Just watched this video and it resonated with me in a way I wasn't expecting. I don't have any form of diagnosed ADHD, but I'm starting to question whether I have it. My current position - -I have an undergraduate degree in photography -a masters in marketing -working a dead end job whilst I try (often miserably) to figure out what I want. I struggle to truly commit to any creative projects I undertake, and I can't seem to really pin down what I want to do. Factor that in alongside a totally washed job market and it's making me feel a bit stuck! Sounds eerily familiar to the situation you were in, so thank you for this video. It really helped :)
I consider a bit like you in many many things... and surprisely, I like a lot editing videos, since more than 15 years, just for fun, something I thought to jump to this field, like filmmaker, the point I feel that I am not easygoing, and I like to do the things like I want... anyway I would like to know more about you nowadays because for me you are inspired and also I am still looking something fit for me (early 40s)
@Dave x Kaysha that's my problem...and I keep switching majors...I'm 36 and I've had probably about 12 majors in my life, ranging from Art to Physics lol
I managed to finish my masters finally, however it was hell. Naturally I’m creative it’s the only thing that holds me, web design, drawing, photography, image editing. And yes you are saying everything I think everyday.
@@dotunn that is awesome that you were able to finish it! I am in my late 30s and still have yet to conquer the Beast... I have enough credits to almost have a master's degree LOL, but they're all random. What were some of your techniques to actually hanging in there?
I am an estate agent, it’s perfect for me because I never have to concentrate, I make phone calls, send a few short emails, leave the office to show people houses - nothing that requires concentration and being in & out of the office on appointments breaks the day up and you get to see inside loads of beautiful houses. I don’t think I’d be able to do any other job because of studying/concentration.
I agree!!! After multiple unsatisfying careers I now drive a bus. ☺️ Its an office with a window and a constantly changing environment. Best decision I’ve ever made and stuck with! 😎
Sounds wonderful for you Natasha. But didn't you have to sit through lots of education to be where you are now? I mean, thats my issue and I'm 26 yo and just can't sit through university or any other educational platform, no matter what exciting job awaits me on the other side. They are many professions that I think I would excel in as an ADHD, but they all require years of the same lectures, classes, deadlines, assignments and group projects. Even outside university or academy schools the education often concludes with a long, complex bachelor-style exam project. Today's world sucks....
@@Micharheins today's world does suck but we are better in this time than any other, back then they didn't even believe in adhd or add, so it wouldn't just been considered as an excuse compared to others for the way we are, my advice I found that recording the class and reviewing the recording on my own is best and rewriting my notes while listening helps alot soft meditational music helps while doing my homework or reading, and your environment is everything, find a place that doesn't distract you or keeps you in hyperfocus I find libraries and places where other people study keep me im the zone and when I lose track I just make sure to do a quick 2 to 3 min walk then back down
I'm a scientist. I got fired/quit from every job I tried until age 32 (e.g. teaching, sales, administrative). Luckily, at 32 I had an opportunity to go to graduate school for a part-time Master's degree where I could take 1-2 courses per semester but studied full-time to get good grades. It helped me work on a small exploratory project as a volunteer. It captured my attention... I would spend in the lab 10+ hours/day and discovered a new concept. For the next 7 years, in my Ph.D. and postdoc research projects, I developed this discovery further and expanded numerous applications. Now I'm 39... my projects received over $1.5 million in funding and over 45 awards... and I continue to make advancements in this new scientific area that I started. Pros: I enjoy doing creative work, on my own schedule, and promoting the work by public speaking. Cons: Not productive in my work, very slow in publishing the work, hard to manage people, time, prioritizing, etc. My health was severely compromised and was hospitalized 3 times in the span of 2 years, and ended up with a lifelong stress-related physical illness. Although, slower pace becoming successful in my profession. I have been in therapy for 2+ years and trying to get on medications to manage the pressure/demand of work so that I can move up the career ladder and manage personal relationships better.
I feel your pain. There are many of us in the same situation. The work-life dynamics are complicated. Finding sufficient and fulfilling recharge time is next to impossible.
I was going to ask about personal relationships. We’re you able to date or make/keep solid friendships through your career expansion? I’m also considering academia since I can combine work and my passion (research/writing) but it seems very hard to do something that intense, focus on personal health/wellbeing, AND relationships. I’m almost at the point where, next to personal well-being and pursuit of passion, relationships take the last wrung so they are easy to side step but I know they are important. If I am not passionate about my job then they might even be fourth after a steady pay check….I’m not totally sure about that one Wondering about your thoughts on this as someone who made it through the ringer.
Its sooooo comforting when you say your late twenties were the development of who you are! From time to time i cry because I feel guilty and it feels like ive wasted so much time, but now im learning to recognise each skill ive learned
I just turned 30 and found out I have ADHD and had no idea. I always thought my thoughts were different to others. Hearing you speak I identify immensely.
same! on my 30th birthday, my mum came to see me, and we were talking about my ADHD traits I think I have, and we were both yattering away at a million mph, like 'ME TOO! ..do you do/feel this? YES ME TOO!' turns out, it's highly likely she has it too haha! we've always been very similar, but also clash a lot. I think because she's 'on', when i'm 'off'
I was 32 and everything made sense. From getting in trouble at school for drawing, emotional outbursts, easily distracted, and being able to remember instructions at work.
40 yrs. young now and still don’t have an “established” career. Diagnosed at eight years old and have resented ADHD my whole life, to the point where I denied it being a real deficiency until I was about thirty and read about the symptoms of adult ADHD, which basically described my personality! I’ve always provided well for my family by successfully finding something better. I’ve had to restart a couple times but always come out ahead. That said, I still feel like a huge failure because I’ve tried college several times and only succeeded at obtaining a two-year web design certificate (via mega hyper-focus). I have never managed to get the bachelor’s degree. I don’t care that much about one but finding something better is growing increasingly difficult as so many places require that stupid piece of paper. I am at a job that I detest, but it pays well. I also just plain hate working for someone else. I’ve always felt a deep burning desire to run my own business but have never been able to send my side hustles into high enough gear to replace my full time job. I have two teenage kids and one preteen and yet here I sit, still feeling like a 23 year-old again without any solid direction in my life. Everything in my “career” path points back to ADHD. I am truly a Jack of all trades and master of none, but I am far better than most who are masters of one! 😁 Problem is that it doesn’t sell. I see others in fields where I am somewhat skilled but I know that I don’t even come close to their level, despite others telling me how good I am at x, y, and z. I’m suppose I am just ranting now. I am just so tired of not “fitting in” to this world. I want to find success and fulfillment in what I do, but I feel like I’m never quite enough because I just can’t quite do what the successful people do long enough for it to stick! I digress. I very much enjoy your content and love witnessing your mind jumó around like mine does even as you present in your videos. Keep up the great work!
Your story is so weirdly parallel to mine it's creepy... I can't fit into what my parents raised me to believe life was. 3rd student loan almost paid off over 21 years.....no further ahead. Good luck with it. Hoping there's hope.
I really appreciate your rant. You described exactly the challenges I have been living with with ADHD. I know exactly how you feel. I am also a “Jack of all trades”. I am also 40 and I am sitting here knowing this is not where I want to be in 10 years. I beat myself up because not knowing what you want to do is normal at 20 years old but not 40. I should be in a career, I should be nearing retirement but here I am taking Career Tests and Personality Assessments just to get an idea what I might be good at and even like to do. I feel like a failure, too. What makes it even harder is, there were some jobs I enjoyed doing but I live with a chronic illness that doesn’t allow me to do that type of work anymore, which makes looking for work having ADHD even more difficult. I hate this. I really hate this.
oh brother, same here. i describe as good at all trades but expert of none. no degrees, but feel like kind of talented in many fields. give us an update
Same, I'm 45, with two kids (11 and 15). Was never diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms are all there. I got comfortable in a job for 10 years with no transferable skills. Was outsourced. Since then I've been taking contract/temp jobs that offer no benefits. Trying to reinvent myself by being a web developer, but no one is hiring. Or, I should say, not enough are hiring for me to get my foot in the door. Going without work for 3 years now. Very depressing.
Do you think having kids is helpful in motivating your success? ADD effects my boredom and motivation a lot. I work but - jeez am I bored! Don’t have kids though-
I'm a long distance truck driver . I enjoy the time on my own & I enjoy not having to work hard on thinking about doing different tastes , if that make sense . I can drive for 12 hours a day & let my mind go . But I'm still in control & am a safe driver & have my mind on the job . I try & educate myself by listening to a lot of different subjects on RUclips as I'm driving . I'm dyslexic as well as having ADHD . So studying & reading is nearly impossible for me . So at the age of 53 with very limited education , long distance truck drivering seems to be a perfect carrier for me . I try to keep life simple .
I also drive for a living. I enjoy the freedom and I am terrible working with people. I find I can drive for hours on end but it's like I'm daydreaming also. Does this happen to you? It's weird as it's as if it is natural to me
I just read your comment, maybe you don't need the tip anymore or maybe someone else will find it helpful. What helped me learning how to drive was taking tons of online tests, where there would be a short question either to a picture or a short clip. Usually there were 3 possible answers. So even when I didn't know the correct answer, an explanation would pop up. I took those tests over and over again until I understood everything. It took me a few months, but it wasn't so boring, because it wasn't just plain teksts. Also coffee helped me to focus.
I’m in Med school, 2nd year finals week actually. It’s quite difficult, I’m constantly struggling but I try and push through it... I found out on my late teens/early adulthood, I’m still trying to find a way to live a balanced life with not much success... There’s still a lot of stigma, ignorance and toxic positivity which is incredibly negative for our mental health and evolution, it only hinders ourselves further... this is not a choice... I have a lovely family but they don’t believe this is a reality they have always seen it as an excuse... None of my parents actually supported my decision to pursue this career until recently, they often remind me there are easier ways... Find a purpose - I want to help people in anyway I can so they can have an easier life... Set a goal no one needs to see it just you, be consistent and hardworking, self loving and forgiving, allow yourself to have moments of chaos... Be resilient, it’s possible!
I totally understand you, I'm also a medical student and it's so hard and overwhelming to get everything done. The worst part is when no one understands how difficult it is for us people with ADHD and they just think we aren't putting enough effort.
Hello @ritasantosbrito I’m a 30 y/o doctor recently diagnosed with adhd I struggled so much in med school and was misdiagnosed/blamed I took my time with the degree and now am in a branch I like and pursuing specialisation :) Use your strengths, they can pull you through Also, here to help if you need any
I found myself in event management around 20 odd years ago. Changed my life. Event work is flat out and over very quickly, then it rolls into the next one. It fed every aspect of my ADHD. I become very successful very quickly. I’m now coming out the other end due to age. I now sit back and watch the young ADHD people come through with a huge smile as I know this will change their lives.
How does one get into event managment, Currently undiagnosed in the uk, But i've done Lorry Driving, Carpentry (ish haven't found an employer), Security, Prison Officer, werehousing, Contracting, I cant find a focus. i'm 28 it's driving me insane and I worry for my daughter and her upbrining.
How were you able to organize everything? Event planning appeals to me but when it comes down to details and Timie lines, I get overwhelmed quite quickly.
@@aprilsworld9562 Agree. I was working in a big corporate as an event specialist and I constantly had to try to keep up with what people verbally said to me. It was so stressful cos I couldn't rely on my brain to remember them. I knew for sure that I was going to forget them right away despite the efforts that I WAS trying to write them down - there was still going to have things being left out from the note.
I'm 25 and I've just started investigating ADHD in adults, I always thought there was something "wrong"/different with me and couldn't put my finger on it. The more I investigate, the more I become aware of myself and convinced this is it, I've found the answer to the way that my mind works, it's scary but at the same time I'm so happy. What you describe about work and careers and passion is exactly how I've been feeling all my life. I'm so thankful for this video, can't wait to learn more about myself
Im 45 and went through many careers trying to find my place in this world. I now drive a bus and couldn’t be happier. You have to truly find/do what you love. You will get there just keep moving forward!
Its beautiful that I found this guy and dn tests to know i had most symptoms first i heard only kids cud get and i was liikee noo i k i have issues! Easy to anger, act immature and moaar! 24.
Awaiting my diagnosis at 41 years old. Spent my entire life walking out of or being fired from so many unrelated jobs that thinking about it makes my head spin. It's only recently that I realised that I've been somewhat hyperfocused on health and nutrition for some years (now I know hyperfocus is a thing), and with all that I've learned from books and podcasts etc, i have an excellent knowledge base with which to help people. So i'm almost finished a health coaching qualification and will be starting my own business. Learning that I have adhd halfway through my health coaching course hasn't been easy but its enabled me to learn how to work with my adhd brain, rather than trying to carry on and do things as a neurotypical person (which I of course now know I am not). Given how terribly I done at school (because of the undiagnosed adhd) I'm so happy that I've managed to get as far through my coaching course as I have. I hope when I receive my diagnosis that life gets a little easier. I'm optimistic about the future for the first time in my life.
@Stoitism Your comment brought tears to my eyes because I so relate to this "Spent my entire life walking out of or being fired from so many unrelated jobs..." Between ADHD, health issues, and recurring depression, I'm terrified to try again because I never know if I'll be liked, grudgingly tolerated, or viewed with disgust and forced out. Starting then losing a job would disqualify me from my current insurance which feels literally unsafe to do. Life without optimism about one's ability to stay employed is ROUGH! Hope you're doing well! ❤
I’m 30 and was just diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. My ADHD must be fairly mild because I actually had no problems education. I’m a mechanical engineer but I’ve been procrastinating getting licensed because I’m afraid of the new responsibilities it will entail. Most of my problems focus on keeping my desk clean, losing important information and social dynamics.
just got diagnosed at 25. was a good student in primary and secondary school so my behaviours were never called into question. however i completely fell apart in university, commuting to a school i didn’t want to but had to because of financial reasons, not having structure, discipline, friends and a major i chose because of practicality since i had no idea what to do with my life at 18. tried going to a community college, same thing. so many failed attempts. and all peers i grew up with and studied with are ahead of me and successful and i feel like i’m in a bottomless pit, freefalling.
It’s so hard I’m 28 and every time I’m so certain I know what I want to do in life then I get bored then I change my mind then it’s a cycle I feel like I’m good at everything but can’t start or finish it .
