Should I Tell People At Work That I Have ADD?
Saturday March 8, 2008
Question: I haven't told my supervisor or any of my coworkers at my new job that I have ADD. Unfortunately, I am starting to have some problems and it seems like everyone at work is getting frustrated with me. I feel like they think I am unmotivated, lazy or just plain irresponsible. Should I tell people at work that I have ADD?
Click on the link above link to read the response.
Please share your own thoughts…to tell or not to tell?
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Comments
When I was hired by my present employer, I did not disclose that I was an ADDer. I worked very hard, particularly in the first few months to perform well above the standards expected.
After acceptance by management and supervisory staff, I did advise them of the ADD issue and found that certain minor accommodations were forthcoming. Primarily, my forgetfulness over simple things became understandable, accepted and consequently received repetitions of instructions. I had proved that I was an employee who was well worth keeping, and that my ADD characteristics had desirable and valuable worth that far outweighed the negatives of this condition.
Important too is the fact that my chosen profession is a pleasure for me and works well for the ADDer. I would suggest that if one is not enjoying their job or the employer, seek employment elsewhere. It is especially important for the ADDer to be in an environment where the positives of one’s ADD/ADHD more than offset the negatives, not the reverse.
I understand that the foregoing may sometimes be a daunting and sometimes a scary task. However the rewards are considerable, both in job satisfaction, reduced stress and a much better sense of well-being within one’s soul. You will be able to enjoy your ADD/ADHD and not be intimidated or ruled by it.
Understand too that your ADD/ADHD must still be addressed by yourself at all times and you must still do your best to negate the ugly aspects of its traits.
Demonstrate that you are ‘a keeper’. If the employer and fellow workers don’t see it that way, it’s time to move on.
Never try to be a square peg in a round hole. It doesn’t work, especially for the ADDer. Good luck to all.
John,
Thank you so, so much for sharing! Your post actually addresses some of the issues in a blog post that I had planned to put up later this week…I am going to go ahead and post it now because it relates so well to your advice.
Feel free to add anything else to the comments section of that post - “Best Jobs For ADD or ADHD Individuals”
I think you said it best…chose a job you like that accentuates your positives. Never try to be a square peg in a round hole.
Keath
This is a very interesting and complicated subject. A few years ago I was working in a four doctor practice, was on medication, got excellent job evaluations each year but I had never mentioned the fact that I had ADHD and was being treated for it. A coworker had a son with ADHD and I offered her advice on how to get her son the help he needed at school. A doctor whom I’d worked with for three years overheard my conversation with my coworker and asked me how I knew so much about ADHD at which point I told him that I myself had ADHD.
His response was “don’t let that get out here!” I asked him why but he never answered.
Of course it wasn’t long before ecveryone knew I had ADHD and suddenly it seemed that I couldn’t do anything right. My evaluations went from “great” to “doesn’t finish work that is started”, “leaves work areas messy” and on and on. I knew I was doing my job as well as I had for the past three years but the attitudes of the doctors and staff towards me had changed dramatically. I held on as long as I could but finally left as I could not tolerate the attitudes of the people I’d worked with for three years with no problems and suddenly changed after they found out about my ADHD.
We are encouraged to advocate for ourselves as well as others with ADD but in a world that doesn’t understand or even denies the existance of ADHD and where stereotypes about ADDults are more prevalent than the understanding of ADHD I have chosen NOT to mention my ADHD and only work in areas where my strength lies. There may be places where ADDults ARE accepted and appreciated but I haven’t found them in Connecticut. Asking for accomodations can backfire - that’s why I only work where my strengths are obvious and I excel and my ADHD causes no problems. I have encouraged the ADDults I hacve been in contact with to identify their individual strengths and work with them.
“Don’t try to do a job where you know problems may arise because of things you can’t do through no fault of your own” is my motto and it has served me and those I have helped very well.
Elle & John,
I read your story and I started to cry. The same thing has happen to me. I never told anyone about my problem because I did not know I had ADD until I had to see a Doctor because my marriage was in trouble and I was really depressed. I would work very hard my whole life and give my all to my past employers but It never worked out, my employers always found something or some way to let me go. Finally when I found out I had ADD and started to get treatment for it. My whole world changed, I started reading more, taking more classes and listening to my clients I feel like I’m learning things that i could never do. It has help me so much with my family, my husband sees a total different person he also understands. It was a really rough year for me it was so hard for me to accept because my mother knew i had the problem and she never told me or offered to get me help. So half my life i felt i have struggled so much and i could have done more for my like. I spoke to my Team Leader, i finally told her about me having ADD and asked her to keep it between us. The reason I told was because, I was so depressed and did not want to go any were or do anything. She wanted me to come to their yearly award ceremony because she had a surprise she also said people with this also have good traits and I have that i just need to make it work for me. Thats when I received the rookie of the year award out of 300 people. Within the next year the whole office staff knew about my ADD. I was ashamed but i still did my job and my second year I received “5th Place Top Individual Sales out of 500 people” I was so happy. After 3 years at my job and My Team Leader and my mentor had left the company due to people have to go their own ways and do what is better for them. Well the next year I kept on doing my job and i even made my company goal. Until 2007 the day before the Thanks Giving i got a call and my employer whom never was in the office and did not know me personally but she knew that i made her allot of money. Told me that I had to leave because “I do a good job but I just never get it” so after all the money i made for the company and all the appreciation i showed them this is what happened to me just because i told them about my ADD then some people judged me and looked at me differently after. Now i don’t and will not ever mention it. I think its great that some people in a company understand and do not judge you but, some people they say they understand and after a while you will be treated differently and picked on. I would keep it between you and just do your best.
Sadly situations where it has made it worst confirms my belief that having ADD/ADHD is part of “hidden discrimination”. Unlike race, sex, sexual orientation, & religion, some in the public do not even realize this sort of discrimination is just as bad as race, sex, et. al. Our society has a long ways to go to combat discrimination.
Very good site! I like it! Thanks!o
I usually go through 4 to 5 jobs a year because of my A.D.H.D. If you really want to keep your job, I would not tell your employer about it. Employers hire at will, meaning they can terminate your employment when ever they want. They can give you any reason they want, and it does not have to be true. A.D.H.D. is protected under Americans Disability Act, however if your employer is smart, they will not say that is why they’re terminating your employment.
If you want to keep your job, do not say anything. Besides, I’d rather my coworkers in the past believe that I was stupid than knowing the truth. Only my closest friends and family know that I have severe A.D.H.D. I would feel devestated if any of my employers or workers found out about my condition.