If you have ADHD and work, what job do you do?

[walkingdisaster23]

I'm really low and struggling. I have a physical disability and diagnosed ADHD and sometimes it all feels too much. Sometimes though I don't believe it's ADHD just me being too stupid and lazy and crazy.

But on the off chance it is actual ADHD with me, and because I know there are tonnes of women with ADHD who do have great careers -

What job do you do if you also have it?

What do you think is key to your success in the workplace?

Has anyone had any sort of ADHD coaching or mentoring or anything extra outside of work that helps?

Has anyone broken out of a toxic rut of feeling utterly convinced you are stupid and genuinely changed their self esteem and now feel like a normal ok person?

Currently, I'm screwing up a job opportunity with nice kind people, I'm so paralysed with inertia and not able to do anything and having utter panic attack symptoms at the thought of the look on their face when it dawns on them how stupid and useless I am.

So I've not gone in today, in order to avoid seeing that.

I also feel completely overwhelmed with sensory stuff from physical disability. It feels like that is using all my (tiny, shite) bandwidth to manage it, I can't concentrate on anything but the discomfort and the worry about that.

You are not a disaster and not alone.

There is a lot of discrimination around ADHD, just as for other disabilitiies.

I have had a long and reasonably successful career in IT. I was diagnosed properly 2 years ago at the age of 58.

Do you take medication OP?

OP I sent you a PM.

For better help it is properly worth posting on the Neurodiverse Mumsnetters part of the forum.

Medication has helped me enormously, as has an excellent line manager.

I did work in complaints and recently moved up to quality assurance. This hasn't been an easy journey by any means as my reasonable adjustments were refused, which led to burn out and 4 months off work.

After 2 grievances and intervention by an oh Doctor, I got the adjustments I need and things have got much, much better. I'm succeeding where I was failing and am a valued member of the team.

If you've not been referred to occupational health, this needs doing urgently. They'll help identify the support you need to do your job.

If you're not medicated for your adhd, seriously consider it as it made a huge difference to me. Also check in with your gp for your mental health.

You're not a failure, you're working without the support you need. Things can be better.

@Mabelface may I ask what adjustments? I haven't even told my job about my ADHD as there is so much discrimination. I haven't been able to take medication as it conflicts with other stuff I am already taking.

OP I totally get how you're feeling. Thanks for starting this thread, as it's something I've wanted to do but somehow not managed to yet. So that's something you've achieved well today! Following with interest. I also can't do the meds.

I'm happily unmedicated. I work in charity fundraising with some mental health first aid/helpline work on the side.

I write applications for funding and research leads. I also juggle client project data and make reports to funders. It suits me that no day is the same, and that my goals are "game-ified" with clear targets. It helps that the nature of my charity creates a sense of urgency - we're always running out of cash for vital projects - which helps motivate me. There's no routine and I like that.

If you're good at writing persuasively, I recommend looking into it.

I'm recently diagnosed but for me, I don't do well in stuffy office environments. The 'rules' and conformity seem pointless to me unless there's a customer facing or time specific reason and I can't sit at a desk all day and focus. I did it for over 10 years and every day was painful.

I really thrive under pressure so my favourite jobs have been those that are very fast paced.

I loved salon/beauty work as I could pick and choose what I did and it was really sociableplus you have to keep to a schedule so you can't drift.

I now work night shifts in a hotel. Its lone working so I can be as busy as I want or if I'm having a slow brain day I can do the basics and nothing more without complaint. They think im brilliant because the whole place gets a scrub whenever im on shift and in the zone with my audio book in one ear.

Before I started there I was going mad with the craving I had for alone time so it gives me 20 odd hours a week to be lost in my own world doing a mostly undemanding job.

Could working shifts or on a more flexible schedule help?

I'm able to work from home, only attending the office for meetings.
Active noise cancellation headset
Can take micro breaks to help with focus. These are as well as normal breaks. I tend to go and do something physical for a couple of minutes to get rid of the jitters in my legs.