I've only been diagnosed with ADHD very recently (few weeks ago, at the age of 28). I used to be a stonemason, when I was 18 I was selling granite tombstones and installing them on cemeteries. Web development has always been my hobby, though, so when I was 23 I decided to become a front-end developer (I didn't even know the name, lol). I managed to build a career, I actually got hired few weeks ago as a senior FE developer and now I'm a very fulfilled and happy profession-wise. I sometimes wonder whether the ADHD that I've always had, but never knew about, was a helper or an obstacle. When you have ADHD and are very passionate about something, you basically become unstoppable with this one particular field. It's still super tough with different areas of my life, though, especially relations with peers and my family life. I'm turning 29 in two days, and I still mentally feel like I'm 17 at best.
Hey Patryk, it's so great to hear that you found something that you excel at. This is a career that I've been contemplating for a while but I get cold feet because I don't want to fail at yet another career. Do you mind if we can chat about your journey? I really do feel lost and would love some insight.
I'm 40 and I have struggled with inattentive add my whole life without knowing the cause until recently. Your videos have been such a blessing to me and to others so I want to thank you for taking the time to make these wonderful helpful videos, God bless.
OMG dude! I’ve recently started taking the possibility seriously! I’m at a job now that requires a lot of attention to detail. I just started and I already hate it! Im a musician and could spend HOURS on one part of a song. But I have to constantly get up at work and walk around, because my thoughts wander constantly. That’s been an issue for me since childhood. Wow!
I lucked into my career! I got a job as a Buyer for a non-profit. I did not know what a Buyer did but it paid well! I was in that career for thirty years and ended up as a purchasing manager for a manufacturing plant. I loved it because I was constantly solving problems, never a dull moment phones ringing, people demanding, problem solving. I loved it, it was heaven! Now, I know why! Glory Hallelujah! I was great at it too! 😘
It took me 8 years to finish my degree. I was so confused. I had problems with indecision. And now that I have graduated. I am still as confused and undecided. ADHD is a murderous disorder.
I'm a lab tech at a treatment plant. Being a lab tech at a treatment plant can be very very very challenging! It needs fast lab test results. Working in solitude and this feeds my hyperfocus so much! I can zoned out and always forgetting my eating time! I got gastritis for that. But I love this sense of urgency. Makes me efficient! And the best part is the processed water will be channeled to millions of people's homes. Everyday I feel like a novelty achievement!
Currently working on my Bachelor's in Elementary Education to help other students with ADHD, ADD and those struggling! It has most certainly posed its challenges and every day is a battle as I am sure it is for so many enduring this journey. I find the silver lining in what you expressed about pursuing opportunities to truly live who we are. Do you host podcasts? Hope to hear most about your creative endeavors in future videos! Your messages are very far reaching! Thank you!!
I’m a teacher for high schoolers, and YES- having ADHD has made me more empathetic to my students. Unfortunately, I get very bored sometimes because it seems like the school system is not designed to accommodate kids who need a lot of stimulative change. It may be different for elementary school though. Best wishes!
Although I haven't been officially diagnosed, my therapist brought my attention to the idea that she strongly believes I have adhd. Looking at my life through the lens of adhd over the past months, it all seems to make so much more sense- the time management, distractibility, intensity and depth of feeling, forgetfulness, etc etc etc. So, I'm an elementary teacher, and I find the most difficult thing for me is time management. When I was teaching an older grade, I'd come home and spend six hours planning for the next day. Obviously, I burnt out so quickly and I literally felt that I would have to quit this career I loved because there's no way I could continue maintaining integrity in my position AND have a personal life. It was my first time teaching that grade and I was thrown into it in the middle of the year- it was so difficult and even by the end of the summer break my body and mind were still completely burnt out from stress. I felt that I needed quite a bit of guidance which I thankfully got a lot of from supportive colleagues and had to constantly allow myself room for repetition to actually internalize things and make them "make sense" in my mind. I often felt SO confused and completely lost when people verbally explained things to me- it's like they expected me to "get it" from an explanation but I had to see it and hear it in action to process it and conceptualize it deeply. It was a challenge and still is....I find it has always taken me ten times longer to do anything and plan anything compared to others. I end up with great results, but the amount of time I feel that I need, and that my brain legitimately needs, is not typical whatsoever (working on that!). Anyways, I have had more experience with a younger age group, and this is the grade I now tend to gravitate to because I have the most experience there; however, my mind is still constantly scattered and on complete overdrive the moment I get there until the moment I leave, but, there is more spontaneous flow in organized chunks of the day and I feel like I have more permission to naturally follow the kids' interests and excitement and build on that. I think I benefit from this sense of "flow" even though I always thought I would do better with more structure and rigidity. So when you mention the multi-task oriented nature of work where you're always on your feet- that's definitely me. I'm also ALWAYS the last one to find out about things. That made me laugh. I don't know how many times I've panicked saying, "Oh, we have a staff meeting right now?" after a colleague asked if I was heading over only to realize that I did, in fact, write it on a sticky note as a reminder this morning but left it next to the full cup of tea I completely forgot about at 8am on the bookshelf I spontaneously wanted to reposition only to get distracted by a group of little ones knocking on the window waving hello wanting to show me their outdoor creation before morning entry. L O L. Literally laughing as I write this. These things used to embarrass me- now I try to embrace them and accept them as a part of who I am without judgement. This has been a novel... I very rarely comment on anything but I'm so curious if there are any other teachers out there who are diagnosed. I really hope that everyone here can find what works for them and feel that they can capitalize on their innate talents in whatever they do. There's no right or wrong and our path doesn't have to be linear. Wishing you all the best
So do you think teaching is a good option for you? Also if you don't mind,kindly forward your mail id , I would like to get in touch with you. Facing the very same issues
I never thought I was able to have someone understand what I’m going through. I never had the words to explain how I have felt in a very long time when it comes to careers. I’ve been in retail and it’s an industry where it has its pros and cons. However, I have a very poor attention to details and critical thinking but if you have a stronger sense in those too areas you can honestly rule the world.
man, i relate so hard to all of these videos. I’m having this problem at the moment, and i’m not even out of high school yet, but i have failed plenty classes. The main problem I have is that I’m too artistic/creative and I can’t time manage or do anything practical, meaning all of the careers that I would actually be good at and enjoy are highly competitive and/or wouldn’t be enough to live off of. I often legit wonder if i’m gonna end up living in a van trying to sell my paintings on a street corner
See the thing is... all careers are super competitive now. I was just like you when I left high school and really regret trying to do a “corporate easy” kind of degree. Maybe be an art teacher? There are jobs in companies like creative technologist that basically get paid to invent things. Web design is good too (very little math) or making video advertisements for agencies. You could also talk while you draw on RUclips for a living. Basically get creative about a creative career! It’s not as black and white as being in banking $$$ or selling paintings out of a van.
I understand you, I'm 4 years deep in an Accounting and Finance degree it's torture . I know I can't become an accountant, the detail and consistent focus are not ideal for me . And I get bored. I want to become a writer because I'm creative in that aspect but since it's competitive I think teaching English and writing on the side will be ideal for good income. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were lecturers at University and they found time to be creative and still get a decent constant stream of income. I think of them for inspiration in my case. Teach your craft and still pursue to be creative with it on the side
@@hlumelomkiva4806 i think we al are creators because that part of our Brain works te best. We al should do something creative. I struggeld all my life at school. I got diagnosted with dyslectia asswel but some how i managed to go on dont give up, take what ever it cost to finish school and even later a high school bachalor degree communication arts which im very proud of. It took so much of my mental health that i went true a burn out. Months of tension and fear. However i came back on track and worked on my low self esteem. And now im working outside ass a landscape gardener for 2 years now and that really did me good! No stress!. But at the moment im so bored at work IT even can het me down, and negative.... because Every dat is the same. So in looking for an other job for over An half year now without succes. Im struggeling with what carreer Path i should choose. My soul gave me and insight that i wanted to create. I had that qrge to create thinks. I like to create abstracte stuff. My soul was speaking to me! Al my life i did thinks that my parents and people around me asked my to do.. but most inportant is what do we want ourself. Im looking more at myself atm. So im thinking to start something in photo/videography because IT fits my studies.. in very good in creating visual thinks. I have al seeying eyes. And an eye for composition. But IT wil be a new Path for me, a Path where i do what i want.. my advice is to all of you follow your feeling and create your dreams! We have unique brains ans are really good in thinks asswell. Dont give up! Just play the game in the system in the creative way that fits you!
My son has just been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 37. He can’t keep a job for long and has now depressed and wishes he was never born. As a mum this breaks my heart. He’s my son and I love him with all of my heart.I really don’t know how to help him.
I have ADHD im a gate assist/wheelchair pusher at the air port. I push people in wheelchairs and get there bags i get payed to listen to people and tolk to people and i love it
Wow great video and thanks for this! I'm also being diagnosed with ADD and I'm really searching for what job suits to me. I have a degree but the jobs I am getting with it are office jobs and it is the worst for people with ADD/ADHD. Your video helped me with searching in what will suit me the best. You are very good at explaining why things did not work for you en what does. Thanks!
This hit home HARD! I'm 21 and currently looking for a job. I didn't go to college, but I'm thinking about starting a course or some other form of education. This gives me so much hope!!
I've also done some soul searching and career planning in the last few years. My myers briggs type is INTJ. Turns out that INTJs are good at doing jobs that require them to use their minds for analysis and puzzle solving. Trouble is, because of ADHD I've never had a job that required me to use my mind. I've worked in trades(MISERY) and I've worked in sales and customer service (MISERY). But those aren't my strengths. I need to use my 'brain', but my brain is broken because of ADHD. The medication is helping and I'm trying to invest in health and exercise which also helps cognition. I am in school getting a business degree. Entering 3rd year with good grades, but school drives me crazy so I might be reducing my course load to find more balance and happiness, whatever that is.
what type of sales did you do? I have INTJ for my results as well, and I found B2B (business-to-business) sales to be quite rewarding in terms of problem-solving.
I think the dreamer aspects are the driving force behind thinking that trade skills, and "building site" type jobs are out of reach of creatives. I know lots of people who were creative as kids who have become scaffolders, decorators, carpenters etc.. there's actually a high degree of problem solving, and creativity involved in making objects with your hands, but is more suited to practical, grounded type personalities, while dreamers tend to visualize beyond practicality, and see their creativity as art, which then tends to manifest.
I latched onto computers and video games as a kid and tend to hyperfocus when learning about or working on computers. Unfortunately, I have hopped around a lot to various areas within IT so it has been hard to get really good at any one thing. But overall I've been pretty successful in my IT career. I am very good at analytical things such as computer forensics and scripting and also love building/creating things. I was also good with art as a kid. I have not been diagnosed with ADHD but very recently self-diagnosed. I am 34 years old and your videos and some others I found just blew my mind. My whole life and the struggles just made sense all of a sudden. It actually excited me to finally understand why I struggle with things so much. Thank you so much for your videos!
Im 27 and struggling to find passion in life. Im worried of working a job that I hate for the rest of my life. Somehow, chatgpt showed me the answer after inputting all my personality test results and what my usual hobbies are. The result is screenwriter and creative writer.
Thank you for your videos, they really help me. I think you're a very nice and authentic person and everyone would be lucky to be your friend. Sometimes I feel like such a failure because of my ADD, but when I look at you having ADD and being such a valuable person, I feel much better about myself too :)
I'm stuck in a dead-end factory job, which is semi-varied and fairly straight-forward, yet my mistake-prone nature means lots of costly issues and disciplinaries. It can be really embarassing. Making music, or writing weird fiction can be engrossing for me, but I end up thinking about my music or stories too much while at work (to distract me from the monotony of the job), and by the time I'm home I feel as though I've been working on them enough already. Going vegan, taking up mountain-biking as a commuter option, and now meditating, have all had profound effects on both my mental and physical health in recent years, the latter of which I've only just discovered. TRIPP VR for the PS4 is a meditation experience, and it has changed my life. The constant cacophony of ranting voices in my head have been silenced, and I'm becoming far more in-the-moment, while the anger-management issues have completely vanished. No other attempt at meditation has worked for me, yet whether or not because of the visuals, this had an immediate and noticeable effect. So, my life's not ALL bad :-) Thanks for the vid, which is helpful and informative, as always.
@@annv6781 I've no idea what I am anymore. 'Scottish' is as identifiable as I can be just now. How about you? I tested as an INFJ a couple of years ago, but through a combination of huge self-esteem boosts and exponential social awareness development, I've become the kind of person I used to wish I could be (I realise how this sounds, believe me). I'm just as introverted as always when I'm on my own and engrossed/obsessed with whatever is 'focus-of-the-week', but now, when I'm in social settings I'm completely comfortable and a lot of fun to be around, or so they tell me. I don't seem to have become too much of an annoying cunt, either, but again this is mere hearsay. If I can offer a tip to anyone who might have use for it - A good way to overcome social anxiety is to try to vocally amuse yourself whilst alone. Comment out loud if you think of anything spontaneously funny to say in reaction to something throughout the day. Do this as often as you can. Imagine that you're starring in your own film, and you want to be entertaining. If you repeat this process enough you'll start to make yourself laugh, and also become more comfortable with instigating humour. Translate this into everyday life and you'll never look back. Good luck!
I jumped around to 4 different undergrad programs before I finished my degree. After learning I had ADHD (inattentive) I got a teaching credential to work with kids who were like me, and then eventually went to grad school to become a school psychologist. Like you, details frustrate me - making school psych an odd choice, but it plays to my strengths with report writing. I wish I were more interested in the counseling aspects, but, on the whole, I easily recommend it to anyone who is a creative thinker and is interested in neurology, cognition & some diagnostics (it sounds more pretentious than it actually is).
At 45 I’m still kinda struggling with what I’d be good at . Besides having ADHD I’m dyslexic and because of the time I grew up the dyslexia went undiagnosed until I was in my 40’s
I'm 38, and have probably had the same number of jobs as my age or so. Jobs keep on not working out for me because they're either exploitative (like 96 hour work weeks caregiving), they are not a good fit for me (not what I was expecting or I'm not a good fit for the culture/personality/that specific kind of work), or I have a strong personality conflict with someone. Over the last several years I've just been looking for some darn stability so that I can work on getting rid of many of my possessions so that I can be free to make more choices and work on my other goals (like hopefully traveling and teaching English abroad before going back to school). I'm honestly so frustrated at this point and I truly don't know what to do. I decided to take a part time job with an employment agency and have been meeting with career counselors at a local college and university. But I'm absolutely terrified of going back to school. The jobs I'm most interested in (like the sciences) require a lot more dedication than the work I thought I wanted to do. Also, what if I wind up in a career that doesn't work out for some reason like so many other jobs I've tried? I'm working with a therapist, a psychiatrist, an ADHD coach, and I even have a case manager. I'm really trying to do the work and figure this out, but there's a part of me that wonders if I just don't belong in this society.
