Health and Social Care ADHD

[Stressedandfrstrated]

I’m really sorry this is long I have been diagnosed with ADHD for a long time around 10 years. I am currently and always have been unmedicated due to doctors not wanting to take the risk due to me having Bipolar.

I started a new job around 9 months ago going from a support worker into management. My new work place is aware of my diagnosis' although my MD (doesn’t believe in ADHD labels that’s a whole other story though)

When I was a support worker I was always on the go, out with service users, thinking of new and wonderful ideas to do with them etc you get the idea was easier to get on with my job as was always hands on and don’t really stop all day only thing I struggled with was probably my notes at the end of the day.

I have always aspired to become management and eventually run my own care home but this is where my difficulties have become more prominent than the ever have been I’m sat in front of a computer all day I’m struggling to get through my work not Becuase I Literlly can’t seems to concentrate on my work for more than a few minutes before starting something else I’m procrastinating so much, my memory on the other hand has always been awful but my forgetfulness is on a whole other level to the point my Line manager tries to sympathise with me but my MD just makes snide comments like (this isn’t the first time she’s forgotten) it’s really start to affect my morale at work as I just want to get on with my work and get it done but I Literlly can’t, I know what I need to do but getting it done is really hard.
I have started to wear my AirPods at work which seems to have a slight positive effect on my work I do seem to concentrate more on my work but now staff have been saying if I can wear them why can’t they.

I am trying to help my self taking some accountability to help myself like

•Making alarms when I need to remember things
•breaking down and writing lists of what I need to get done
•keeping in contact with my manager
•Using apps to help me
•Breaking tasks down into manageable amounts to get more done.
•Trying to concentrate on one task at a time
•Using my calander to keep track of appointments.

Im a massive fidgter and have to have something in my hands or be able to get up and walk around or my legs start tapping away like mad.

My problem is they have been aware of
my difficulties since the beginning they are a small company so to cut costs what my job originally entailed is not what it is now my work load at the start of my job was more manageable but as time has gone on I’m having to do the jobs of a support worker, finance, hr and deputy and it’s just becoming too much and I’m falling behind. My probation was extended when I have been able to blast out some what I feel is decent work my MD Literlly rips it apart piece by piece I don’t know if it’s worth just stepping back down to where I was originally and was able to enjoy my job I have all this pressure on me and being paid slightly over NMW. I was never under the impression the step up was going to be easy but I guess I’m just feeling a bit deflated and fragile at the moment.

No idea which way to vote as not really clear what you are asking if YABU about, but it sounds to me like doing the support worker role is just a much better fit for your skill set.
2 of my adult dc have ADHD and neither of them could sit at a desk all day - it just is not what they excel at.
Plenty of people who are happy sitting at a desk would be able to do your origianl job as well as you.
You spend too much of your life at work to be doing stuff you hate / find difficult.
Stick with what you enjoy.

Not sure what exactly you are asking for. Your probation was extended, do you have targets to work towards, did you discuss strategies to meet expectations? Not everyone is cut put fir a desk job but if that is a large part of this role it is difficult to see how adjustments would be possible. You could propose breaks, fidget toys, specific deadlines for work which you can break down etc.

Maybe have a chat with your dr abiut omega 3s if you haven't tried them before?
If you are in the UK you can self refer to access to work, they might have some recommendations around equipment or software for work, and also some coaching sessions re ADHD.

There is a lot to be said for playing to your strengths so going back to your old role might be the right decision. But you have a goal you’re after and sometimes you need to go through a bit of pain to get where you want to be.

But it also sounds like you’re in a bit of a toxic work environment (MD who doesn’t “believe in labels”; piling more work on you that is outside the job description and before you are even through probation; ripping your work to shreds when they there are issues with it; etc.

Perhaps you need to look for a different route through to the goal of managing a care home. Either through a different company or one where there isn’t this interim fully desk bound role.

Have you looked into software which might be able to help you? There is an app for your phone which comes with training called "brain in my hand". I haven't managed to try it out yet but it sounds like it might be really helpful for making organising things easier.

You may have looked into this already so forgive me, I'm not trying to be offensive. But do you actually have bipolar? A massive amount of women are misdiagnosed as bipolar/BPD etc, who have ADHD.

I was coming on to say that a lot of women have been diagnosed with bipolar who actually have autism

Any chance you may have autism and adhd ? Have you been tested ?

I'm getting coaching at the moment through Access to Work. I'm not 'cured' but it's really, really great. Strong recommend. Also, if you tell your line manager that you're looking into getting coaching via Access to Work, it might help them be accommodating - because they can see you are putting things in place to be able to get your work done.

Don't write off your current role! Listening to music is absolutely a fair accommodation - you could say you are listening to white noise or something. But if you have a disability, they have an obligation to try and accommodate your needs.

I have bipolar and adhd and I sympathise. I second the recommendation for Access to Work!!
it sounds from the end of your post like the difficulties might also be due to the role expanding beyond what it was meant to be - is it possible to chat to someone in HR about this?
It’s not my post and may be different for you op, but just to share with others that bipolar and other mood disorders are also more commonly co-occurring with adhd than in general population. For me personally it’s very obvious as an additional.