Can ADHD medication help my 21-year-old son keep a job?

[CurseOfadhd]

Ds (21) can’t keep a job. I obviously can’t force him down the medication route for adhd but I’m trying so hard to persuade him to try it and he won’t. Last week he lost his 15 th job in the space of one year . The last 6 jobs have been through family as he wasn’t employable I don’t think after losing so many previously. Now we’ve exhausted any family that were willing to help.

Hes already applied for more jobs (most that he wouldn’t have a chance of getting).

I don’t know how to get him to see that medication might really help?

he has worked in cafes, restaurants, retail, sports centres, a couple of corner shop type shops run by family, some basic office admin work and two children’s play centres. The most recent was a cafe.

Reasons for being sacked were mostly conduct related and rudeness to customers if they were difficult and on a few occasions his managers have said yes that customer was out of order but you can’t react the way you do (he will shout back at them) . He also was just disappearing at busy points as he suddenly felt overwhelmed amongst other things.

Can anyone give me some stories of medication really helping or am I pinning my hopes on something that may not be the answer?

Hi. Sorry to hear that. Does he have a diagnosis? A lot of what you have described sounds more asd than adhd to me.

My daughter has asd and adhd and basically working is not something she can do (she has other conditions as well). There is an organisation in my town that helps people with asd or ashd find work or volunteering. My daughter is currently using them to find volunteering.

I think your son should contact the job centre as a first port of call. They will know what sort of help is available in your area.

Does he get PIP?

My child has AuDHD.

she does work this sort of stuff out eventually it just takes a lot longer than most.

he’ll understand eventually. No point forcing him.

Maybe try voluntary work?

my dd has experienced success in choirs and other hobbies which does help.

Yes he has a diagnosis of adhd I do suspect he possibly is autistic too. He gets PIP at the lowest rate for both daily living and mobility. He refuses to try and get UC he says he wants to work but he just can’t seem to keep a job or get on with people.

He couldn’t manage school or college either in the same way it was just constantly drama and stress and him walking out or losing his temper under even the slightest pressure.

To be honest what you’re describing sounds more like autism than ADHD, ADHD medication helps focus,
it doesn’t help with the social challenges of AuADHD.

(Although if the rudeness is a result of impulsivity as opposed to not understanding social norms, medication may help)

Sounds like retail is just completely wrong for him and never going to work, DS has ASD and is the same, he'd hate it.

Could he consider starting up a little business dog walking or gardening, would he enjoy anything like that?

I don't think asking if meds might make a difference is really worthwhile at the moment as he is obviously completely against the idea. I agree with PP's that his issues do sound more ASD than ADHD in this instance.

My only experience of this is watching the impact medication can have on children and their ability to cope with school.
It can be transformative. Has allowed several kids with their focus and behaviour. One in particular that I remember who really struggled with impulse control and poor decision making. His medication helped with those things a lot.