking about 'the finished product' (maybe it's not good enough/not complex enough/etc).

It's becoming a problem since time is ticking away, and (feel like) I'm the only to solve this. My supervisor is hardly involved in the process, nor does he care when it's finished (or when i show up for work for that matter). This lack of interest doesn't help either... Although I always feel comfortable in a lose environment (because of the room to slip up, which I do allot on morning routines (eating/showering/shaving/feeding the cats), and be inconsistent).

Ok, now I'm rambling on, I'm gonna stop writing before I end up in a different subject...

any of your thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated!

I have terrible focus and I'm a major procrastinator. When I get into something I enjoy doing it's ok...but doing stuff I'm not too interested in is a major problem for me.

I struggled terribly with this too. You should look into the symptoms of a thing called ADHD, which is thought to occur in tandem with Asperger's. The only way that I managed to improve my attention-spam/focus was by continually trying, or trying to find the right conditions where my attention/focus was maximised.

UK-SW wrote:I have terrible focus and I'm a major procrastinator. When I get into something I enjoy doing it's ok...but doing stuff I'm not too interested in is a major problem for me.

well, if it's either a simple or not-so-time-consuming I seem to have no problems. Otherwise I find I need to be focussed on the subject in order to do anything. Never quite had problems stimulating that focus, but now it feels like it just got up and left...

Chucky, are there any particular symptoms or effects of ADHD I should look into? Not that I mind reading/searching allot, but I tend to got swallowed by wanting to read everything I can possibly find

Well, if you find it very hard to concentrate on, for example, reading something, then that's a good sign. You would probably also find it hard to just sit down and relax and would be on the move constantly. If you DID manage to sit down, you'd probably be biting your nails or just fidgeting!

Kevin

When i was assessed for AS, the doctor said that in the future she wants to additionally assess me for ADD. She made it clear that she suspected ADD, without the H.

This has sort of confused me, and although I know there is no 'blueprint' for what co-morbidities a person with AS may have... I also know that what many times comes along with AS is ADHD.

Anyways, just thinking out loud here. When I start CBT, they are going to assess me for ADD.

I have problems concentrating on things I have little interest in. This is a specific problem for me at the moment, as I am trying to fulfill the requirements for my minor studies... I would rather just study my major studies all of the time, as I am keenly interested in those. I was pained to even come up with a minor if the truth be known. And then there are the 'general requirements' that were also hell to get through. I've completed most of those now though.

That's what I'm doing right now: just studying my ass off for my college-work. I love what Im doing, but it does get very stressful at times. What is it that you're doing again? My current degree is Industrial Biology.

I'm studying social psychology.

Do you get on ok attending classes, or is it difficult for you?

I feel lucky in the sense that I am able to study from home, and only have to go in about once a month to take exams. I like not having to be in the classroom environment.

I get the impression that you like to go to school. Was being around so many people and commotion ever difficult for you?

Brains_&_Burgers wrote:I'm studying social psychology.

Do you get on ok attending classes, or is it difficult for you?

I feel lucky in the sense that I am able to study from home, and only have to go in about once a month to take exams. I like not having to be in the classroom environment.

I get the impression that you like to go to school. Was being around so many people and commotion ever difficult for you?

It used to be horrendously difficult - yeh - but I enjoy the fact that I have something to do each day by going into class. I used to enjoy hiding at home from everything, but I've completely reversed my attitude to life: I now face my fears and simply don't give a damn about people looking at one or making a fool of myself anymore.

How can you just go in once per month...?

I study books at home, and take exams on them for credit.

Otherwise I prepare essays and turn those in for credit.

I am doing both at the moment. Sometimes I am only doing one or the other.