I really struggle with biology labs
I am very good at biology classes. I have a 4.0 GPA and thrive in my lecture-based classes.
However, when it comes to the lab component of my biology classes, as well as other required classes like chemistry and physics, my mind goes completely blank. I can’t think, I can’t follow verbal instructions, and forget everything the instructor said during the prelab talk.
Today in my Microbiology lab, I felt like I understood everything the instructor said before the lab, but once it was time to do the experiment, my mind became mush. I’m always the last one to finish, have to rely heavily on people, and always screw something up and have to restart my experiment. I see everyone around me doing so well and it makes me so anxious. I began to have a panic attack, started crying, screwed up my experiment and had to start over, spilled E. coli everywhere, etc. I ask for help but it’s like I can’t even understand English anymore when people try to explain things to me. I don’t understand why I have such a good grasp on the material but can’t translate that into lab work.
I have anxiety and am looking into an ADHD diagnosis. I think this could be executive dysfunction?
Has anyone else felt this way? I can’t be the only one, even though it seems like it sometimes