@@matthewneillmusicThanks, and I hope you find your way. I actually applied and got accepted to go back to university. Now I have to get back to applying for scholarships. Best of luck!
I have been an accountant for 11 years now and have hated pretty much every moment of it. I just got diagnosed earlier this year and through all my research just to figure out how & why my brain works the way it does, I've come to realize that I have an incredibly creative and bizzare mind. Sitting in front of an excel spreadsheet for 10 hours a day has completely eaten away my soul. I would LOVE a career change, I just don't know what else I'm good at. This is all I've ever done 😔
This video choked me up. After years of being in IT as a support tech, with 3 dismissals and numerous performance reviews. I decide a few months ago to make a massive career change that compliments my innate skills. If anyone is doing what I did, STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Make a strategic change. Stuart is so right in what he said here. Thanks for this video mate.
@@toni2309 I do, I have some ideas and I'm wary of them being fleeting ideas or distractions. My main focus is on finding a way to work for myself, becoming the master of myself and my own ADHD, if you will. Capitalising on what I'm already really good at and keeps my focus. Its the one idea that has stuck in my mind for 3-4 months. I have a few theories why It's still on my mind considering and assuming most of us here have ADHD. Ultimately it would be a little long to explain, but I would be happy to share my thoughts. A good friend and therapist told me this recently: Don’t do what you love for a career, it's bad advise. Do it because you want financial freedom to responsibly live life on your own terms.
@@mingakinsgibayuxds7542 I just read that too line too. haha. What I meant is, following a career that has all the environmental factors against you. Sure there are ways to mitigate or work around them, and that depends on the flexibility of the career. If the career system is too rigid like in most corporations, that has a lack of originality, find something else. It's going to kill the spirit, which leads to even greater tangible losses... People you love is one.
I feel this I’m in a similar role and with my ADHD it’s very boring and cannot stay focused at all I so agree wouldn’t recommend a job that isn’t ADHD friendly
I'm studying music at the moment and I find it really hard when we have to do assignment work. It's a tricky balance that is hard to perfect when you have ADHD... I also have huge trouble following through and actually bloody finish something for once.
I feel you. Forcing myself to go to the library to do a Dissertation is painful, but I have NO choice or else I'll leave it to the last minute and likely fail! Good Luck.
I studied music too - a difficult but rewarding major! 20 years later, I remember my university days with great fondness. And, yeah, the assignments, especially theory, were a real pain in the ass. But you've got to admit higher-level theory is fascinating, anyway... I'm proud that I did get through with my BA - it's a struggle for us ADDers, but it's possible!!
I studied music tech almost 15 years ago, and absolutely the assignments were the worst. It's not a lack of ability, it's just that lack of ability to finish something! Make a schedule and stick to it. If you self-impose deadlines it can become easier, but you have to be disciplined. Self-flagellation of some sort if you don't meet your own deadlines, and rewards if you do.
I just finished architecture.It was hard and always very demanding,which helped me to work,because I felt guilty or competitive enough to finish what I had started. Because it was 6years, I didn t have to think what I had to do with my life, I was always busy because of the rush and the side job. I was always delieverd my project the last from my class, but IT was pretty detail oriented, as much details some time I didn t see the overall picture anymore or I had alredy forgot the documentation part from the begining. I tend to stay near harsh people/proffesors who demanded a lot so my hate of not being good enough, helped me finish, working many many nights. It was never enough for me and I strugled to stay on one task and one idea.I am proud I finished, but I am somehow scared of what will come and adjusting to working in specific hours with other people. I hope now, that I finally descovered I have ADHD, I will be more selfconscious.
I’ve dabbled in MANY things too. Music and songwriting are my hyper focus but never figured out how to make enough money with it. So now I’m still teaching Music, English and French online part-time but supplementing that with part-time window cleaning (of all things). The learning curve for the latter has been très difficile but my boss has been patient (thank heaven). And I love working outdoors and the physicality of the job. In order to do it better I feel obligated to work-out 😂. Plus I do social media posts for the window cleaning business. That is CREATIVE and I love it! So I that’s what’s working for me right now. Thank you for your videos. Please continue. They are so needed.
I get bored easily in school although now that I'm older I love to do extensive research it's fun but idk it's only with things that interest me like astrology but that's not practical lol I do like psychology but idk why am.i even writing all of this to you
I’m the same. Like I know people shit on astrology but once you get into reading natal charts and synastry... it was a hyperfixation of mine a few months ago lol
I recently finished Computing. Last year I started Game Design and Development. I think this matches me well, I am a creative person, full of ideas, I like mathematics, drawing and computer graphics. I think it could be a good career path for many people with ADHD because there are many creative professions related to Game Development and I think Games are future, we actually may be in one(simulation theory). I did MBTI as well and get INTP, we like games a lot:)
@@dotunn I think it is a good idea, it is a much quicker and easier way to earn the money. However I think games are future and in some way maybe we all going to end up in kind of Matrix (I consider it as a game;)). Maybe we already in a Matrix (Simulation theory).
i'm on a same path. learned 3d modelling,texturing and animation. then programming. but missed out on drawing so i can't design shit. now i spend ~3 hours daily in drawing practice. go forward, with a turtle steps. you have no idea how lucky you are that you draw. one can learn any gaming skill in decent time period; -but not drawing. illustrative design and concept art are skills of a lifetime. one needs to start early in life, in order to arm oneself by this skill. ADHD Suxxx.
Although this video is a year old I want to answer the last question. I have ADHD, undiagnosed until I was 25, and I'm a programmer. I did an apprenticeship which was quite hard for me, especially because I needed to go to school some days and it was hard for me to understand all the new processes of developement. But I finished the apprenticeship and got a job as a real programmer in the same company which I am very happy about. I feel there is something intuitive about ADHD which is very useful for writing good code. You are probably used to seeing strategies that other people don't. Overly cluttered code makes you repulsed and rightly so, because it's a useless waste of time and processing power. So if anyone who reads this isn't sure what to get into I can definitely recommend programming, especially if you were interested in it, or have experience with it already. Also many companies let you come in any time you want, so you won't have as much trouble coming to work on time, because there is no specific time to come. It's still a difficult job for me, especially when I have tasks, that are plain boring and don't give me anything in return. But for me it's like making music or painting, because you paint with your own individual paint brush and your code will be individual. All the best to everyone who chooses this path aswell and everyone else.
@@MrMasterKaio if work boredom hurts you try to push yourself towards microelectronic firmware development. it's pure C but you will be messing with many different aspects of the design (pcb,microchip programming, enclosure design) and it will be much more entertaining. from development stage to stage, working software will be changing constantly and it's more fun this way.
Interesting, I started off as a web developer and I was really bored after only four months of having to pull tickets to change fonts, add pictures and fix bugs on websites. I found writing and multimedia to be something better for me.
You just mntioned my life... I also have photography on the back seat. I did graphic design and im doing it again now 12 years later but now with more passion, more stability and clarity. Ive been bouncing from different areas and it took me a lot of patience and inner work to accept and focus on one thing. Even though I still struggle doing tasks! Btw.. i still plan to go for psychology in the future. Creating, taking pictures and studying human behavior make my soul sing
Your comment just changed my life, i was always interested in psychology and didn’t know why. I took up photography because I loved capturing the human experience. Studying human behaviour seriously lights my soul on fire and is something I’m always coming back to. THANK YOU!!
I've been sculpting for the last 5 years. It has been fun but even then I find myself getting a little board of it and forcing myself to finish projects. I really want to start oil painting again so that might be my next career, even though I've got alot of customers to get through with sculpting.
After a couple decades :P .. of careful consideration about what I should do with my life, I finally landed on, that something artistic + mostly solitary + self-employed would all in all be the best for me. I started oil painting and quickly became somewhat decent at it, if I say so myself. However!.. my hyperfocus mode sets in when I get a new idea or try a new style of painting, and that works super bad with becoming a professional artist I think. Cause you kiiinda need to stick to one style and get known for that "look".. or at least do medium sized series. Not saying there aren't potentially any workarounds - just saying that so far I have painted 1½ paintings of my first actual series, got super bored and haven't painted at all for like 8 months :P
I am working in IT Service Desk. I was taking calls so work was "pushed" on me and I had no possibility to procrastinate. Lately I moved to handling escalation emails. This work requires attention for short time, if I stop I can always start again. It is mostly replying to emails and forwarding them. Small tasks. I also work from home so can take break, walk around my place, also when I got distracted no-one from the team really notices since we communicate on chat. Work in big company means your responsibilities and tasks are clear and repetitive and mosty it is work with data not people and this is what I like.
I'm dealing with this myself right now. 28 and just now being able to hold a job without issues, I have down time now too so I can work on photography, skill up here on RUclips just like you, and earn more knowledge and credentials for work.
I know this is an "old" video to comment on, but I am 44 years old and in LE. I was JUST diagnosed with ADHD. So interesting fact about being a cop is that you will be stimulated often, and I think that is why I excelled. BUT! For the past 12 years I have been a watch commander/shift supervisor/office troll and had real trouble staying on task, which is what led me to my diagnosis. Apparently a lot of ADHD folks are drawn to jobs that keep you on your toes for good reason. Problem becomes when you move up and it gets harder to focus on the mundane. Medication helps a ton, but man do I wish this had been caught when I was younger.
Believe it or not, there are many creative people in the trades. The work is great exercise for the conscientious side of us that may need some balancing out with the creative side, I have found that after being conscientious all day, my creativity flows like a raging river when the work day is done.
In my twenties I did a four year degree in acupuncture, but maintaining enough focus to get through four years of academia burnt me out so hard that I literally cannot bring myself to trying to work in the field of acupuncture. I know how difficult academia is for my brain, even though I tend to get really good grades, and this year I was given a scholarship and the opportunity to do an honours year in a subject entirely different from my undergraduate. Half way through the year and again, I'm getting great grades but it is a damn struggle to continually have to relight the fires of interest enough for me to finish what I need to do. With every opportunity to do a Masters next year with full scholarship, I think I'm going to have to say no. On the bright side, today I got a phone call, I have been shortlisted for a role as 'underwater biosecurity technician' - basically, weeding the ocean. Full dive training included including scientific diving training, and the job is week on, week off on a boat in a remote sounds in the bottom of the country (New Zealand). Pulling out an invasive seaweed species. I love being in and working outdoors as the modern world is difficult for me to process. I have my fingers crossed! I think it will be especially great due to the week on week off nature of it - one out of two weeks to do whatever I want with my life will allow me to hyper focus in short bursts on the side hustles I want to work in - namely freelance writing and illustrating. I've decided recently to embrace the diversity of where my brain leads me. I'm never going to be able to follow the normal, linear pathway that most people seem to do, and I have to be OK with that. As my dad said to me - "fitting into society has never worked for you before. Why bother trying now?"
A-levels, Media degree, PGDE, just turned 40 and still no idea what I want to do when I grow up. 10-15 years of dead end jobs. Done the MBTI etc still no idea what I can do for work and how I’m going to get into it.
I am a 39 year old software engineer who was diagnosed last week. I feel my career is not going anywhere and I finally discovered the reason last week.
Two BAs followed by two masters I dropped out of. I loved the subject, I really wanted to become a professor. But I hate writing on demand. I am actually fine with reading on demand because I love reading. Anyway, one massage therapy licensing program degree later, I enjoy that. It combines art and science and is physical. There is endless continuing education you can take in bite size pieces to deepen your knowledge and keep it from getting boring as well. But one issue I find difficult is client building and marketing. I am very shy with strangers (despite being an extrovert) and it is hard for me to go to, say a party, and sell myself. I find it difficult to self motivate to keep a website running, put myself out there, etc. when I don’t have clients in the first place. Because there is no externally imposed schedule without (or minimal amount of) clients. I think if I had the structure of regular clients, maintaining the business would be much easier. But getting there is the challenge for me. I hear being self-employed is great for ADHD, but getting the business off the ground, for me, is the big challenge there.
Thank you for posting these videos stuart and being so open and honest. I find your experiences, feelings and outlooks resonate with me in quite a strangely similar way. I would have sat next to you on that swing im convinced of it. I am 44 and am currently going through the process of being diagnosed. It's all come to a head over the last few years and i need clarity and a solution to the way ive been feeling / always felt. Similar to you growing up and even now i feel different. Detatched. Almost like a visitor in my own life. Career wise for me i did get a degree and ive had multiple career changes. I was artistic at school, but took a science route. Then did marketing and decided i wanted to be a graphic designer. Never felt quite right in all of my jobs so at aged 38 i joined the police. Needless to say i still question my choices and never really felt like any of them were really the true 'me'. Best of luck in your career and future happiness, and diolch yn fawr i chi to you once again. 🙌
I’m in a job I like but I’m struggling to get up in the morning and go in. Feel so lazy but it’s like a mental block. Shouting at myself to get up and go in but I can’t physically move. 🤦🏼♀️
I've had a roller coaster experience of employment strictly as a result of my learning disabilities. I never thought my unorthodox methods would produce the amount of head-shaking and eye-rolling from management. Therefore, I did far better at my own jobs. I'm 55 and I'm still working towards working towards my career choice. Turns out, I'd probably be a good presenter of LD stories, attempts and challenges.
29, teacher in Taiwan. Great use of my task switching for dealing with kids in class, and Hyperfocus is great for Grading, Prep and Studying my materials. Biggest issue: Deadlines, Meetings, Tangents during Class, and un-engaging paperwork. Always an uphill battle on those fronts
recently diagnosed and found your channel the other day. thanks for sharing these videos! inspiring me to start a new channel to document my journey! subscribed.
I think I need to get diagnosed. I’ve lost my second job the other day and it’s put me in a terrible financial situation. Both loses have striking similarities despite the work being completely different. Every single assessment, every single doctors appointment, others with ADHD will all tell me that I have some form of ADD. Everything from the consistent burn out, the inability to follow through on certain things, feeling like I’m just slower than others at everything. It is all really beginning to weigh down on me and I’m starting to notice. I wish I had someone to turn to, but I’m the one responsible in my household. I don’t have anyone. I’m always told that I am a smart guy, but simply don’t apply myself. I wish they all knew how much I try to do just that.
