Managing ADD/ADHD On the Job
What are some the coping mechanisms you have for managing your ADD on the job? What problems do you have, and how have you been able to successfully overcome them?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anthony's Mommy! on -
Been there!!!!!!!
I wonder if most ADD ppl have anger issues... LOL I sometimes get sick by with holding what I truly want to do...
Judi Nicholson said:I returned to my job after I was suspended for a year and I decided to tell them I am ADHD because I have a problem with just saying what I think with no real way of putting a halt to what coming out of it especially to my boss. I also over the years have come in late and had called out way too much especially when I felt exhausted due to lack of sleep or because I had got caught up with something else. I work in a very busy ER and I have found I worked to my strenght because the same thing day in and day out would bore me to death. I think as I got older I have begun to slow down some, My favorite part is the pediatric er because I think children are the greastest when they say they are pain it is true and they don't make things up. It not until they get older do they. I think telling my boss was a okay thing ; but I also think she doesn't believe in ADHD or ADD I find she tends to feel it an exuse if something isn't the way she wants it. It was the employment doct or who is the biggest pain because he wanted a note from my ADD doctor who tested me so I could take my meds. Like I have time to think about using Ritalin to get high seriously , I just wanted to slap him ; Of course I didn't
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Permalink Reply by Anthony's Mommy! on
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How do I get into that?
jagfangirl27 said:I'm a police dispatcher. I'm convinced that this is the perfect ADHD job. It requires multitasking to the nth degree, and you get to talk all the time and not get in trouble! I've thought about being a police chaplain but I'm not sure I have the social skills required.
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Permalink Reply by jagfangirl27 on
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The main requirements for the job are fast typing, ability to listen to endless complaints, ability to think on your feet, and of course you have to have a pretty clean police record. I would start by going to police department websites and finding out what the requirements are, and if there are any openings. Then you just apply and wait. It's a pretty interesting job but you do have to be very patient, as the hiring process can take a while depending on what department you're applying for.
Anthony's Mommy! said:How do I get into that?
jagfangirl27 said:I'm a police dispatcher. I'm convinced that this is the perfect ADHD job. It requires multitasking to the nth degree, and you get to talk all the time and not get in trouble! I've thought about being a police chaplain but I'm not sure I have the social skills required.
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Permalink Reply by Grace Ann on
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I am a Child Protection Services worker. This happens to be one of those jobs that can be good for those with ADD at times. Everyday is different and you never know what might happen. That part of it keeps my interest and seems to help my brain function decently when things are happening. I also love chidlren so I am in my element there but it also includes massive amounts of paperwork, schedules, home visits, etc. Luckily my supervisor and co-workers know about my problems and help in many different ways. The one thing that I have found recently that has helped me more than I can say at home and work is Microsoft Onenote coupled with Outlook. The Onenote is like a virtual 3 ring binder that you can add as many tabs and pages to as you want and it all syncs with Outlook. For me its like a "brain dump" that stores all those crazy things that I can never remember. This doesnt solve all my problems but it has been a big help.
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Permalink Reply by sue sharp on
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I have worked as a support teacher in 2 different schools which has suited me well but over the years I have filled my house with so many books and so much paperwork that I dread needing to locate some specific item. Some days I cope with the volume of 'stuff' I have created, other days it threatens to overwhelm me. I've only recently come to the conclusion I've got ADD so I'm hoping I'll find better ways of coping over time!
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Permalink Reply by sue sharp on
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Grace Ann said:I am a Child Protection Services worker. This happens to be one of those jobs that can be good for those with ADD at times. Everyday is different and you never know what might happen. That part of it keeps my interest and seems to help my brain function decently when things are happening. I also love chidlren so I am in my element there but it also includes massive amounts of paperwork, schedules, home visits, etc. Luckily my supervisor and co-workers know about my problems and help in many different ways. The one thing that I have found recently that has helped me more than I can say at home and work is Microsoft Onenote coupled with Outlook. The Onenote is like a virtual 3 ring binder that you can add as many tabs and pages to as you want and it all syncs with Outlook. For me its like a "brain dump" that stores all those crazy things that I can never remember. This doesnt solve all my problems but it has been a big help.
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Permalink Reply by rachael on
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I dont even know how to write a cohesive reply, when I think about my job my head is just flooded with thoughts, ideas, grips, whys and on and on... I hate my job, I use to like it, but in the 5 years I’ve been here I’ve learn all (& forgotten most) there is to know. The once very put together, driven department I work for has become complacent and BLAH… It was once a job with career & growth potential, now its hardly a job. There really just is no place for me here anymore, but I stay. I'm a single mom and I need the paycheck... but I also have a flexible work schedule, so I am able to take my youngest to school and still get off at 5:00, granted that means I dont take a lunch break. I also don’t know what else I would do, I’m not even sure what I do now, everytime I go to rewrite my resume my mind goes blank. I don’t have a degree & all my experience consists sitting at a desk dealing with customers mostly for some financial reason. I don’t want to do any of that anymore. Plus so much more!
So I have all these becauses, but part of me thinks they are all BS! Excuses I am using to not take a risk or really do anything. But I still have this big sign in front of my brain that says no you cant do that, the world will end..
I mean I haven’t always had this schedule, it was fine then, so why not now?
