How My ADHD Affects My Job (& How I Deal With It)

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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:36 Examples of my struggles
04:54 How I deal with it

[ADHDMastery]

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:36 Examples of my struggles
04:54 How I deal with it

*Take breaks and watch the video in parts if it helps* 😉

[jjuhijnmjm]

I can't stop watching your videos. Im crying so much. Thank you. I'm not alone anymore

[cjlister]

For years I used to get shit at work for things like lateness and mood swings and getting flustered when interrupted.
Then as soon as I got diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year management instantly started to accommodate me. I now have flexitime and am getting more time alone so I can focus without people distracting me, and I now get asked what meetings I want to attend or be left out of.
I didn't change at all. But having that piece of paper that says I've got ADHD changed everything.

I work in a photography studio so that helps because it's not a standard office job.

[astarithy]

Meetings...omg. Finally someone said that! I'm a web developer with adhd and it's generally mentally challenging to code and requires insane focus, but even coding non stop for hours isn't as draining as a damn 15-30 minute meeting in the morning. After meetings I have such a hard time to get myself to work because nothing ruins a day like a damn meeting.

[Plumbalina]

I actually got a bit teary after watching this video. I've struggled with all the things mentioned and just thought I'm not good enough compared to my peers and have tried so hard to compensate. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

[stagehand]

Although 57, Im an infant in my adhd walk. All my life i never knew i was treated for it at 5 or 6 years old until 2 months ago when i was told. I resigned a job in confidence knowing that hey its not for me so accept it. $2.00 an hour less my job now is more fitting and im happier and succeeding. Got my diagnosis last week and it was like i was told - youve got adhd. These videos have been a great help. Thank You

[ritasjourney]

I was a dog walker and sitter for over 10 years. Pay was so-so but I didn't dread Mondays (or any days), probably because I was outside and dogs are simple to get along with. Due to it not paying well, and an injury, trying to learn coding now. It super hard sitting so long and also having to push thru difficult (to me) problems. Like Stuart, I'm not medicated. All I can do is try to fix some of the co-morbidities such as sleep problems (getting a CPAP next week), anxiety (positive self coaching) etc. and just going easy on myself so I don't get burnt out. Good luck everyone!

[writethroughtheheart]

I'm in a similar situation. I worked as a veterinary assistant for 20 years, doing a lot of hospital cleaning and different menial, tasks. Now I'm working as a writer/content creator and, whilst I love it, sitting at a desk all day is quite the challenge. Thanks for your great tips!

[wildernessfalconry]

I'm a self employed plumber, its physically hard and I have to use my brain, and I'm a good plumber when I remember where I put my tools and remember to call people back. Spent 20 years on the benefit system before i new i had adhd because I'm unable to work for anyone and feel exhausted all the time, medication made me suicidal. Tbh I was happier on the benefit system, not sure how much longer I can sustain doing this work as meltdowns are getting more common

[mleys]

I call it the ADD tax, I have to have everything double. Keyboards, mouse, glasses., charger, etc... 1 for at home use and 1 for at the office. What is already on site can not be forgotten.

Another thing I learned myself not to do anymore, because it will get me in trouble E V E R Y S I N G LE T I M E, is telling myself that I will not do something now but I will do it later. That is a death sentence of whatever I am supposed to do. For example, when I come home, I need to attach my keys to my backpack now and not later. I need to open the letterbox every day and open letters right away. When I have used dishes, I need to get them in the dishwasher right away. All my bills are now on direct debit. etc... Now I have a phrase that I repeat to myself, "What is DONE, is DONE" and I don"t need to remember it any longer. It no longer has to take up any headspace for longer then it needs to. Every now and then I relaps and I feel horrible, the task becomes bigger and bigger in my head to the point that I turn to escapism to avoid it. Making things even worse. It is a horrible feeling.


For so long I pushed back that kind of mentality of getting everything in its place and getting things done in advance, in other words "adulting". But I was only shooting myself in the foot. At a certain point you finally get so sick and tired of yourself that you just give in and life becomes soooo much easier with every strategy you start to implement. People do not understand how much our inattentiveness and forgetfulness has a far more negative impact on ourselves then on them. Sure it is frustrating for a boss or teacher that you forgot an assingment. But for us, it pushes us into a negative psychological spiral that will prevent us from living a fulfilling life. That is a HUGE price to pay.