Stuart, we are so much alike, man. It's like watching a better-spoken version of myself reporting from the future. Your vids are super helpful. Thank you and greetings from the US.
Teaching, Medical Careers, Military Careers, Emergency Services, Arts, Social Media (RUclips, Twitch), Computer Sciences, Professional Athletes, Acting, Marketing, all seem to be good for ADHD people. However everyone differs by job.
The problem with acting and profesional athlete is that it requires you to be at least one of best in the world which is very hard and usually the people that achieve it have a natural talent or have been doing it since they were kids.
I just now discovered your vids and am re watching them 2 years after you posted. Bcuz I just now discovered I have adhd. Just wanted to let u know you’ll always have new people who could use your videos
I was only very recently diagnosed, but about a year ago I finished a 3 year MBA program. I'm thankful I made it through the program because there were long stretches where I struggled to give it the attention it needed. This has always been the case for me with school so it wasn't all that unusual. I do wonder how much more I could have gotten out of it had I received my diagnosis before starting.
This video hits home so hard. It’s unbelievable how relatable this is and how I’m only now while I’m 30 on a waitlist to get diagnosed with add/adhd .. I’m happiest when I’m making things.. pretty things. But I’m stuck because I made the wrong choices back in my late teens/early twenties.. I will have to push through a couple of years before I can finally do what I want. I wanna have my own salon in nails, hair and makeup. But when you live on your own and don’t want to get a loan for that it’s a process to get all the funding there..
It's been really hard for me to even think of careers that I could do, being a chronically ill artist with ADHD, who grew up in a Trade Town. My town really pushed things like working at The Mill, becoming a carpenter, welder, mechanic, miner, or electrician. But... I couldn't be any of those. Even creative trades were not my style; architect, hairstylist, interior designer. For a while I considered hairstylist but the chronic illness said "No, your body can't handle that. Sucks to be you buddy." I ended up moving to the city and pursuing fx makeup art because I like makeup. I like casual and glam and avant-garde and body paint and full prosthetics. So yeah sure I could do that! But then I learn working in film is 15+ hour days.... Sometimes more... And it's very physical work. Body can't handle that. Then Covid-19 hit and we are still in quarantine. Over the past months I've started production on a webcomic with my roommate that we plan to make a source of income. And I do art commissions of my own as well. And I want to start designing lolita and Ouji fashions and making them custom fit as per customers measurements so that everyone can wear properly fitted fancy Lolita and Ouji and not just thin people. Sliding scale pricing because I too am poor and understand being poor. My mom got me a Serger for Christmas I just have to make money for muslin, thread, and proper fabric. And I've started on so many cosplays. So I've found a few things that work a lot better for me because I can do them from home, and use my many skills all the time, not just one.
Hi fellow ADHDers! Here are a few strategies that helped me (an inattentive type) succeed in school (kudos if you read through all of them): **Co-op**: Looking for co-op programs (which were available to me in both highschool and my bachelors degree at a college) were a great option. It got me credits toward graduating, as well as invaluable hands-on experience actually physically engaging me in my career path, thus helping with my attention and long-term focus. This may also mean that apprenticeship could be really great for ADHDers well! **College**: There is no rule that says you can't or shouldn't pursue university, but I perceive the styles of delivery and classroom atmosphere in colleges and universities as being very different. My experience with college (in Ontario, Canada) was that: my class sizes weren't bigger than 35, my professors were knowledgeable and very down-to-earth, and those factors greatly helped them be very engaged with my entire class, thus making the experience so immersive for me. Where I live, there are even some bachelors degrees that are offered at colleges these days, if that's what you so desire. **Living close to school**: I was fortunate enough to find good and safe housing close enough to campus that I could just walk (or run...) to classes. If you can afford it, residences are a good option as well, since they are typically on or close to campus. This meant I didn't have to remember to pay attention to a bus schedule, or fill up my gas tank the night before. **Independent Education Plan**: It hurts my heart to know that not everyone has access to this for one reason or another. After I was diagnosed, I was able to get an IEP. My IEP in highschool and college allowed me to take my tests alone without the distraction of other people around me, gave me the use of a computer for essay style questions, and also granted me time and a half to complete evaluations (sometimes I needed it, other times I didn't; depended on the subject and the day...). I had to remember to schedule them ahead of time in the testing center... but, this usually wasn't too big of an issue because I knew it was such a vital tool to my success. **Counselling**: When I struggled with common concurrent mood disorders, counselling did help me. You have to be open to it, and you have to find the right councilor; neither of which are always easy. I used the counselling resources at my college with moderate success. These days, there are also many resources online. There were also workshops available for organization and time management strategies. **Accountability**: If you can find and make friends in your courses, study with them to keep you accountable and make some of the more boring courses better. You can also try a technique called "body doubling," online or even with a roommate that may or may not be in your program. EDIT: Also, if the class is large, sit toward the front of it. You don't have to be front-row center or anything, but don't sit in the back, even if you don't inherently love the course. You will more likely be automatically engaged in what's being presented when your distracting classmates are behind you, and your prof can see you (paying attention, not daydreaming, of course...)
For those of you who have ADHD and enjoy technology do SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT/PROGRAMMING. I think it's one of the best jobs for those with ADHD. You are allowed to get into your zone and focus on one task. It's one of the very few jobs where being a perfectionist actually is important (though paralysis analysis can be bad). It's the perfect combination of logical structure and creativity, where there isn't just one solution to a problem.
agree, especially with our ability to hyperfocus. you hyperfocus yourself at the beginning of work day and by the time you focus-out, -it's the productive end of work hours.
@@duncanbugi've managed to find an 'applied' computer science degree, so there was significantly less maths. Otherwise find an IT degree that majors in software development. computer science and software development are related, but not the same. However, I will also say, that maths is a skill based subject, you just have to learn and practice it over and over. Much like programming. You can learn maths if you want to. I did, and I was poor at maths in high school
I enjoy coding alot, I wrote a few a few bots did a few websites with API PHP integration fun stuff never fished any of them. Computer science math looks like hell scared to death of failing being stuck with debt lmao. I may make a good coder but not a programmer.
Again..that's me. Myers-Briggs (INFP), career aptitude tests, lifelong amateur photographer (also on back burner until I can find a job (not retail) that fits and pays me well enough to be a foundation for creative work). Then I might even paint.. You are a very good speaker on these videos..easy to listen to, know how to speak well, know your subject (whether it's yourself or ADHD!)..and very helpful for those of us who have done a lot of the same searching but were perceived like there was something wrong with us!!
I have ADHD trauma and rejection sensitive dysphoria. in 2008 i lost my career and had burn out. i've flowndered to recreate myself for years. there are limitations to working for yourself and the structure of a JOB I FOUND VERY HELPFUL BUT. THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS. right now i have complicated grief so i can't even work. by the grace of God i got a bit of an inheritance but part of rebuilding from grief is finding a new purpose. i am struggling. i have always been creative but inspiration is Gone.
I was diagnosed at the age of 34 last yr. On a short career break at the mo' and back at work in a couple of months but believe it or not, I'm an accountant. Sounds boring I know, but the type of accounting I do is indirect tax accounting for international companies who move goods across Europe. Because of the nature of the businesses, there are always problems to solve for e.g. they might want to ship goods from UK to Germany via a different route than usual, so I would have to analyse the supply chain and determine the tax implications for that and report back on whether we can or cannot allow it. And if it's possible, I would need to liaise with our shipping and customs people to ensure they are on board with our requirements. I love this part of my job. But I also have to do boring tasks like file the same tax returns every single month and I cannot ef ing stand that! I'm a creative as well but only when I am in the mood. This is the problem with me. For example, imagine getting this channel from around 30subs -10k subs in about 8 months then abandoning it all. I'm also very good at DIY and as a woman, I have out DIYd all the males around me. Great at creating art with a pencil charcoal or pastels. I'm dreading going back to work and just wish I could do something creative and earn a good living off of it. Part of the reason why I find it hard to leave my profession is because it pays really well. The thought of being a struggling artist scares me! But I'm beginning to feel that I would rip my hair out if I stay a tax accountant for longer than a couple more years. Seriously need help!
I'm 41 and undiagnosed, but I check most the boxes on the DSM5 for inattentive presentation, and several online assessments point in that direction. I've been directionless most my life, tried so many jobs, been in about 20, but only fired twice. Then I found the RV technician trade, and I've been happy enough with that. It is seasonal, so I have been getting a few months off in the winter for rest and training, and the work is very different day-to-day, so I'm sure I would have gotten burned out sooner without that. Even still, I have just a bit more schooling to go through to get my full certification here in Canada, and I am fighting to remain engaged. In between, I hyperfocused on learning Swedish and deep dived into the language learning community, so I am tempted to learn how to teach learning languages. I wish I could just vibe in this career for a while, and I'll stick with it for as long as I can, but it's been 4 years now, the second longest I've been in any job, and I can feel the restlessness building.
It is as if you were in my head talking about how I feel. It took me a while to know what I want. Then I knew: actress. I became one and now I am giving it up because the struggle to keep up with neurological people is too high. 😵💫 It feel so strange having to give up a dream. I am also an art person but also crafty. I also figured out that I always wanted to learn something and never trust myself to just start working it but going to school for several years sucks the life, motivation and joy out of me. So eventually I start disliking what I used to love. So from now on I will only do short term courses and no more educations (I have to B.A.). I also know that I need to work alone (not in a team) but have several people working with me on the same project (to feel support), just not directly depending on me or me on them. So... not exactly a walk in the park withe me 🙄 Wish you good luck
I also am attracted to the arts. Is it an ADHD thing that you can take in a lot of data, hyper focus, multitask, etc., but then can NOT for the life of you figure out a way to organize, prioritize or process it for output? Most specifically writing. I stare and stare, and can't seem to make a connection on how to turn the data in my head into words that make sentences, that would string with an appropriate next sentence that would overall describe something, or build something. I can do it for stream of thought personal expression like this paragraph or a writing a letter, but an essay, report or story...it's like one big snarl or a thousand piece white puzzle. Is that ADHD?
I've struggled with writing essays too. One thing that did help me though is writing out my ideas on a blank piece of paper and then connecting those ideas in sentences to make them flow better.
I've been a beach lifeguard for 10 years. After a failed attemp at 20 to get a degree I want back in my mid 20's and ended up with a masters in neuro psychology. Could only do it because I loved it. Briefly lectured in a college, but I've come back to lifeguarding. I'm just not sure I could hack a career at a desk. This job is active and has some variation, I'm a lifelong surfer so enjoy being in the sea etc.
Similar trajectory here...Owner/operator of an enviro-friendly cleaning business that I enjoy, despite being understimulated intellectually. Currently contemplating a degree in Counselling (for personal interest and/or potential career path). I have to enjoy anything I put my time into
School was very hard for me because the curriculum required me to stay still and work on repetition. All my life up to my early 20's I was told what to do and how to do it, bit no why (context). One of my passion in life is simply to learn, but now I'm 23 yo and have still no idea for a career.... I'm just lost and don't know what to make out of it.
The key to finding the “right career” or at least the job you can hold, lies in Supply and demand. An oversimplified example: You can make the worlds best computer but if your town doesn’t have electricity, well then there’s no demand, thus no income. The question is, what skills can I develop so that I’m scratching that itch, and is there a strong enough demand that I can whether through good times and bad? (Cough) Pandemic (cough) To a certain extent work sucks, but another helpful thing is to be lucky enough to work with people that are fun, understanding, and above all, patient. Godspeed my fellow brains!
Update: It took me 7 years to find a career. Videography!
Are you working as freelancer or as an employee?
Just watched this video and it resonated with me in a way I wasn't expecting. I don't have any form of diagnosed ADHD, but I'm starting to question whether I have it.
My current position -
-I have an undergraduate degree in photography
-a masters in marketing
-working a dead end job whilst I try (often miserably) to figure out what I want.
I struggle to truly commit to any creative projects I undertake, and I can't seem to really pin down what I want to do. Factor that in alongside a totally washed job market and it's making me feel a bit stuck!
Sounds eerily familiar to the situation you were in, so thank you for this video. It really helped :)
I consider a bit like you in many many things... and surprisely, I like a lot editing videos, since more than 15 years, just for fun, something I thought to jump to this field, like filmmaker, the point I feel that I am not easygoing, and I like to do the things like I want... anyway I would like to know more about you nowadays because for me you are inspired and also I am still looking something fit for me (early 40s)
I can't even finish a degree because of boredom/Adhd
I can sympathise, I'm barely making it through mine! ruclips.net/video/G3VgvnIzoiY/видео.html
@Dave x Kaysha that's my problem...and I keep switching majors...I'm 36 and I've had probably about 12 majors in my life, ranging from Art to Physics lol
Dont even start with arts or anything with the word "studies" in its name
I managed to finish my masters finally, however it was hell. Naturally I’m creative it’s the only thing that holds me, web design, drawing, photography, image editing. And yes you are saying everything I think everyday.
@@dotunn that is awesome that you were able to finish it! I am in my late 30s and still have yet to conquer the Beast... I have enough credits to almost have a master's degree LOL, but they're all random. What were some of your techniques to actually hanging in there?
I am an estate agent, it’s perfect for me because I never have to concentrate, I make phone calls, send a few short emails, leave the office to show people houses - nothing that requires concentration and being in & out of the office on appointments breaks the day up and you get to see inside loads of beautiful houses. I don’t think I’d be able to do any other job because of studying/concentration.
I agree!!! After multiple unsatisfying careers I now drive a bus. ☺️ Its an office with a window and a constantly changing environment. Best decision I’ve ever made and stuck with! 😎
That sounds good, I love chatting with people. I could sell ice to eskimos lol
Sounds wonderful for you Natasha. But didn't you have to sit through lots of education to be where you are now? I mean, thats my issue and I'm 26 yo and just can't sit through university or any other educational platform, no matter what exciting job awaits me on the other side.
They are many professions that I think I would excel in as an ADHD, but they all require years of the same lectures, classes, deadlines, assignments and group projects. Even outside university or academy schools the education often concludes with a long, complex bachelor-style exam project. Today's world sucks....
