[AquaGuy]

The main symptoms of ADHD have been present in me from the age of 3, my 'parents have noticed it, teachers in school and college noticed it and my friends can also verify it.

Looking in the DSM-V, it has to be present in 2 or more settings, and it affects every are of my life so that's a yes.
I have severe concentration difficulties, I am a very bad (not so extreme anymore) procrastinator, I have very bad short-term memory, I am extremely impulsive and am highly hyperactive.

I know the condition is far more complex than going down a list of symptoms and characteristics and saying I have something based on that, but people who are trained to spot things in children mentioned many times I should possibly be tested for ADHD during school and college, and I meet every single characteristic in the DSM-V to a very high degree and always have.

Now I work and it is affecting me very badly there as well. In a warehouse with forklift trucks is dangerous because I nearly get run down countless times because I lack focus when picking and packing, even if they press the horn directly behind me and people shout to me to move it takes me a while to hear them because I'm so absent-mindedly doing work.
I also make tonnes of really stupid, careless mistakes (sounds like my entire life in one sentence. Haha) and am constantly getting shouted at because they think I do it on purpose. I try incredibly hard to pay attention, I even meditate which does help a lot but because my concentration and inattention has always been severe it hasn't noticeably improved as of yet to anyone but myself (but I expect it'll take years of mediation for other people who aren't in my head to notice).

Here is the thing...I cannot say anything because I technically have no diagnosis of anything, not even ADHD, so all I can do is put up with the moaning from them and make up random excuses off the top of my head even though I don't know how else to explain it other than I have poor concentration and very, very short attention span (except when hyper-focusing but I have never learned how to consciously control that).

Is there absolutely any way, any at all, (I'm planning on going to get tested sometime this year, somehow, hopefully) I can tell them I potentially have undiagnosed adult ADHD and use that as a valid reason and not an excuse? I would rather not use it as an excuse (or reason) but some people only understand something when you have a label unfortunately, especially in the workplace.

Thanks. Peace.

EDIT: here is my response from the ADHD screening test on this forum:

Based upon your responses to this adult ADD/ADHD screening quiz, you have replied in a way similar to people who have symptoms of moderate to severe attention deficit disorder. People who have answered similarly to you typically qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD, and have sought professional treatment for this mental health concern.

If you were diagnosed with ADHD, it would likely be of the Combined presentation, as you indicated significant symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

You indicated that several of the symptoms were present before age 12.
You indicated that the symptoms occur in two or more settings.
For ADD or ADHD to be diagnosed by a mental health professional, usually the symptoms must occur in at least two different settings (like school and home, or work and home), and they must have lasted at least 6 months. Symptoms typically worsen in situations that require sustained attention or mental effort, or that are boring.

[Skeezyks]

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question. I mostly just wanted to let you know I read your post & I wish you well. From my perspective, I would think you can certainly offer the possibility that you have as yet undiagnosed ADHD as a reason for why you're having the problems you're having at work. However to what extent you could expect to be provided with any kind of accommodation, based on that possible diagnosis, is something I can't say.

I do have some understanding of your dilemma though, I think. I've never been offered any kind of mental health diagnosis either. And all of the problems I've encountered in my life have pretty-much just been chalked up to bad behavior or general incompetence. It's only in my own mind, thinking back over the course of my life, that I believe there must have been more going on. But, then, who knows? I'm glad you're planning to get tested. Perhaps this can provide some new & helpful direction in your life.

[Smitkit]

The presentation in adults can be very different than children. As you have matured; adopted ways to get by. As a result, Hyperactivity and impulsivity typically morph to anxiety and hypervigilence as adults. Guessing you took the quiz on here for adults though.

Get tested...it’s a long process lol, but it’s a good exercise.

[Weltschmerz_and_me]

Hi AquaGuy. I also strongly suspect myself to have ADHD, and am just starting the process of potentially being diagnosed.

I think Adult ADHD is one of the more important conditions to get treatment for if it's interfering enough, just because it runs completely counterbalance to what is expected of an adult in the western world.

So yes, certainly get tested. Thankfully, medication alone seems to be substantially effective for treating symptoms, unlike many other mental conditions.

I suppose you could tell them about the possibility of undiagnosed ADHD, but I'd probably do so with reference to the plans of being tested. This way, it will be more likely perceived as serious rather than merely an excuse. Of course, you could just wait until you are diagnosed (if it is indeed ADHD) but as another post mentions, it's a lengthy process.

If things continue as they have in the workplace and it's getting overwhelming, then yes, I don't see the harm in mentioning something. But really, a warehouse (especially with forklift trucks) doesn't seem like a great place for an ADHDer in the first place!