My son 17, also has a severe form of ADD. He now convinced himself that he doesn't care about school, about sports, about getting a drivers license, about getting somewhere on time, having a clean room, having clothes that are clean and smell fresh etc... He has so little faith in himself that he is now at a stage where he avoids all challenge or expectations that others or himself can put on him. Which is easier rather then to admit that he really feels like a failure, that he can not trust himself to accomplish anything ? But I am not fooled, nor is his brain.

You can tell how much someone respects themselves by the presence or lack thereof of cleanliness and beauty that surrounds them. The only strategy that I have for the moment is to compliment him profusely when he does something else then escapist behavior, when he takes care of himself, when he does do sports etc... and show and tell him that I love him every single day. I show up for him for everything he needs in the hopes that he will at least have the feeling that his mom believes in him and that he IS worthy of love and trust.

If someone on this forum has some brilliant ideas on how to encourage a teenager to start implementing ways on how to accomplish tasks and make life easier on himself, I am all ears. I will try anything. For the record, I did try backing off completely and leaving him to his devices, in the hope he would get frustrated sooner with himself so that he would act on it to do better. Well that failed miserably and he failed school last year. So this year I got him in a school to learn plumbing. For a kid that started and succeeded the first year of Latin, he is severly underperforming. It breaks my heart to see him undervaluing himself. 🥺

[zeze]

I struggle with idea of having to live like this forever...living in hell because of my own brain. What a life.

[FenixHalcyon]

I really relate. The spacing out, the need for breaks, not wanting to sit at a desk for too long... Having a blank mind when put on the spot, wanting to take notes... Growing up I just get yelled at by parents and teachers, told to just "pay attention", "just focus", etc. It's not until I'm an adult and seeing a video like this that I realize that it's just a certain way certain people's minds work, and you have to work with that logic, not against it. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

[jacktherapperofficial]

Hey man I just wanted to say thank you for all the informative ADHD information. Every time I watch your videos I find a huge level of relatability in your videos when not a lot of people would understand aspects to it (eg. what it's like going off ADHD medication or even functioning in society). Thanks for giving us some insight on how you handle a lot of these things! Always helps to listen to someone who truly understands 🔥

[MrMattytube]

thanks for this Stuart, it's really generous of you to share your experience like this for the benefit of all of us!

[lohi]

I really appreciate your content. I also am primarily inattentive type and it has wreaked havoc on my life: socially, financially, etc. I also had horrible side effects with every medication I tried so I’m off them now but have struggled to find ways to handle my brain. This video and your “natural ways to treat ADHD” have blessed me big time. Keep up the good work and congrats on the job!

[alexpurcell]

Hi, I’m a gas engineer (servicing, repairing and fitting boilers mostly) and after 14 years being employed by a boiler manufacturer I’ve gone back to self employment. The freedom is wonderful but the extra responsibility of organising my work is hard going, but worth it. I’ve tried software based diarys but I find I have to be able to see the details with out clicking to expand them, so I’ve gone back to using a ‘week to view’ paper diary which I transfer to an electronic version after each day, for accounting purposes 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts 👍

[roxanne]

I worked as a housekeeper and then a domestic assistant in aged care (still mostly cleaning), and while it was often mind numbingly boring, I was able to cope due to the varied work, the need to keep moving, and I find it easy to hyperfocus on that sort of menial, physical task. I freelance as a web designer now and I find a lot of fun in my work, but keeping myself at my desk is really, really hard. I'm getting better at it and gradually figuring out what works for me. Thanks for sharing your experience :)

[buffplums]

you videos I like because mate, you are so real and its clear that unlike some channels, so called experts have never actually experienced the condition, I truly believe that. Thanks for keeping it real buddy.

[WorldOfEmm]

Omg, not be able to think on the spot / brain fog / blank-mindedness - so spot on!

[jonsprivatelife]

Fun fact: "Thinking of things later rather than in the moment" is called "staircase wit". Defined on Wikipedia as: Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so." I also do this