@@Micharheins today's world does suck but we are better in this time than any other, back then they didn't even believe in adhd or add, so it wouldn't just been considered as an excuse compared to others for the way we are, my advice I found that recording the class and reviewing the recording on my own is best and rewriting my notes while listening helps alot soft meditational music helps while doing my homework or reading, and your environment is everything, find a place that doesn't distract you or keeps you in hyperfocus I find libraries and places where other people study keep me im the zone and when I lose track I just make sure to do a quick 2 to 3 min walk then back down
Did you go to college for that?
I'm a scientist. I got fired/quit from every job I tried until age 32 (e.g. teaching, sales, administrative). Luckily, at 32 I had an opportunity to go to graduate school for a part-time Master's degree where I could take 1-2 courses per semester but studied full-time to get good grades. It helped me work on a small exploratory project as a volunteer. It captured my attention... I would spend in the lab 10+ hours/day and discovered a new concept. For the next 7 years, in my Ph.D. and postdoc research projects, I developed this discovery further and expanded numerous applications. Now I'm 39... my projects received over $1.5 million in funding and over 45 awards... and I continue to make advancements in this new scientific area that I started. Pros: I enjoy doing creative work, on my own schedule, and promoting the work by public speaking. Cons: Not productive in my work, very slow in publishing the work, hard to manage people, time, prioritizing, etc. My health was severely compromised and was hospitalized 3 times in the span of 2 years, and ended up with a lifelong stress-related physical illness. Although, slower pace becoming successful in my profession. I have been in therapy for 2+ years and trying to get on medications to manage the pressure/demand of work so that I can move up the career ladder and manage personal relationships better.
Wow
I feel your pain. There are many of us in the same situation. The work-life dynamics are complicated. Finding sufficient and fulfilling recharge time is next to impossible.
I was going to ask about personal relationships. We’re you able to date or make/keep solid friendships through your career expansion?
I’m also considering academia since I can combine work and my passion (research/writing) but it seems very hard to do something that intense, focus on personal health/wellbeing, AND relationships. I’m almost at the point where, next to personal well-being and pursuit of passion, relationships take the last wrung so they are easy to side step but I know they are important. If I am not passionate about my job then they might even be fourth after a steady pay check….I’m not totally sure about that one
Wondering about your thoughts on this as someone who made it through the ringer.
What is your status now?
I'm 33 and have an existential crisis daily about this
Its sooooo comforting when you say your late twenties were the development of who you are! From time to time i cry because I feel guilty and it feels like ive wasted so much time, but now im learning to recognise each skill ive learned
I just turned 30 and found out I have ADHD and had no idea. I always thought my thoughts were different to others. Hearing you speak I identify immensely.
same! on my 30th birthday, my mum came to see me, and we were talking about my ADHD traits I think I have, and we were both yattering away at a million mph, like 'ME TOO! ..do you do/feel this? YES ME TOO!' turns out, it's highly likely she has it too haha! we've always been very similar, but also clash a lot. I think because she's 'on', when i'm 'off'
I was diagnosed at 40
I was diagnosed at 23
I was 32 and everything made sense. From getting in trouble at school for drawing, emotional outbursts, easily distracted, and being able to remember instructions at work.
40 yrs. young now and still don’t have an “established” career. Diagnosed at eight years old and have resented ADHD my whole life, to the point where I denied it being a real deficiency until I was about thirty and read about the symptoms of adult ADHD, which basically described my personality!
I’ve always provided well for my family by successfully finding something better. I’ve had to restart a couple times but always come out ahead.
That said, I still feel like a huge failure because I’ve tried college several times and only succeeded at obtaining a two-year web design certificate (via mega hyper-focus). I have never managed to get the bachelor’s degree. I don’t care that much about one but finding something better is growing increasingly difficult as so many places require that stupid piece of paper.
I am at a job that I detest, but it pays well. I also just plain hate working for someone else. I’ve always felt a deep burning desire to run my own business but have never been able to send my side hustles into high enough gear to replace my full time job.
I have two teenage kids and one preteen and yet here I sit, still feeling like a 23 year-old again without any solid direction in my life. Everything in my “career” path points back to ADHD.
I am truly a Jack of all trades and master of none, but I am far better than most who are masters of one! 😁 Problem is that it doesn’t sell. I see others in fields where I am somewhat skilled but I know that I don’t even come close to their level, despite others telling me how good I am at x, y, and z.
I’m suppose I am just ranting now. I am just so tired of not “fitting in” to this world. I want to find success and fulfillment in what I do, but I feel like I’m never quite enough because I just can’t quite do what the successful people do long enough for it to stick!
I digress. I very much enjoy your content and love witnessing your mind jumó around like mine does even as you present in your videos. Keep up the great work!
Your story is so weirdly parallel to mine it's creepy...
I can't fit into what my parents raised me to believe life was.
3rd student loan almost paid off over 21 years.....no further ahead.
Good luck with it. Hoping there's hope.
I really appreciate your rant. You described exactly the challenges I have been living with with ADHD. I know exactly how you feel. I am also a “Jack of all trades”. I am also 40 and I am sitting here knowing this is not where I want to be in 10 years. I beat myself up because not knowing what you want to do is normal at 20 years old but not 40. I should be in a career, I should be nearing retirement but here I am taking Career Tests and Personality Assessments just to get an idea what I might be good at and even like to do.
I feel like a failure, too. What makes it even harder is, there were some jobs I enjoyed doing but I live with a chronic illness that doesn’t allow me to do that type of work anymore, which makes looking for work having ADHD even more difficult.
I hate this. I really hate this.
oh brother, same here. i describe as good at all trades but expert of none. no degrees, but feel like kind of talented in many fields. give us an update
Same, I'm 45, with two kids (11 and 15). Was never diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms are all there. I got comfortable in a job for 10 years with no transferable skills. Was outsourced. Since then I've been taking contract/temp jobs that offer no benefits. Trying to reinvent myself by being a web developer, but no one is hiring. Or, I should say, not enough are hiring for me to get my foot in the door. Going without work for 3 years now. Very depressing.
Do you think having kids is helpful in motivating your success? ADD effects my boredom and motivation a lot. I work but - jeez am I bored! Don’t have kids though-
I'm a long distance truck driver . I enjoy the time on my own & I enjoy not having to work hard on thinking about doing different tastes , if that make sense . I can drive for 12 hours a day & let my mind go . But I'm still in control & am a safe driver & have my mind on the job . I try & educate myself by listening to a lot of different subjects on RUclips as I'm driving . I'm dyslexic as well as having ADHD . So studying & reading is nearly impossible for me . So at the age of 53 with very limited education , long distance truck drivering seems to be a perfect carrier for me . I try to keep life simple .
Thank you for your service!
Check out Stephanie Kelton book the deficit myth to understand the economy. Joseph campbell the power of myth. For mythology and spirituality
I also drive for a living. I enjoy the freedom and I am terrible working with people. I find I can drive for hours on end but it's like I'm daydreaming also. Does this happen to you? It's weird as it's as if it is natural to me
My biggest adhd struggle is that I cannot learn driving as I am very inattentive . I need some driving tips from you
I just read your comment, maybe you don't need the tip anymore or maybe someone else will find it helpful. What helped me learning how to drive was taking tons of online tests, where there would be a short question either to a picture or a short clip. Usually there were 3 possible answers. So even when I didn't know the correct answer, an explanation would pop up. I took those tests over and over again until I understood everything. It took me a few months, but it wasn't so boring, because it wasn't just plain teksts. Also coffee helped me to focus.
I’m in Med school, 2nd year finals week actually. It’s quite difficult, I’m constantly struggling but I try and push through it... I found out on my late teens/early adulthood, I’m still trying to find a way to live a balanced life with not much success... There’s still a lot of stigma, ignorance and toxic positivity which is incredibly negative for our mental health and evolution, it only hinders ourselves further... this is not a choice... I have a lovely family but they don’t believe this is a reality they have always seen it as an excuse... None of my parents actually supported my decision to pursue this career until recently, they often remind me there are easier ways... Find a purpose - I want to help people in anyway I can so they can have an easier life... Set a goal no one needs to see it just you, be consistent and hardworking, self loving and forgiving, allow yourself to have moments of chaos... Be resilient, it’s possible!
Rita Santos Brito I’m proud of you! All we can do is our best and that’s better than most. ❤️
I totally understand you, I'm also a medical student and it's so hard and overwhelming to get everything done. The worst part is when no one understands how difficult it is for us people with ADHD and they just think we aren't putting enough effort.
can you be a doctor is you have adhd ??
Hello @ritasantosbrito
I’m a 30 y/o doctor recently diagnosed with adhd
I struggled so much in med school and was misdiagnosed/blamed
I took my time with the degree and now am in a branch I like and pursuing specialisation :)
Use your strengths, they can pull you through
Also, here to help if you need any
@@nitishmishra4187 oh what specialty are you in?
I found myself in event management around 20 odd years ago. Changed my life. Event work is flat out and over very quickly, then it rolls into the next one. It fed every aspect of my ADHD. I become very successful very quickly. I’m now coming out the other end due to age. I now sit back and watch the young ADHD people come through with a huge smile as I know this will change their lives.
How does one get into event managment, Currently undiagnosed in the uk, But i've done Lorry Driving, Carpentry (ish haven't found an employer), Security, Prison Officer, werehousing, Contracting, I cant find a focus. i'm 28 it's driving me insane and I worry for my daughter and her upbrining.
How did you start out?
How were you able to organize everything? Event planning appeals to me but when it comes down to details and Timie lines, I get overwhelmed quite quickly.
@@aprilsworld9562 Agree. I was working in a big corporate as an event specialist and I constantly had to try to keep up with what people verbally said to me. It was so stressful cos I couldn't rely on my brain to remember them. I knew for sure that I was going to forget them right away despite the efforts that I WAS trying to write them down - there was still going to have things being left out from the note.
Crazy you mentioned this since I’m thinking of exploring event management or speaker bureau coordinator.
I'm 25 and I've just started investigating ADHD in adults, I always thought there was something "wrong"/different with me and couldn't put my finger on it. The more I investigate, the more I become aware of myself and convinced this is it, I've found the answer to the way that my mind works, it's scary but at the same time I'm so happy. What you describe about work and careers and passion is exactly how I've been feeling all my life. I'm so thankful for this video, can't wait to learn more about myself
Im 45 and went through many careers trying to find my place in this world. I now drive a bus and couldn’t be happier. You have to truly find/do what you love. You will get there just keep moving forward!
Its beautiful that I found this guy and dn tests to know i had most symptoms first i heard only kids cud get and i was liikee noo i k i have issues! Easy to anger, act immature and moaar! 24.
Same I just discovered it and I'm 25.I'm so glad to discover that I'm not the problem.
What job do you do as an ADHD person?
im struggling to finish watching one video and not click on the other recommended.
lol same here
hahahaha i have 6 tabs with different adhd topics open.
Lmao
Awaiting my diagnosis at 41 years old. Spent my entire life walking out of or being fired from so many unrelated jobs that thinking about it makes my head spin. It's only recently that I realised that I've been somewhat hyperfocused on health and nutrition for some years (now I know hyperfocus is a thing), and with all that I've learned from books and podcasts etc, i have an excellent knowledge base with which to help people. So i'm almost finished a health coaching qualification and will be starting my own business.
Learning that I have adhd halfway through my health coaching course hasn't been easy but its enabled me to learn how to work with my adhd brain, rather than trying to carry on and do things as a neurotypical person (which I of course now know I am not). Given how terribly I done at school (because of the undiagnosed adhd) I'm so happy that I've managed to get as far through my coaching course as I have. I hope when I receive my diagnosis that life gets a little easier.
I'm optimistic about the future for the first time in my life.
@Stoitism Your comment brought tears to my eyes because I so relate to this "Spent my entire life walking out of or being fired from so many unrelated jobs..." Between ADHD, health issues, and recurring depression, I'm terrified to try again because I never know if I'll be liked, grudgingly tolerated, or viewed with disgust and forced out. Starting then losing a job would disqualify me from my current insurance which feels literally unsafe to do. Life without optimism about one's ability to stay employed is ROUGH! Hope you're doing well! ❤
I’m 30 and was just diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. My ADHD must be fairly mild because I actually had no problems education. I’m a mechanical engineer but I’ve been procrastinating getting licensed because I’m afraid of the new responsibilities it will entail. Most of my problems focus on keeping my desk clean, losing important information and social dynamics.
just got diagnosed at 25. was a good student in primary and secondary school so my behaviours were never called into question. however i completely fell apart in university, commuting to a school i didn’t want to but had to because of financial reasons, not having structure, discipline, friends and a major i chose because of practicality since i had no idea what to do with my life at 18. tried going to a community college, same thing. so many failed attempts. and all peers i grew up with and studied with are ahead of me and successful and i feel like i’m in a bottomless pit, freefalling.
You’re saying everything that I think???? You know me so well!
Same here...
It’s so hard I’m 28 and every time I’m so certain I know what I want to do in life then I get bored then I change my mind then it’s a cycle I feel like I’m good at everything but can’t start or finish it .
I've only been diagnosed with ADHD very recently (few weeks ago, at the age of 28). I used to be a stonemason, when I was 18 I was selling granite tombstones and installing them on cemeteries. Web development has always been my hobby, though, so when I was 23 I decided to become a front-end developer (I didn't even know the name, lol). I managed to build a career, I actually got hired few weeks ago as a senior FE developer and now I'm a very fulfilled and happy profession-wise.
I sometimes wonder whether the ADHD that I've always had, but never knew about, was a helper or an obstacle. When you have ADHD and are very passionate about something, you basically become unstoppable with this one particular field. It's still super tough with different areas of my life, though, especially relations with peers and my family life. I'm turning 29 in two days, and I still mentally feel like I'm 17 at best.
Hey Patryk, it's so great to hear that you found something that you excel at. This is a career that I've been contemplating for a while but I get cold feet because I don't want to fail at yet another career. Do you mind if we can chat about your journey? I really do feel lost and would love some insight.
I'm 40 and I have struggled with inattentive add my whole life without knowing the cause until recently. Your videos have been such a blessing to me and to others so I want to thank you for taking the time to make these wonderful helpful videos, God bless.
I love knowing the world is filled with people just like me!
Me too!
I have to and I am now hyperfocusing on researching ADHD
im 38, same as me man, all the issues i've had especially at school now make sense
OMG dude! I’ve recently started taking the possibility seriously! I’m at a job now that requires a lot of attention to detail. I just started and I already hate it! Im a musician and could spend HOURS on one part of a song. But I have to constantly get up at work and walk around, because my thoughts wander constantly. That’s been an issue for me since childhood. Wow!
