[Bloo]

I have a fairly fresh dx of ADHD at age 38. My husband and I are dealing with our son and potential ADHD when my therapist said it's hereditary and he definitely knows I have it.

I been working full time since 18. I'm just now learning the coping skills and what tactics I need to change in my work life to ensure quality work. I can be slipshod in the details and rush through projects...only to revisit because I screwed something up. I loathe ongoing projects because I lose interest and focus.

I'm not ashamed of my dx. I've been living with it forever and it's part of what makes me "me." At least I know I'm not just an airhead . But how open are you at work? Is it akin to being in the closet?

I did tell my team leader what's going on and why I'm starting to behave the way I am. Before I'd be pulled in 5 different directions by 5 different people (I manage mobile communications, over 500+ cell phones for 3 offices...oy!). Now I realise I can't do that. WHen he started talking about the Cingular side I straight up said, "I can't talk about Cingular right now. I'm focused on Verizon and I need to keep that focus." He's very understanding and is more than willing to work with me regarding my dx. I'm not looking for special treatment, just understanding.

I hesitate to bring it up with our supervisor. She's very much a focused Type A, organized and neat. I don't believe she'd understand.

Oh good grief! You can see how scattered I am in my second post!!!

<font color="blue"> Bloo </font>

[lauren_helene]

Bloo, first of all don't be ashamed. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

My diagnosis felt like the fog clearing finally. I'm 37 and found out a year ago.

Don't tell your boss. My therapist doesn't recommend this. He says that they might use it against you like over managing you or not giving you more work because she/he might not think you can handle it.

This is your private matter. Hope this helps

[Bloo]

I did tell my team leader. He was very receptive . As for the bosslady...let's just say she equated my 7 yr-old to her purebred puppies in terms of hyperness. Oh. My. Gawd! It's in my "Bloo's Therapy Appt 3/9/07" post. She's never had a child so cannot even begin to fathom what it's like to work full time and be a mother.

Heck, my mouth got me in trouble. More on that later but let's just say I now understand why my internal Emergency Brake doesn't work for anything. Stuff comes flying out my mouth before I have the chance to yank it up.

[lauren_helene]

My mouth tends to get me in trouble too. Like today for example. Oh well, it happens!

[Bloo]

Well...my mouth getting me in trouble last week (Monday, 3/12)? I basically told the branch chief no, I'm not sitting at the front office with 2 minutes notice. It was 11:30 AM, I was wrapping up work before lunch, and she had the balls to ask me this. My stomach was growling.

So my boss called me on it Wed, 3/14. I apologized but really, I wasn't sorry. I wasn't disrespectful but since the chief in question is a military officer, she felt I was.

Now the chief is holding a grudge. Yeah, I thought I graduated from high school in 1986 and have been a federal employee for 20 years. One of the head cheeses granted early liberty last Friday. The chief told everyone in my section but me. My boss came around the corner and saw me working. "Bloo, what are you still doing here?" she asked.

"Um, working?" I replied.

"Commander So-n-So didn't tell you to go home? She said she told everyone."

"She didn't tell me," I answered.

Yesterday I said good morning to the chief. I got no response. Today we pulled in the parking garage at the same time. She looked right at me and said nothing. My stance? I'm not even dignifying her with an "F-you." I won't be disrespectful but I'm certainly not going to be friendly.

Stupid reindeer games. Gah!!!

Wow! Where'd all this come from? Hehe!

I just want to tell people, "Leave me alone. I have ADHD and if you don't like the way I am after working with me for how long? then stuff it."

[lavendersteph]

i feel like crying after reading your forum i had no choice but to tell my boss because she wanted to fire me but she did not but she discreminated me to the point where i felt like i was not normal or capable of holding on to a job it was so hard on me i started as a receptiont making 11 an hour if she thought i was not capable why di she buy my contract from my other company after a month or two my boss told me i ahd made a very bad mistake and that her husband wanted to let me go but she did not i had accidently gave a customer the wrong size table i gave her 6 foot ling kiddie table instead of the reg one she was upset and i understand but my mistake was hardly woth wanting to fire me anyhow the other recep do far worse things like tammy who when she did the baby linen would store them mosit creating mold but because i always did that job i was blamed for it regardless that i was veryy careful not to make mistakes i was miserable constantly relooking at everthing tammy would also pakage baby sheets clean but with stains i was also blamed for that but never told i was going to be fired for that but with the table problem i got a pay cut from 11 hr to 8 hr she said it was temp till i got better but she told me to answer the phones after every 2 rings then it went to 3 rings finally i asked when would i be back at the front she said my and my husband feel that you work best in the back cleaning and storing things i said well then will i get my salary back she said i can't do that she said steph a job is a job i sat quiet and went back to work then i snapped and got my purse i told tammy let cathy know i quit and i left cathy chased me and said what can i do to make u stay i said nothing i won't then her husband came out with the dog to walk her and she asked cathy what was wrong she said steph is leaving us so he looked at me and his wife and said go walk ur dog and went back in the office i left pretty mad now i 'm afraid to tell anyone i ahve adhd what can i do

[lauren_helene]

Hi Lavendar (my favorite color!)

I'm just seeing your post now. It is nobody's business what your medical issues might be or are. Under HIPPA my understanding is you don't even have to say you are sick and what you have if you call out of work. You just call and say you can't be there.

At least this is how we were trained as employees when I lived in Pa. I'll check the regs again.

Unfortunately, no one really cares about this sort of thing when it comes to work. A job needs to be done and it is up to us to take steps to do that. It's cold and callous, but it is a reality.

You might want to look into getting an ADD coach. I'm considering this too. I'm here if you want to chat...take care

Go to http://www.addconsults.com/professional-directory/

[Martinique82]

Hi all I feel so embarrased and angry at the same time...it's happened again where I just take on so many things and my mind is just in such a disorder...my boss crapped on me cause I forgot to get back to him on something really important, saying "i'm sick and tired of having to remind you of everything, everytime!!!!!!!!" Well I took it in my stride and just apologised. I don't know which way to turn anymore. What do I do? I feel like crying right now. I cannot and will not tell him about my problem and the weird thing is he suffers from ADD as well....So I am suppose to be he's "support" and I am failing at this job every single time. I know I am great at what I do...just my mind is in so many places at the same time. I give up ...please advise.

[ditzygirl]

All you can do is hang in there and try to figure out what techniques make things easier for you.

I used to have the exact same problems, but thru years of trial and error have found work-arounds. I now rely HEAVILY on notebooks, Outlook, and my cell phone calendar.

It can be so frustrating knowing that you are as smart and skilled, and able as everyone else, its just that your mind works a little differently. It doesn't make it any easier either knowing that a lot of people don't believe ADHD is a real disorder.

I can't believe there are 9 posts on this and none of them suggest medication. The difficulties you describe will be gone the first day you use stimulant meds to alter your brain chemistry. You'll be calmed down and go through the day more productively and confidently.