I have a work buddy, so if something gets too overwhelming, they help me break it down into smaller, manageable chunks.

You need to give your employer the opportunity to support you. You're protected by law from discrimination, so if they do discriminate, they can find themselves in very hot water. Tell them that you have diagnosed adhd, ask for the occy health referral. Start from there. Then think about what would really help you do your job.

I teach. You have to turn up and perform in the session, so there’s no chance of procrastination. I’ve been doing it long enough I no longer need to plan.

Medication is the interim way forward. I use beta blockers daily and diazepam as & when. I take it at the start of feeling anxiety and it stops it getting worse. It helps me focus a bit more. I am on other medication but the ones mentioned don't need a diagnosis to be prescribed. I'm a primary school teacher.

I'm currently being assessed for ADHD and ASD - I'm a software engineering manager (was a software engineer previously and worked my way up).

The best career advice I've seen is to 'Find something that is your forever hyper fixation '. It's incredibly difficult (practically impossible) to do a job you don't find enjoyable. So the easiest route is to find something you're passionate about and find the career to match.

Aside from that - general career advice I would give (because even in a job you're passionate about you're still going to have tough days).

• Always have a purpose/goal, whether that's as simple as the next hour or as big as your next career step. There are human coaches, but also I'm starting to look into AI coaching as it's so much cheaper and more accessible.
• Work out what motivates you. For me doing things for others and the buzz of solving a problem/fixing an issue is great.
• Surround yourself with other similar women. Once you start to see others like you, it gets easier and for me that feeling of imposter syndrome/not fitting in has reduced dramatically

Thanks

I really want to try medication when I was diagnosed but the my cardiologist advised against it and has said in my shoes he would not take it himself because I already have big problems and at serious risk of stroke.

My blood pressure is usually normal but on the lower side of normal so I really can't afford to mess with it or I'm totally fucked. Sometimes it drops very low and i pass out but it is better than high.

I did read about the non stimulant medications but apparently they lower bp?

The whole medication question just leaves me feeling drained, I have no idea what to do for the best, I'm so scared of making everything worse so I do nothing.

I've never worked anywhere that has had occupational health. Mostly start ups.

Do you think a larger company can better support workers with ADHD as they're able to put a few things in place?

I really thrive under pressure so my favourite jobs have been those that are very fast paced

Something beginning to hit me is that I used to be good under pressure I think, but now high pressure environments are really not good for my physical health.

So I've been looking more at low pressure, low stakes jobs in more relaxed environments which are much more manageable for my physical health, and then struggling to stay engaged due to ADHD. It feels like catch 22.

Yes, do a job you actually enjoy as @Curiosity101 says

I go into any job really enthusiastic and I am very interested. Some of these jobs have been in a very competitive industry.

But can't focus, and make so many mistakes. So then whoever hires me gets irritated.

My interest in the field is genuine, but I can't do it...and aiming at entry level where it's calmer, thinking that gives less chance to fuck up, but then that means more admin tasks basically all day endlessly. Which I can't do.

Not because I think I'm above it or too good for it, it's honestly not that, it's the opposite - complete despair because I can't even do the simple tasks that the interns are able to do who are still at uni, with hardly any experience, much younger than me. I'm just so ashamed, I need to do something differently but not sure how.

Aged 57 and diagnosed four years ago.
I work as a social prescriber having been a nurse and midwife.

My job works as managers generally leave me alone to manage my caseloads. I work over three different GP surgeries and have built a good relationship with the doctors and other staff. I deal with everything the GPs cannot

I love the freedom and the ability to work creatively

I usually have 2 or 3 different jobs at the same time! Never just one full time job. I tend to do 2 or 3 part time roles. I find that works for me (I'm a psychologist)

What career did you go into? Sounds like good advice

That was to curiosity 101

I’m a secondary school teacher, although now I work partly as a teacher and also in a pastoral role supporting people in school and in the community. Like one of the PPs said, having different role works well for me as the pace is fast and it is varied.
I take medication for my ADHD which helps immensely.