My career is gonna be a magician because I want to continue my father legacy
I'm going to be a magician because I've made all my friends disappear.
I lucked into my career! I got a job as a Buyer for a non-profit. I did not know what a Buyer did but it paid well! I was in that career for thirty years and ended up as a purchasing manager for a manufacturing plant. I loved it because I was constantly solving problems, never a dull moment phones ringing, people demanding, problem solving. I loved it, it was heaven! Now, I know why! Glory Hallelujah! I was great at it too! 😘
It took me 8 years to finish my degree. I was so confused. I had problems with indecision. And now that I have graduated. I am still as confused and undecided. ADHD is a murderous disorder.
I'm a lab tech at a treatment plant. Being a lab tech at a treatment plant can be very very very challenging! It needs fast lab test results. Working in solitude and this feeds my hyperfocus so much! I can zoned out and always forgetting my eating time! I got gastritis for that. But I love this sense of urgency. Makes me efficient!
And the best part is the processed water will be channeled to millions of people's homes. Everyday I feel like a novelty achievement!
Currently working on my Bachelor's in Elementary Education to help other students with ADHD, ADD and those struggling! It has most certainly posed its challenges and every day is a battle as I am sure it is for so many enduring this journey. I find the silver lining in what you expressed about pursuing opportunities to truly live who we are.
Do you host podcasts? Hope to hear most about your creative endeavors in future videos!
Your messages are very far reaching! Thank you!!
I’m a teacher for high schoolers, and YES- having ADHD has made me more empathetic to my students. Unfortunately, I get very bored sometimes because it seems like the school system is not designed to accommodate kids who need a lot of stimulative change. It may be different for elementary school though. Best wishes!
Although I haven't been officially diagnosed, my therapist brought my attention to the idea that she strongly believes I have adhd. Looking at my life through the lens of adhd over the past months, it all seems to make so much more sense- the time management, distractibility, intensity and depth of feeling, forgetfulness, etc etc etc.
So, I'm an elementary teacher, and I find the most difficult thing for me is time management. When I was teaching an older grade, I'd come home and spend six hours planning for the next day. Obviously, I burnt out so quickly and I literally felt that I would have to quit this career I loved because there's no way I could continue maintaining integrity in my position AND have a personal life. It was my first time teaching that grade and I was thrown into it in the middle of the year- it was so difficult and even by the end of the summer break my body and mind were still completely burnt out from stress. I felt that I needed quite a bit of guidance which I thankfully got a lot of from supportive colleagues and had to constantly allow myself room for repetition to actually internalize things and make them "make sense" in my mind. I often felt SO confused and completely lost when people verbally explained things to me- it's like they expected me to "get it" from an explanation but I had to see it and hear it in action to process it and conceptualize it deeply. It was a challenge and still is....I find it has always taken me ten times longer to do anything and plan anything compared to others. I end up with great results, but the amount of time I feel that I need, and that my brain legitimately needs, is not typical whatsoever (working on that!).
Anyways, I have had more experience with a younger age group, and this is the grade I now tend to gravitate to because I have the most experience there; however, my mind is still constantly scattered and on complete overdrive the moment I get there until the moment I leave, but, there is more spontaneous flow in organized chunks of the day and I feel like I have more permission to naturally follow the kids' interests and excitement and build on that. I think I benefit from this sense of "flow" even though I always thought I would do better with more structure and rigidity. So when you mention the multi-task oriented nature of work where you're always on your feet- that's definitely me. I'm also ALWAYS the last one to find out about things. That made me laugh. I don't know how many times I've panicked saying, "Oh, we have a staff meeting right now?" after a colleague asked if I was heading over only to realize that I did, in fact, write it on a sticky note as a reminder this morning but left it next to the full cup of tea I completely forgot about at 8am on the bookshelf I spontaneously wanted to reposition only to get distracted by a group of little ones knocking on the window waving hello wanting to show me their outdoor creation before morning entry. L O L. Literally laughing as I write this. These things used to embarrass me- now I try to embrace them and accept them as a part of who I am without judgement.
This has been a novel... I very rarely comment on anything but I'm so curious if there are any other teachers out there who are diagnosed. I really hope that everyone here can find what works for them and feel that they can capitalize on their innate talents in whatever they do. There's no right or wrong and our path doesn't have to be linear. Wishing you all the best
So do you think teaching is a good option for you? Also if you don't mind,kindly forward your mail id , I would like to get in touch with you. Facing the very same issues
I’m a recently diagnosed teacher. There is an ADHD teacher group on Facebook.
I never thought I was able to have someone understand what I’m going through. I never had the words to explain how I have felt in a very long time when it comes to careers. I’ve been in retail and it’s an industry where it has its pros and cons. However, I have a very poor attention to details and critical thinking but if you have a stronger sense in those too areas you can honestly rule the world.
man, i relate so hard to all of these videos. I’m having this problem at the moment, and i’m not even out of high school yet, but i have failed plenty classes. The main problem I have is that I’m too artistic/creative and I can’t time manage or do anything practical, meaning all of the careers that I would actually be good at and enjoy are highly competitive and/or wouldn’t be enough to live off of. I often legit wonder if i’m gonna end up living in a van trying to sell my paintings on a street corner
See the thing is... all careers are super competitive now. I was just like you when I left high school and really regret trying to do a “corporate easy” kind of degree. Maybe be an art teacher? There are jobs in companies like creative technologist that basically get paid to invent things. Web design is good too (very little math) or making video advertisements for agencies. You could also talk while you draw on RUclips for a living. Basically get creative about a creative career! It’s not as black and white as being in banking $$$ or selling paintings out of a van.
Dont give up bro
I understand you, I'm 4 years deep in an Accounting and Finance degree it's torture . I know I can't become an accountant, the detail and consistent focus are not ideal for me . And I get bored. I want to become a writer because I'm creative in that aspect but since it's competitive I think teaching English and writing on the side will be ideal for good income. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were lecturers at University and they found time to be creative and still get a decent constant stream of income. I think of them for inspiration in my case. Teach your craft and still pursue to be creative with it on the side
@@hlumelomkiva4806 i think we al are creators because that part of our Brain works te best. We al should do something creative. I struggeld all my life at school. I got diagnosted with dyslectia asswel but some how i managed to go on dont give up, take what ever it cost to finish school and even later a high school bachalor degree communication arts which im very proud of. It took so much of my mental health that i went true a burn out. Months of tension and fear. However i came back on track and worked on my low self esteem. And now im working outside ass a landscape gardener for 2 years now and that really did me good! No stress!. But at the moment im so bored at work IT even can het me down, and negative.... because Every dat is the same. So in looking for an other job for over An half year now without succes. Im struggeling with what carreer Path i should choose. My soul gave me and insight that i wanted to create. I had that qrge to create thinks. I like to create abstracte stuff. My soul was speaking to me! Al my life i did thinks that my parents and people around me asked my to do.. but most inportant is what do we want ourself. Im looking more at myself atm. So im thinking to start something in photo/videography because IT fits my studies.. in very good in creating visual thinks. I have al seeying eyes. And an eye for composition. But IT wil be a new Path for me, a Path where i do what i want.. my advice is to all of you follow your feeling and create your dreams! We have unique brains ans are really good in thinks asswell. Dont give up! Just play the game in the system in the creative way that fits you!
@@gicechicken7062 thank's, you enlightened me!
My son has just been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 37. He can’t keep a job for long and has now depressed and wishes he was never born. As a mum this breaks my heart. He’s my son and I love him with all of my heart.I really don’t know how to help him.
I have ADHD im a gate assist/wheelchair pusher at the air port. I push people in wheelchairs and get there bags i get payed to listen to people and tolk to people and i love it
Hahahaha im dieing sounds so funny but im happy for you.
Oh wow, what airport do you work at? How were you able to get the job?
Orlando airport VR helped me get the job
Wow great video and thanks for this! I'm also being diagnosed with ADD and I'm really searching for what job suits to me. I have a degree but the jobs I am getting with it are office jobs and it is the worst for people with ADD/ADHD. Your video helped me with searching in what will suit me the best. You are very good at explaining why things did not work for you en what does. Thanks!
This hit home HARD! I'm 21 and currently looking for a job. I didn't go to college, but I'm thinking about starting a course or some other form of education. This gives me so much hope!!
I've also done some soul searching and career planning in the last few years. My myers briggs type is INTJ. Turns out that INTJs are good at doing jobs that require them to use their minds for analysis and puzzle solving. Trouble is, because of ADHD I've never had a job that required me to use my mind. I've worked in trades(MISERY) and I've worked in sales and customer service (MISERY). But those aren't my strengths. I need to use my 'brain', but my brain is broken because of ADHD. The medication is helping and I'm trying to invest in health and exercise which also helps cognition. I am in school getting a business degree. Entering 3rd year with good grades, but school drives me crazy so I might be reducing my course load to find more balance and happiness, whatever that is.
Customer Service has to be one of the worst jobs for Intjs. Where can the Ni be used there when its all surface level, bland and monotonous?
what type of sales did you do? I have INTJ for my results as well, and I found B2B (business-to-business) sales to be quite rewarding in terms of problem-solving.
I think the dreamer aspects are the driving force behind thinking that trade skills, and "building site" type jobs are out of reach of creatives. I know lots of people who were creative as kids who have become scaffolders, decorators, carpenters etc.. there's actually a high degree of problem solving, and creativity involved in making objects with your hands, but is more suited to practical, grounded type personalities, while dreamers tend to visualize beyond practicality, and see their creativity as art, which then tends to manifest.
I latched onto computers and video games as a kid and tend to hyperfocus when learning about or working on computers. Unfortunately, I have hopped around a lot to various areas within IT so it has been hard to get really good at any one thing. But overall I've been pretty successful in my IT career. I am very good at analytical things such as computer forensics and scripting and also love building/creating things. I was also good with art as a kid. I have not been diagnosed with ADHD but very recently self-diagnosed. I am 34 years old and your videos and some others I found just blew my mind. My whole life and the struggles just made sense all of a sudden. It actually excited me to finally understand why I struggle with things so much. Thank you so much for your videos!
Im 27 and struggling to find passion in life. Im worried of working a job that I hate for the rest of my life. Somehow, chatgpt showed me the answer after inputting all my personality test results and what my usual hobbies are. The result is screenwriter and creative writer.
Thank you for your videos, they really help me. I think you're a very nice and authentic person and everyone would be lucky to be your friend. Sometimes I feel like such a failure because of my ADD, but when I look at you having ADD and being such a valuable person, I feel much better about myself too :)
I'm stuck in a dead-end factory job, which is semi-varied and fairly straight-forward, yet my mistake-prone nature means lots of costly issues and disciplinaries. It can be really embarassing.
Making music, or writing weird fiction can be engrossing for me, but I end up thinking about my music or stories too much while at work (to distract me from the monotony of the job), and by the time I'm home I feel as though I've been working on them enough already.
Going vegan, taking up mountain-biking as a commuter option, and now meditating, have all had profound effects on both my mental and physical health in recent years, the latter of which I've only just discovered.
TRIPP VR for the PS4 is a meditation experience, and it has changed my life. The constant cacophony of ranting voices in my head have been silenced, and I'm becoming far more in-the-moment, while the anger-management issues have completely vanished.
No other attempt at meditation has worked for me, yet whether or not because of the visuals, this had an immediate and noticeable effect.
So, my life's not ALL bad :-)
Thanks for the vid, which is helpful and informative, as always.
Mr Green are you INFP?
@@annv6781 I've no idea what I am anymore.
'Scottish' is as identifiable as I can be just now.
How about you?
I tested as an INFJ a couple of years ago, but through a combination of huge self-esteem boosts and exponential social awareness development, I've become the kind of person I used to wish I could be (I realise how this sounds, believe me).
I'm just as introverted as always when I'm on my own and engrossed/obsessed with whatever is 'focus-of-the-week', but now, when I'm in social settings I'm completely comfortable and a lot of fun to be around, or so they tell me.
I don't seem to have become too much of an annoying cunt, either, but again this is mere hearsay.
If I can offer a tip to anyone who might have use for it - A good way to overcome social anxiety is to try to vocally amuse yourself whilst alone.
Comment out loud if you think of anything spontaneously funny to say in reaction to something throughout the day. Do this as often as you can.
Imagine that you're starring in your own film, and you want to be entertaining.
If you repeat this process enough you'll start to make yourself laugh, and also become more comfortable with instigating humour.
Translate this into everyday life and you'll never look back.
Good luck!
I jumped around to 4 different undergrad programs before I finished my degree. After learning I had ADHD (inattentive) I got a teaching credential to work with kids who were like me, and then eventually went to grad school to become a school psychologist. Like you, details frustrate me - making school psych an odd choice, but it plays to my strengths with report writing. I wish I were more interested in the counseling aspects, but, on the whole, I easily recommend it to anyone who is a creative thinker and is interested in neurology, cognition & some diagnostics (it sounds more pretentious than it actually is).
Thanks for the great info
At 45 I’m still kinda struggling with what I’d be good at . Besides having ADHD I’m dyslexic and because of the time I grew up the dyslexia went undiagnosed until I was in my 40’s
I'm 38, and have probably had the same number of jobs as my age or so.
Jobs keep on not working out for me because they're either exploitative (like 96 hour work weeks caregiving), they are not a good fit for me (not what I was expecting or I'm not a good fit for the culture/personality/that specific kind of work), or I have a strong personality conflict with someone. Over the last several years I've just been looking for some darn stability so that I can work on getting rid of many of my possessions so that I can be free to make more choices and work on my other goals (like hopefully traveling and teaching English abroad before going back to school).
I'm honestly so frustrated at this point and I truly don't know what to do. I decided to take a part time job with an employment agency and have been meeting with career counselors at a local college and university. But I'm absolutely terrified of going back to school. The jobs I'm most interested in (like the sciences) require a lot more dedication than the work I thought I wanted to do. Also, what if I wind up in a career that doesn't work out for some reason like so many other jobs I've tried?
I'm working with a therapist, a psychiatrist, an ADHD coach, and I even have a case manager. I'm really trying to do the work and figure this out, but there's a part of me that wonders if I just don't belong in this society.
Hey I appreciate your comment. I heavily relate.