And how do you find that right job for you? I can't just try this job and then this one or go back to school and take these courses and then try these ones. I've thought about just finding a new job similar to what I have, since thats what I am qualified for, thinking maybe the change will be enough at least for a little bit, just long enough for that "everythings new" energy to come in and get me out of this rut... but then I worry about trying to convice an interviewer that I'd be the best candidate for a job I know I'm going to want out of sooner rather than later.
I know career changes (or any big change) are scary for every one and as an ADDer I need alot of change all the time, but its little things... How do I get over this fear, out of this rut and make something happen?
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Permalink Reply by Yolanda on -
- I carry a small journal and write everything down. Being back in school (I'm a full-time Law student right now) has changed my routine, but I still turn to my journal when I feel overwhelmed. I find it helps channel some of the excess energy and forces me to slow down a bit and organize my thoughts. It's great for memory too.
- I'm hyper-sensitive to noise, so I ask people to give a gentle fair warning before approaching me (scuffle their feet, a light knock). They appreciate my honesty, since they sometimes feel bad, get annoyed and/or take it personally when I jump out of my skin from a simple "good morning!".
- I use earphones to help me concentrate and stay focused.
- I constantly use the alarm and calender functions on my cell phone and set it to ring AND vibrate. I even have a setting for when it's time to fetch the kids from school!
- Chewing (sugar-free) gum helps burn off excess kinetic energy while sitting at my desk or during tedious tasks.
I'm still trying to deal with the impulsiveness (I tend to blurt out answers in class or become frustrated when not called upon).
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Permalink Reply by Judi Nicholson on
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I know the feeling I always have music on to keep me focused especially when I am doing my school work. I have also taken to writing everything down especially at work . I now do my course on-line becsause I could not sit in school. and I would blurt out answers before the instructor would actually finish asking them. I also had away of rolling my eyes if you got it wrong as if to say "You should have let me answer it" I don't startle easily but I have a tendency to be thinking of something and when you speak I will say "HUH " when I realize you are talking to me. I still haven't figure out how to engage into you immediately unless they say Judi and then speak. Most of the time it happens with my husband because he will call out or ask me something unless he used my name I don't pay attention. I think if I ask them to say my name then speak would be too werid for most people especially in work so I struggle at times to pay attention
Yolanda said:- I carry a small journal and write everything down. Being back in school (I'm a full-time Law student right now) has changed my routine, but I still turn to my journal when I feel overwhelmed. I find it helps channel some of the excess energy and forces me to slow down a bit and organize my thoughts. It's great for memory too.
- I'm hyper-sensitive to noise, so I ask people to give a gentle fair warning before approaching me (scuffle their feet, a light knock). They appreciate my honesty, since they sometimes feel bad, get annoyed and/or take it personally when I jump out of my skin from a simple "good morning!".
- I use earphones to help me concentrate and stay focused.
- I constantly use the alarm and calender functions on my cell phone and set it to ring AND vibrate. I even have a setting for when it's time to fetch the kids from school!
- Chewing (sugar-free) gum helps burn off excess kinetic energy while sitting at my desk or during tedious tasks.
I'm still trying to deal with the impulsiveness (I tend to blurt out answers in class or become frustrated when not called upon).
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Permalink Reply by Everybody's Beautiful on -
I am sure most people are reluctant to reveal their ADD/ADHD diagonosis for fear of reppercussions and the stigmatism associated with it.
I let my boss know up front. I have problems with taking notes. Any noise, and I mean any, distracts me. When we have meetings, there are 34 people involved. It is hard for me to follow and hard for me to know what is important.
Fortunatly, my colleagues are aware of this and help me know what I need to write/type in the notes.
I also have a hard time staying on subject. My boss helps me with this. She told me to get a notepad just for the random thoughts. So when we are in the middle of a job and I remember something ramndom or have a random idea not associated with the task at hand, I write it down on the notepad.
I am also the stickey note queen. I have sticky notes everywhere, but only in my view.
I also have a lot of "sorters" for everything. It helps me keep paperwork grouped and keeps me from forgetting what needs to be completed.
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Permalink Reply by Jo on -
I posted this last night but unfortunately, I had a heap of pages open and was flitting from one to the other and posted it in the ironing one...LOL
so heres my story...
Hi everyone...I agree with everyone on the boring aspect of a lot of jobs and the need for lots of small quick jobs. I'm a hairdresser, I go to work (often a little late) I see my clients for a few hours and then on to the next one. I talk for a living and make women pretty while I socialise and be creative. I am lucky to have the most perfect ADHD job hehe
I work for myself in a salon where the boss is a friend from school days (I'm 41 now so lots of history there) We get along like sisters, I am also lucky enough to have very loyal clients who always call before they come as they all know I'm probably running late. I thrive when the salon is really busy with 3 or 4 of us working, really noisy and looking like chaos. I do my best work when everyone else is ready to pull their hair out...LOL The girls I work with are all very understanding of my ADHD and love me for it.
My big problem is that I have to keep books for tax, I'm really bad at keeping them up to date as its not fun and I can always find way more fun things to do with my time.
And my house...thats a totally different story...its always messy and chaotic (not the good kind), but that story is for another thread...hehe
Jo
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