I was hired for a new government position as an investigator for elder abuse reporting.

28 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 23,2022 at 10:11PM UTC

   I hear you on the "wow" factor - finally diagnosed in my late 30s and medicated in my early 40s. My staff all know that I have ADHD. We use Outlook at work and I put almost everything on my calendar with a reminder. If I try to make a phone call and don't get an answer, need to schedule a meeting but can't confirm with everyone who has to be there, need to get a project in under a deadline - it all goes on my calendar for the follow-up date and reminders are set for anything between two weeks and 0 minutes - whatever is appropriate. We have regular "touch base" meetings and I try to have an agenda prepared for each meeting so I have a record to check against afterwards.

2. AnonymousSeptember 24,2022 at 11:26PM UTC

   Please be mindful about referring to your diagnosis as “adult ADHD,” as that phrasing tends to reinforce the myth that ADHD is a childhood condition that people eventually grow out of, which we know isn’t true. We have ADHD, full stop. We may not have been diagnosed until adulthood, but it’s ADHD nonetheless, no age-specific qualifier needed :)

3. Julie ESeptember 26,2022 at 3:03PM UTC

   My son’s ADHD has gotten considerably better when he became a teenager so it can get better with age. Maybe you learn coping skills. I think I may have a touch of it too but I’ve learned routines and tools to help. If someone talks to me in the morning when I’m trying to get out the door it can throw me off. Part of that is not being a morning person too though. Maybe you don’t ever grow out of it but it can get better with age.

4. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 3:52PM UTC

   You don’t grow out of diabetes just like you don’t grow out of a neurological condition like ADHD. The impact can seem to diminish with age if you have the right supports in place to help you navigate a world that wasn’t designed for you. I’m the opposite; my ADHD got significantly worse with age as the supports I had access to as a kid disappeared and I was expected to “deal with it” as an adult. Everybody’s experience with this condition is different!

5. AnonymousSeptember 27,2022 at 12:03AM UTC

   Mine has become worse with age, and it has become dangerous a couple of times because I am alone. Every person with it is going to be different, and it is best to care for yourself and let other people work with their own professionals who work with their unique needs.

6. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 4:40PM UTC

   Well said

7. AnonymousSeptember 27,2022 at 12:01AM UTC

   I was diagnosed as a child in the early 70s. Back then, doctors believed that all children outgrew ADHD, students were cut off from care after sixth grade. So some of us do differentiate between child and adult ADHD, because we fell through the cracks. I won't change saying this because so many in my age group had this happen to them.

8. Kathryn MontbriandSeptember 25,2022 at 3:37PM UTC

   One of my favorite practices is to have a 'rules of engagement' conversation with my boss and my direct reports - this ensures that everyone knows what everyone else needs to be successful.

   What it looks like in practice. Write down what you need to work at peak performance (no 'surprise' phone calls, written report of tasks completed for the week, weekly 1:1 with each direct report where they provide an email with follow up tasks that you must complete). Whatever your top things are that you know will make you do your best work / management.

   Then have the discussion - does this list jive with what the other person needs from you? If yes, awesome! If no, time to do a little negotiation and find a solution that works for everyone involved.

   Voicing your needs instead of hoping other people guess them correctly will dramatically reduce the time it takes to gel with the team and organization.

9. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 1:10PM UTC

   may I ask what helped? I, too, at 67 have adult ADHD and unfortunately my insurance Medicare/Humana ONLY will pay for instant release which I have built a tolerance for. Adrenal is not good to take forever and I am 30mg x 3 a day . Tried Vyvanse 70mg cost me 200.00 out of pocket for one month, the XR/er is way to go for me and responded ok to Ritalin 40 x 2 but 220.00 a month. HELP

10. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:59PM UTC

    I'm just starting, so the VA has only given me 10 mg 2 times a day. I'm not sure if I am going to build a tolerance for it or how this is going to play out. And I'm not sure about civilian insurance, what my job is going to offer.

11. Alison TatumSeptember 26,2022 at 1:15PM UTC

    I highly recommend reading the book Disability Visibility ed. by Alice Wong. It's a collection of essays by folx with all different types of disabilities. It'll expand your understanding of disability and provide some new vocabulary and frameworks for thinking and doing.

    Also if your company has a DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) person or department reach out to them! Your question touches on inclusion, which is literally part of their job, and I'm sure they would love to hear from you and probably have already developed resources to help address this

12. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 1:32PM UTC

    As a hiring manager, it's very helpful if you have identified the specific accommodations you might need to be successful as everyone's case is unique to them. For example, if you need to have a tool to manage tasks or a quiet place to work on high priority items. It's optimal not to have make assumptions and/or be in the position of offering up solutions that may not work for you or becomes a one-size-fits-all approach. As a non-ADHD individual married to a highly intelligent and talented individual diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (while in grad school), I've had learn a lot over the years about a life situation that I have never personally experienced. I'm glad you have discovered tools (in this case medication) that are optimizing your career path. Best of luck in your new position.

13. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:58PM UTC

    Thank you! Since this is so new, I do not know what my accommodations for this particular job are going to be, so I will be working with my supervisor as we both work together to see what I might need.

14. Cynthia Armistead NewmanSeptember 26,2022 at 2:34PM UTC

    My former partner described starting medication as learning that he had been slogging through knee-deep mud all his life and suddenly breaking free.

    I think it's very useful for people (not just those who identify as disabled) to create personal user manuals to help everybody work together more productively. See https://www.manualof.me/ for examples. (I'm not associated with the site, but I think it's great.)

15. ValerieSeptember 26,2022 at 3:13PM UTC

    What a great tool! Thank you for the info and I'm going to try this out!