@@matthewneillmusicThanks, and I hope you find your way. I actually applied and got accepted to go back to university. Now I have to get back to applying for scholarships. Best of luck!
ADHD mechanic. I literally have 4 other technicians that work with me that all have adhd.
I have been an accountant for 11 years now and have hated pretty much every moment of it. I just got diagnosed earlier this year and through all my research just to figure out how & why my brain works the way it does, I've come to realize that I have an incredibly creative and bizzare mind. Sitting in front of an excel spreadsheet for 10 hours a day has completely eaten away my soul. I would LOVE a career change, I just don't know what else I'm good at. This is all I've ever done 😔
Check out your Mbti type As well as your Holland Career Code. Might provide some useful breadcrumbs.
This video choked me up. After years of being in IT as a support tech, with 3 dismissals and numerous performance reviews. I decide a few months ago to make a massive career change that compliments my innate skills. If anyone is doing what I did, STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Make a strategic change. Stuart is so right in what he said here. Thanks for this video mate.
Im sorry stop what right there? Couldn’t quite understand what you were trying to say
Well, do you have any ideas what career to change to?
@@toni2309 I do, I have some ideas and I'm wary of them being fleeting ideas or distractions. My main focus is on finding a way to work for myself, becoming the master of myself and my own ADHD, if you will. Capitalising on what I'm already really good at and keeps my focus. Its the one idea that has stuck in my mind for 3-4 months. I have a few theories why It's still on my mind considering and assuming most of us here have ADHD. Ultimately it would be a little long to explain, but I would be happy to share my thoughts.
A good friend and therapist told me this recently: Don’t do what you love for a career, it's bad advise. Do it because you want financial freedom to responsibly live life on your own terms.
@@mingakinsgibayuxds7542 I just read that too line too. haha. What I meant is, following a career that has all the environmental factors against you. Sure there are ways to mitigate or work around them, and that depends on the flexibility of the career. If the career system is too rigid like in most corporations, that has a lack of originality, find something else. It's going to kill the spirit, which leads to even greater tangible losses... People you love is one.
I feel this I’m in a similar role and with my ADHD it’s very boring and cannot stay focused at all I so agree wouldn’t recommend a job that isn’t ADHD friendly
Hearing you is like hearing myself. Thank you for making this video.
I'm studying music at the moment and I find it really hard when we have to do assignment work. It's a tricky balance that is hard to perfect when you have ADHD...
I also have huge trouble following through and actually bloody finish something for once.
I feel you. Forcing myself to go to the library to do a Dissertation is painful, but I have NO choice or else I'll leave it to the last minute and likely fail! Good Luck.
I studied music too - a difficult but rewarding major! 20 years later, I remember my university days with great fondness. And, yeah, the assignments, especially theory, were a real pain in the ass. But you've got to admit higher-level theory is fascinating, anyway... I'm proud that I did get through with my BA - it's a struggle for us ADDers, but it's possible!!
I studied music tech almost 15 years ago, and absolutely the assignments were the worst. It's not a lack of ability, it's just that lack of ability to finish something! Make a schedule and stick to it. If you self-impose deadlines it can become easier, but you have to be disciplined. Self-flagellation of some sort if you don't meet your own deadlines, and rewards if you do.
I just finished architecture.It was hard and always very demanding,which helped me to work,because I felt guilty or competitive enough to finish what I had started. Because it was 6years, I didn t have to think what I had to do with my life, I was always busy because of the rush and the side job. I was always delieverd my project the last from my class, but IT was pretty detail oriented, as much details some time I didn t see the overall picture anymore or I had alredy forgot the documentation part from the begining. I tend to stay near harsh people/proffesors who demanded a lot so my hate of not being good enough, helped me finish, working many many nights. It was never enough for me and I strugled to stay on one task and one idea.I am proud I finished, but I am somehow scared of what will come and adjusting to working in specific hours with other people. I hope now, that I finally descovered I have ADHD, I will be more selfconscious.
I’ve dabbled in MANY things too. Music and songwriting are my hyper focus but never figured out how to make enough money with it. So now I’m still teaching Music, English and French online part-time but supplementing that with part-time window cleaning (of all things). The learning curve for the latter has been très difficile but my boss has been patient (thank heaven). And I love working outdoors and the physicality of the job. In order to do it better I feel obligated to work-out 😂. Plus I do social media posts for the window cleaning business. That is CREATIVE and I love it! So I that’s what’s working for me right now. Thank you for your videos. Please continue. They are so needed.
I get bored easily in school although now that I'm older I love to do extensive research it's fun but idk it's only with things that interest me like astrology but that's not practical lol I do like psychology but idk why am.i even writing all of this to you
cause you feel a connection. I had the same thought on the last video of him.
I’m the same. Like I know people shit on astrology but once you get into reading natal charts and synastry... it was a hyperfixation of mine a few months ago lol
You hit the nail on the head my friend or as my ADHD brain would say “you drove it at straight through the board till it splintered” 😂
I recently finished Computing. Last year I started Game Design and Development. I think this matches me well, I am a creative person, full of ideas, I like mathematics, drawing and computer graphics. I think it could be a good career path for many people with ADHD because there are many creative professions related to Game Development and I think Games are future, we actually may be in one(simulation theory). I did MBTI as well and get INTP, we like games a lot:)
looking back, i wish i did Digital arts or games design, but i did go back to do web design so its a reasonable compromise
@@dotunn I think it is a good idea, it is a much quicker and easier way to earn the money. However I think games are future and in some way maybe we all going to end up in kind of Matrix (I consider it as a game;)). Maybe we already in a Matrix (Simulation theory).
i'm on a same path. learned 3d modelling,texturing and animation. then programming. but missed out on drawing so i can't design shit. now i spend ~3 hours daily in drawing practice. go forward, with a turtle steps. you have no idea how lucky you are that you draw. one can learn any gaming skill in decent time period; -but not drawing. illustrative design and concept art are skills of a lifetime. one needs to start early in life, in order to arm oneself by this skill. ADHD Suxxx.
Although this video is a year old I want to answer the last question.
I have ADHD, undiagnosed until I was 25, and I'm a programmer. I did an apprenticeship which was quite hard for me, especially because I needed to go to school some days and it was hard for me to understand all the new processes of developement.
But I finished the apprenticeship and got a job as a real programmer in the same company which I am very happy about.
I feel there is something intuitive about ADHD which is very useful for writing good code. You are probably used to seeing strategies that other people don't.
Overly cluttered code makes you repulsed and rightly so, because it's a useless waste of time and processing power.
So if anyone who reads this isn't sure what to get into I can definitely recommend programming, especially if you were interested in it, or have experience with it already.
Also many companies let you come in any time you want, so you won't have as much trouble coming to work on time, because there is no specific time to come.
It's still a difficult job for me, especially when I have tasks, that are plain boring and don't give me anything in return.
But for me it's like making music or painting, because you paint with your own individual paint brush and your code will be individual.
All the best to everyone who chooses this path aswell and everyone else.
is it C++ or web programming that you do?
@@al-oh8fq C# actually. Started with C++, though.
@@MrMasterKaio if work boredom hurts you try to push yourself towards microelectronic firmware development. it's pure C but you will be messing with many different aspects of the design (pcb,microchip programming, enclosure design) and it will be much more entertaining. from development stage to stage, working software will be changing constantly and it's more fun this way.
Interesting, I started off as a web developer and I was really bored after only four months of having to pull tickets to change fonts, add pictures and fix bugs on websites. I found writing and multimedia to be something better for me.
You just mntioned my life... I also have photography on the back seat. I did graphic design and im doing it again now 12 years later but now with more passion, more stability and clarity. Ive been bouncing from different areas and it took me a lot of patience and inner work to accept and focus on one thing. Even though I still struggle doing tasks! Btw.. i still plan to go for psychology in the future. Creating, taking pictures and studying human behavior make my soul sing
Your comment just changed my life, i was always interested in psychology and didn’t know why. I took up photography because I loved capturing the human experience. Studying human behaviour seriously lights my soul on fire and is something I’m always coming back to. THANK YOU!!
Great video my career has been in sales , it has to be a product a like .And then we hyper focus on closing the deal for adhd this works amazing
yeah sales is perfect for me too. Always trying to think of new ways to close on the day... I've been very successful at it as well.
I've been sculpting for the last 5 years. It has been fun but even then I find myself getting a little board of it and forcing myself to finish projects. I really want to start oil painting again so that might be my next career, even though I've got alot of customers to get through with sculpting.
Awesome, sculpting with what exactly? Are you a freelancer or work for a company?
@@ADHDMastery freelancing, I sculpt Swords and shields out of foam for a LARP I participate in. Get paid by the commission
After a couple decades :P .. of careful consideration about what I should do with my life, I finally landed on, that something artistic + mostly solitary + self-employed would all in all be the best for me.
I started oil painting and quickly became somewhat decent at it, if I say so myself. However!.. my hyperfocus mode sets in when I get a new idea or try a new style of painting, and that works super bad with becoming a professional artist I think. Cause you kiiinda need to stick to one style and get known for that "look".. or at least do medium sized series.
Not saying there aren't potentially any workarounds - just saying that so far I have painted 1½ paintings of my first actual series, got super bored and haven't painted at all for like 8 months :P
I am working in IT Service Desk. I was taking calls so work was "pushed" on me and I had no possibility to procrastinate. Lately I moved to handling escalation emails. This work requires attention for short time, if I stop I can always start again. It is mostly replying to emails and forwarding them. Small tasks. I also work from home so can take break, walk around my place, also when I got distracted no-one from the team really notices since we communicate on chat. Work in big company means your responsibilities and tasks are clear and repetitive and mosty it is work with data not people and this is what I like.
This makes so much sense. Thanks for your videos, you’re very easy to listen to.
I'm dealing with this myself right now. 28 and just now being able to hold a job without issues, I have down time now too so I can work on photography, skill up here on RUclips just like you, and earn more knowledge and credentials for work.
This makes me so happy to see! What is it that you do?
@@duncanbug I am an insurance agent now. I just started my agency about 6 months ago.
I know this is an "old" video to comment on, but I am 44 years old and in LE. I was JUST diagnosed with ADHD. So interesting fact about being a cop is that you will be stimulated often, and I think that is why I excelled. BUT! For the past 12 years I have been a watch commander/shift supervisor/office troll and had real trouble staying on task, which is what led me to my diagnosis. Apparently a lot of ADHD folks are drawn to jobs that keep you on your toes for good reason. Problem becomes when you move up and it gets harder to focus on the mundane. Medication helps a ton, but man do I wish this had been caught when I was younger.
Believe it or not, there are many creative people in the trades. The work is great exercise for the conscientious side of us that may need some balancing out with the creative side, I have found that after being conscientious all day, my creativity flows like a raging river when the work day is done.
You just described me. This sounds like autism. I was diagnosed autistic a couple of years ago and you just described my main struggles.
In my twenties I did a four year degree in acupuncture, but maintaining enough focus to get through four years of academia burnt me out so hard that I literally cannot bring myself to trying to work in the field of acupuncture. I know how difficult academia is for my brain, even though I tend to get really good grades, and this year I was given a scholarship and the opportunity to do an honours year in a subject entirely different from my undergraduate. Half way through the year and again, I'm getting great grades but it is a damn struggle to continually have to relight the fires of interest enough for me to finish what I need to do. With every opportunity to do a Masters next year with full scholarship, I think I'm going to have to say no.
On the bright side, today I got a phone call, I have been shortlisted for a role as 'underwater biosecurity technician' - basically, weeding the ocean. Full dive training included including scientific diving training, and the job is week on, week off on a boat in a remote sounds in the bottom of the country (New Zealand). Pulling out an invasive seaweed species. I love being in and working outdoors as the modern world is difficult for me to process. I have my fingers crossed!
I think it will be especially great due to the week on week off nature of it - one out of two weeks to do whatever I want with my life will allow me to hyper focus in short bursts on the side hustles I want to work in - namely freelance writing and illustrating.
I've decided recently to embrace the diversity of where my brain leads me. I'm never going to be able to follow the normal, linear pathway that most people seem to do, and I have to be OK with that.
As my dad said to me - "fitting into society has never worked for you before. Why bother trying now?"
My Concerta 52mg has allowed my 141 IQ finally do ANYTHING that grasps my interest even in something Ive never done before. Age 40.
A-levels, Media degree, PGDE, just turned 40 and still no idea what I want to do when I grow up.
10-15 years of dead end jobs. Done the MBTI etc still no idea what I can do for work and how I’m going to get into it.
I am a 39 year old software engineer who was diagnosed last week. I feel my career is not going anywhere and I finally discovered the reason last week.
Two BAs followed by two masters I dropped out of. I loved the subject, I really wanted to become a professor. But I hate writing on demand. I am actually fine with reading on demand because I love reading. Anyway, one massage therapy licensing program degree later, I enjoy that. It combines art and science and is physical. There is endless continuing education you can take in bite size pieces to deepen your knowledge and keep it from getting boring as well. But one issue I find difficult is client building and marketing. I am very shy with strangers (despite being an extrovert) and it is hard for me to go to, say a party, and sell myself. I find it difficult to self motivate to keep a website running, put myself out there, etc. when I don’t have clients in the first place. Because there is no externally imposed schedule without (or minimal amount of) clients. I think if I had the structure of regular clients, maintaining the business would be much easier. But getting there is the challenge for me. I hear being self-employed is great for ADHD, but getting the business off the ground, for me, is the big challenge there.
Heavy adhd over here and studying for paramedic work it’s not as tedious as other things I’ve studied and couldn’t complete 😬
OMG... You are like my alter ego. Everything that you said totally fits me. Unbelievable
Thank you for wording it out the way you did! U just described my life's dilemma. May the odds be with us 😅
Thank you for posting these videos stuart and being so open and honest.
I find your experiences, feelings and outlooks resonate with me in quite a strangely similar way. I would have sat next to you on that swing im convinced of it.
I am 44 and am currently going through the process of being diagnosed. It's all come to a head over the last few years and i need clarity and a solution to the way ive been feeling / always felt.
Similar to you growing up and even now i feel different. Detatched. Almost like a visitor in my own life.
Career wise for me i did get a degree and ive had multiple career changes. I was artistic at school, but took a science route. Then did marketing and decided i wanted to be a graphic designer. Never felt quite right in all of my jobs so at aged 38 i joined the police.
Needless to say i still question my choices and never really felt like any of them were really the true 'me'.
Best of luck in your career and future happiness, and diolch yn fawr i chi to you once again. 🙌
I’m in a job I like but I’m struggling to get up in the morning and go in. Feel so lazy but it’s like a mental block. Shouting at myself to get up and go in but I can’t physically move. 🤦🏼♀️
I've had a roller coaster experience of employment strictly as a result of my learning disabilities. I never thought my unorthodox methods would produce the amount of head-shaking and eye-rolling from management. Therefore, I did far better at my own jobs. I'm 55 and I'm still working towards working towards my career choice. Turns out, I'd probably be a good presenter of LD stories, attempts and challenges.
29, teacher in Taiwan. Great use of my task switching for dealing with kids in class, and Hyperfocus is great for Grading, Prep and Studying my materials.
Biggest issue: Deadlines, Meetings, Tangents during Class, and un-engaging paperwork. Always an uphill battle on those fronts
Thank you very much for sharing your story. The story sounds way too familiar for me as if you’ve known me for a long time.
recently diagnosed and found your channel the other day. thanks for sharing these videos! inspiring me to start a new channel to document my journey! subscribed.
I think I need to get diagnosed. I’ve lost my second job the other day and it’s put me in a terrible financial situation. Both loses have striking similarities despite the work being completely different. Every single assessment, every single doctors appointment, others with ADHD will all tell me that I have some form of ADD. Everything from the consistent burn out, the inability to follow through on certain things, feeling like I’m just slower than others at everything. It is all really beginning to weigh down on me and I’m starting to notice. I wish I had someone to turn to, but I’m the one responsible in my household. I don’t have anyone. I’m always told that I am a smart guy, but simply don’t apply myself. I wish they all knew how much I try to do just that.
Stuart, we are so much alike, man. It's like watching a better-spoken version of myself reporting from the future.
Your vids are super helpful. Thank you and greetings from the US.
Teaching, Medical Careers, Military Careers, Emergency Services, Arts, Social Media (RUclips, Twitch), Computer Sciences, Professional Athletes, Acting, Marketing, all seem to be good for ADHD people. However everyone differs by job.
The problem with acting and profesional athlete is that it requires you to be at least one of best in the world which is very hard and usually the people that achieve it have a natural talent or have been doing it since they were kids.
Teaching doesn't work very well for me. Too much stimulation in the classroom :(
I just now discovered your vids and am re watching them 2 years after you posted. Bcuz I just now discovered I have adhd. Just wanted to let u know you’ll always have new people who could use your videos
I was only very recently diagnosed, but about a year ago I finished a 3 year MBA program. I'm thankful I made it through the program because there were long stretches where I struggled to give it the attention it needed. This has always been the case for me with school so it wasn't all that unusual. I do wonder how much more I could have gotten out of it had I received my diagnosis before starting.
This video hits home so hard. It’s unbelievable how relatable this is and how I’m only now while I’m 30 on a waitlist to get diagnosed with add/adhd .. I’m happiest when I’m making things.. pretty things. But I’m stuck because I made the wrong choices back in my late teens/early twenties.. I will have to push through a couple of years before I can finally do what I want. I wanna have my own salon in nails, hair and makeup. But when you live on your own and don’t want to get a loan for that it’s a process to get all the funding there..
It's been really hard for me to even think of careers that I could do, being a chronically ill artist with ADHD, who grew up in a Trade Town. My town really pushed things like working at The Mill, becoming a carpenter, welder, mechanic, miner, or electrician. But... I couldn't be any of those. Even creative trades were not my style; architect, hairstylist, interior designer. For a while I considered hairstylist but the chronic illness said "No, your body can't handle that. Sucks to be you buddy."
I ended up moving to the city and pursuing fx makeup art because I like makeup. I like casual and glam and avant-garde and body paint and full prosthetics. So yeah sure I could do that! But then I learn working in film is 15+ hour days.... Sometimes more... And it's very physical work. Body can't handle that.
Then Covid-19 hit and we are still in quarantine. Over the past months I've started production on a webcomic with my roommate that we plan to make a source of income. And I do art commissions of my own as well. And I want to start designing lolita and Ouji fashions and making them custom fit as per customers measurements so that everyone can wear properly fitted fancy Lolita and Ouji and not just thin people. Sliding scale pricing because I too am poor and understand being poor. My mom got me a Serger for Christmas I just have to make money for muslin, thread, and proper fabric. And I've started on so many cosplays. So I've found a few things that work a lot better for me because I can do them from home, and use my many skills all the time, not just one.
Hi fellow ADHDers! Here are a few strategies that helped me (an inattentive type) succeed in school (kudos if you read through all of them):
**Co-op**: Looking for co-op programs (which were available to me in both highschool and my bachelors degree at a college) were a great option. It got me credits toward graduating, as well as invaluable hands-on experience actually physically engaging me in my career path, thus helping with my attention and long-term focus. This may also mean that apprenticeship could be really great for ADHDers well!
**College**: There is no rule that says you can't or shouldn't pursue university, but I perceive the styles of delivery and classroom atmosphere in colleges and universities as being very different. My experience with college (in Ontario, Canada) was that: my class sizes weren't bigger than 35, my professors were knowledgeable and very down-to-earth, and those factors greatly helped them be very engaged with my entire class, thus making the experience so immersive for me. Where I live, there are even some bachelors degrees that are offered at colleges these days, if that's what you so desire.
**Living close to school**: I was fortunate enough to find good and safe housing close enough to campus that I could just walk (or run...) to classes. If you can afford it, residences are a good option as well, since they are typically on or close to campus. This meant I didn't have to remember to pay attention to a bus schedule, or fill up my gas tank the night before.
**Independent Education Plan**: It hurts my heart to know that not everyone has access to this for one reason or another. After I was diagnosed, I was able to get an IEP. My IEP in highschool and college allowed me to take my tests alone without the distraction of other people around me, gave me the use of a computer for essay style questions, and also granted me time and a half to complete evaluations (sometimes I needed it, other times I didn't; depended on the subject and the day...). I had to remember to schedule them ahead of time in the testing center... but, this usually wasn't too big of an issue because I knew it was such a vital tool to my success.
**Counselling**: When I struggled with common concurrent mood disorders, counselling did help me. You have to be open to it, and you have to find the right councilor; neither of which are always easy. I used the counselling resources at my college with moderate success. These days, there are also many resources online. There were also workshops available for organization and time management strategies.
**Accountability**: If you can find and make friends in your courses, study with them to keep you accountable and make some of the more boring courses better. You can also try a technique called "body doubling," online or even with a roommate that may or may not be in your program.
EDIT: Also, if the class is large, sit toward the front of it. You don't have to be front-row center or anything, but don't sit in the back, even if you don't inherently love the course. You will more likely be automatically engaged in what's being presented when your distracting classmates are behind you, and your prof can see you (paying attention, not daydreaming, of course...)
I’m a middle school teacher, but I found when I was with pre-k and kindergarten students my mind was always occupied, due to their energy.
For those of you who have ADHD and enjoy technology do SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT/PROGRAMMING. I think it's one of the best jobs for those with ADHD. You are allowed to get into your zone and focus on one task. It's one of the very few jobs where being a perfectionist actually is important (though paralysis analysis can be bad). It's the perfect combination of logical structure and creativity, where there isn't just one solution to a problem.
agree, especially with our ability to hyperfocus. you hyperfocus yourself at the beginning of work day and by the time you focus-out, -it's the productive end of work hours.
I might do a coding bootcamp but math is my worst subject. So I don’t think I’ll be able to finish a compsci degree.
@@duncanbug coding and math have very few in common
@@duncanbugi've managed to find an 'applied' computer science degree, so there was significantly less maths. Otherwise find an IT degree that majors in software development. computer science and software development are related, but not the same. However, I will also say, that maths is a skill based subject, you just have to learn and practice it over and over. Much like programming. You can learn maths if you want to. I did, and I was poor at maths in high school
I enjoy coding alot, I wrote a few a few bots did a few websites with API PHP integration fun stuff never fished any of them.
Computer science math looks like hell scared to death of failing being stuck with debt lmao.
I may make a good coder but not a programmer.
Again..that's me. Myers-Briggs (INFP), career aptitude tests, lifelong amateur photographer (also on back burner until I can find a job (not retail) that fits and pays me well enough to be a foundation for creative work). Then I might even paint..
You are a very good speaker on these videos..easy to listen to, know how to speak well, know your subject (whether it's yourself or ADHD!)..and very helpful for those of us who have done a lot of the same searching but were perceived like there was something wrong with us!!
I have ADHD trauma and rejection sensitive dysphoria. in 2008 i lost my career and had burn out. i've flowndered to recreate myself for years. there are limitations to working for yourself and the structure of a JOB I FOUND VERY HELPFUL BUT. THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS. right now i have complicated grief so i can't even work. by the grace of God i got a bit of an inheritance but part of rebuilding from grief is finding a new purpose. i am struggling. i have always been creative but inspiration is Gone.
Its almost 5 am and was about to sleep but I really need a job that worls with me
I was diagnosed at the age of 34 last yr. On a short career break at the mo' and back at work in a couple of months but believe it or not, I'm an accountant. Sounds boring I know, but the type of accounting I do is indirect tax accounting for international companies who move goods across Europe. Because of the nature of the businesses, there are always problems to solve for e.g. they might want to ship goods from UK to Germany via a different route than usual, so I would have to analyse the supply chain and determine the tax implications for that and report back on whether we can or cannot allow it. And if it's possible, I would need to liaise with our shipping and customs people to ensure they are on board with our requirements. I love this part of my job.
But I also have to do boring tasks like file the same tax returns every single month and I cannot ef ing stand that! I'm a creative as well but only when I am in the mood. This is the problem with me. For example, imagine getting this channel from around 30subs -10k subs in about 8 months then abandoning it all. I'm also very good at DIY and as a woman, I have out DIYd all the males around me. Great at creating art with a pencil charcoal or pastels. I'm dreading going back to work and just wish I could do something creative and earn a good living off of it. Part of the reason why I find it hard to leave my profession is because it pays really well. The thought of being a struggling artist scares me! But I'm beginning to feel that I would rip my hair out if I stay a tax accountant for longer than a couple more years. Seriously need help!
I'm 41 and undiagnosed, but I check most the boxes on the DSM5 for inattentive presentation, and several online assessments point in that direction.
I've been directionless most my life, tried so many jobs, been in about 20, but only fired twice. Then I found the RV technician trade, and I've been happy enough with that. It is seasonal, so I have been getting a few months off in the winter for rest and training, and the work is very different day-to-day, so I'm sure I would have gotten burned out sooner without that. Even still, I have just a bit more schooling to go through to get my full certification here in Canada, and I am fighting to remain engaged.
In between, I hyperfocused on learning Swedish and deep dived into the language learning community, so I am tempted to learn how to teach learning languages.
I wish I could just vibe in this career for a while, and I'll stick with it for as long as I can, but it's been 4 years now, the second longest I've been in any job, and I can feel the restlessness building.
It is as if you were in my head talking about how I feel. It took me a while to know what I want. Then I knew: actress. I became one and now I am giving it up because the struggle to keep up with neurological people is too high. 😵💫 It feel so strange having to give up a dream. I am also an art person but also crafty. I also figured out that I always wanted to learn something and never trust myself to just start working it but going to school for several years sucks the life, motivation and joy out of me. So eventually I start disliking what I used to love. So from now on I will only do short term courses and no more educations (I have to B.A.). I also know that I need to work alone (not in a team) but have several people working with me on the same project (to feel support), just not directly depending on me or me on them. So... not exactly a walk in the park withe me 🙄
Wish you good luck
I also am attracted to the arts. Is it an ADHD thing that you can take in a lot of data, hyper focus, multitask, etc., but then can NOT for the life of you figure out a way to organize, prioritize or process it for output? Most specifically writing. I stare and stare, and can't seem to make a connection on how to turn the data in my head into words that make sentences, that would string with an appropriate next sentence that would overall describe something, or build something. I can do it for stream of thought personal expression like this paragraph or a writing a letter, but an essay, report or story...it's like one big snarl or a thousand piece white puzzle. Is that ADHD?
this is what I have been trying to describe this whole time!!!
YES
I've struggled with writing essays too. One thing that did help me though is writing out my ideas on a blank piece of paper and then connecting those ideas in sentences to make them flow better.
I've been a beach lifeguard for 10 years. After a failed attemp at 20 to get a degree I want back in my mid 20's and ended up with a masters in neuro psychology. Could only do it because I loved it. Briefly lectured in a college, but I've come back to lifeguarding. I'm just not sure I could hack a career at a desk. This job is active and has some variation, I'm a lifelong surfer so enjoy being in the sea etc.
Similar trajectory here...Owner/operator of an enviro-friendly cleaning business that I enjoy, despite being understimulated intellectually. Currently contemplating a degree in Counselling (for personal interest and/or potential career path). I have to enjoy anything I put my time into
School was very hard for me because the curriculum required me to stay still and work on repetition. All my life up to my early 20's I was told what to do and how to do it, bit no why (context). One of my passion in life is simply to learn, but now I'm 23 yo and have still no idea for a career.... I'm just lost and don't know what to make out of it.
The key to finding the “right career” or at least the job you can hold, lies in Supply and demand. An oversimplified example:
You can make the worlds best computer but if your town doesn’t have electricity, well then there’s no demand, thus no income.
The question is, what skills can I develop so that I’m scratching that itch, and is there a strong enough demand that I can whether through good times and bad? (Cough) Pandemic (cough)
To a certain extent work sucks, but another helpful thing is to be lucky enough to work with people that are fun, understanding, and above all, patient. Godspeed my fellow brains!
Nursing!!
i watched your video again and its like you are exactly like me. its as if im listening to the conversation in my head as you talk
I'm curious whether a lot of ppl with inattentive ADHD tend towards artistic careers, as my goal is to be an author & a comic artist
I think so always wanted to be a professional actress and I have Aspergers and ADHD Inattentive
I am 34 and still haven't figured it out. The few options which may be a good fit for me are now - at my age/situation - mostly unreachable.
This is kinda scary dude, we're seriously like the same person. Does everyone with adhd basically have the same brain???
Yeah lol that’s what I’ve been realising. So many specific traits, thought patterns and behaviours were all share hey
*we
@@joelwilcox5424 right! Before I knew what ADHD was I thought all the symptoms were just my personality traits..