16. Shelby CSeptember 26,2022 at 4:29PM UTC

    I am on the spectrum, have ADHD, and a chronic illness. While I never told people I was on the spectrum due to the stigma and misconceptions it used to carry (still does, but not as bad), I was very upfront about being on ADHD meds and needing additional time for doctor's appointments. I never had any issues with anyone. It even got me my own office because they quickly recognized that since I have ADHD, I am an awesome multi-tasker and extremely productive, but I do not do well with distractions (also part of being on the spectrum for me). I was quickly able to do three times the work of my peers which made up for the doctor's appointments. They were smart enough to see my strengths and weaknesses and act accordingly before I even knew what I truly needed.

    From a management perspective, you are covered by the ADA. Legally, when you disclose, it kind of ties their hands. When you don't... it can be to your detriment.

    I always worked to foster an environment of inclusion, teamwork, and giving others the tools they need to be the best at their jobs. I always found it refreshing when people a) identified something different about themselves, b) made an action plan if it was affecting them negatively, and c) trusted me with the information.

    Please do not be afraid to tell them what your needs are, but have an action plan to meet them. You also want to point out how this is a strength.

17. Nature LoverSeptember 26,2022 at 5:27PM UTC

    Disclose to who? My supervisor or to HR?

18. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 7:10PM UTC

    wow so many inspiring responses here. I too have ADHD but was only diagnosed a couple of years ago.

    I’m about to start a new phenomenal job in Financial services and would love to be open with my boss about my condition so they can get the best out of me but I’m fearful this might jeopardise my career in Investment banking.

    I’m also worried what the implications might be if I disclose once I start given I didn’t mention in any of the application forms.

    As a separate but related issue, the Adderall I was prescribed initially was life changing but now I’m desensitised to it and struggling! So any suggestions would be appreciated!

    I am also a genius (Mensa certified) (and often wonder if I’m on the spectrum because of some of my quirks like impatience) but think this helped me still succeed in my career as I can work very fast compared to peers with excellent quality etc.

    But now reaching 50 I’m fed up of the struggle, especially since I know how meds can assist, I just need new ones!

    Apologies for sabotaging this thread but I’ve never had the ability to discuss these topic ever with anyone.

    So feedback is much appreciated!

19. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 8:42PM UTC

    I take Vyvanse. Tried Strattera, but made me pretty sick after the first month (took several pregnancy tests over a couple of weeks before I realized it was the medication). Sensitive to most meds, so I'm on the smallest dose they make (10 mg).

20. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 9:05PM UTC

    I am glad you are recognizing that your medications are not working as well as they once were. I am a new Psychiatric NP, so although I am newly certified, I do know something about ADHD.

    Stimulants work well and are considered the gold standard treatment for ADHD. However, I do have some reservations about them, particularly as a person gets older as they can have negative cardiac effects. If you have a strong cardiac history or family cardiac history, they should be used with caution.

    Here are some suggestions, you may want to discuss with a Psychiatrist or Psych NP.

    Vyvanse, Strattera, Guanfacine, Wellbutrin (used off-label for ADHD).

    The other thing you may want to consider ... could there be another issue going on? Menopause, anxiety, and depression can all cause difficulty with concentration. Again, I encourage you to seek out a Mental Health professional who can help to better diagnose what is going on.

21. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:44PM UTC

    Thanks so much for this info!
    I have had depression my whole life and finally decided to see a psychiatrist about it and that’s when I learned of the ADHD. Suddenly so much made sense. The meds were so amazing until I got used to them. As mentioned above I only coped previously, I believe, because I’m clever and a very fast efficient worker and excel at process Optimization. But now the meds don’t work I’m struggling. No history of cardiac issues but I have a condition called POTS which means I can have low blood pressure and faint a lot. My cardiologist was surprised I still fainted so much even on adderall. I tried meds for the depression but none work and just gave frustrating side effects. So now I manage with yoga and positive thoughts and medical marijuana. But I guess I should speak to someone again about dealing with the ADHD

22. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:56PM UTC

    I would read through all the medications available, do some research on each of them, and then ask your doctor about the medications that you think might work better in your situation. Also look into interactions with other medications and ask.

23. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:54PM UTC

    I knew that there wasn't "another issue" going on because the symptoms are pretty specific, not just a problem with concentration but other issues as well. We know the difference between depression and ADHD; the problem is the doctors that do not think it is "real", who think that women can't have it, and who blame everything on hormones or hysteria.

24. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:51PM UTC

    I was diagnosed in 2nd grade, but back in the 70s doctors thought all children outgrow it, so all students with ADHD were cut off from treatment after sixth grade. But I was always "off", and it was getting worse as I got older.

25. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:50PM UTC

    Thank you; I did speak with the supervisor who is hiring me, and she said that the state government hires personnel with all sorts of disabilities and it doesn't matter. I was glad to hear this. I don't quite know what my needs are yet, but I will be watching myself so I can let them know when something is off.

26. AnonymousSeptember 27,2022 at 3:15AM UTC

    I totally agree about disclosing, but I know my leaders and they are not empathetic to the plight. We are barely getting on board with DEIB, and that is because it is starting to be forced. I do not feel as brave as others to disclose. Thank you for being heroic AND contributing in such a meaningful way!!!

27. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 4:35PM UTC

    Pls send me what the meds are you use as I also have the same issue and you explained this perfectly what it’s like

28. AnonymousSeptember 26,2022 at 11:48PM UTC

    I was just started on basic 10 mg Ritalin twice a day. I am a veteran who uses the VA so I don't think they have the fancy medications - just what the government authorizes them to buy for veterans.