I almost cried at my first job meeting because my boss told me that the main reason he hired me was because of my ADHD. He has been the coolest person ever in working with me and my ADHD.
Last year during my midyear review, braced for my boss again worrying about my level of engagement, I took a deep breath and told her I was looking into the possibility that I had ADHD. It was like a lightbulb went off for her when I said that, and she told me that SHE had ADHD, discovered when her son showed signs (like I had myself), and had been on medication for longer than I had known her. She then identified a few other employees who had ADHD within the building who I could ask for help and advice. I have since been officially diagnosed, started my own medication, and during my yearly performance review a few weeks ago, we both started crying when I thanked her for her understanding, and her example. Being understood at work can make ALL the difference, and I encourage people to have that conversation.
eon star Understood... and it might be my privilege, but an employer who will fire someone over having ADHD will probably also be abusive in other ways, in my experience. They deserve to lose their employees with the most potential, and I hope those employees go on to find much better suited employment, like Jessica did in the video
I have been fired from every single job I have had since graduated college, it is frustrating and extremely demoralizing specially when it happens for ADHD not because I cannot do the work or dont enjoy it?
What will you do? My wife and I are in a similar spot. She has ADHD and I have High-Functioning Autism. Disclosure during an interview guarantees not being hired. Non-disclosure during the interview, and asking for accommodations later amounts to lying. I don't know what to do, so I'm curious.
kabouter post you’re not alone at all! 🙆🏻 (that’s a hug) There is hope for you; it’s gonna get better ❤️ Are there any specific situations you’re having (that you’re comfortable disclosing) that we can help with? You’ve got a tribe here who wants to help 😊
Let me just caution everyone here: HR is not your friend. Their function is to protect he company from the employee NOT the other way around. I would not encourage anyone to go to HR and disclose their ADHD. I don't see any scenario where this will end well for the employee.
If you wanna take a quick history tour, then listen up. HR was made because women had entered the workforce. When men were the only employees, there wasn’t an HR.
I never realized you could be ADHD without the hyperactivity. I have all the symptoms but I am always tired. I used to think I was undiagnosed throughout my childhood but its getting worse as I get into my mid to late thirties. Thank you for this channel.
Michelle Lopez I have adhd and I sometimes can’t stay awake without my medication. My brain just doesn’t get enough stimulation and decides to shut down, which is extremely annoying. I didn’t get diagnosed until my junior year of high school after a lot of pushing to get tested, you’re definitely not alone!
@@BookishLish I never linked my tiredness with my ADD before. But it seems to be a thing. I always wondered why Im so tired no matter how much I sleep. I can sleep 12 hours no problem if I go to bed early. No matter how early I go to bed I still cant wake up earlier unless I have a comittment like work. I guess it makes sense with my brain waves being more in an alpha state thats closer to the sleepy waves lol
Interesting! I’m always tired and could sleep all day if you let me. It’s so frustrating because it makes me feel unproductive. But then when I am up I can’t get my thoughts organized enough to start/complete tasks. Ugh
Michelle I struggle with this sometimes and usually because I can't shut my brain off which wears me out. Not easy to find a solution to power down. Tried meditation and energy work which helps most times. Sometimes exercise in one way shape or form works and sometimes a change in life. Mine have been drastic changes and now settling down I start to think again. Grrr just need sleep. I sometimes only get 2 hours of sleep a night as I can't power down until I'm all out of energy and unstimulated. Good and bad sides to this... Keep track of what tools work for you to sleep, get engaged or simply function. Good luck with everything. Cheers
Oh and not sure if this helps but for me I have had to save coffee for night time as coffee has a calming effect on me which helps me sleep. If I drink it in the morning I find I'm very tired most if not all day
With my ADHD I thrived at a particular IT job for 7 years that I was there. I was the go-to guy for everything. I got a really good offer from another company. After working for that new employer for almost six months they fired me and would not tell me why even though I was getting good feedback from multiple sources and I was getting things done. I think it was that management couldnt deal with my ADHD. I have grown very cynical about employers since then. It probably helps to have a good lawyer just in case. I hate to think this way but we have to protect ourselves.
It sounds a lot like a gardener seeing a rose grow well in the sun, with lots if watering and compost, transferring it to a swamp, expecting it to grow well in the swamp... The rose was thriving because it was in the right conditions, but not in the swamp.
I have had two employers refuse me any accommodations. One was retail and wouldn't let me keep a water bottle with me at the register (between ADHD med side effects and another medical condition, I needed it), and I quit. The other was IT and I was pretty much forbidden from listening to music or podcasts until I told them that it was a violation of the ADA and I would be contacting a lawyer that afternoon. Starting singing a different tune then, but continued to harp about my performance though I got every assigned task done in a timely manner. Plenty of employers don't care about the wellbeing of any employee, let alone disabled ones. Being able to contact a lawyer is essential for these circumstances.
wow that just goes to show that some people care more about things that don't matter rather than results. I was trained by a few ADHD IT techs and they are amazing teachers and hard workers.
IT sounds like it'd be great for ADHD if the employer is good. Plenty of long-term projects to work on when you're feeling productive, but lots of distractions to call you away at the right moment. And the best kind of distractions, too; the ones where you can swoop in, think of a novel solution to a problem, enact it, and then fly away. Engaging, not tedious, and no unexpected deadlines. No wonder you did well
NickAc just so you know: if you are hitting that like in the beginning of the video, RUclips might not count it. Like “you haven’t watched this yet, gimme a break”.
when you were talking about getting fired for being 4 minutes late, it made me feel better to know that I wasn't the only one. I also was almost fired (I quit before I could get reprimanded because I was too stressed out to get formally suspended) for the exact same reasons. this was all before I was diagnosed with ADHD. it really helps knowing that I'm not the only one who this happens to.
I quit a job making $22/hr once because I made a careless mistake; it wasn't even a big deal - 5 minutes of clean up that I did before quitting, but I stressed out over it and couldn't deal with the possibility of it or something dangerous happening as the consequence of my carelessness again.
4 minutes? Where I used to work you could come in 10-15 minutes late and still not get fired as long as you had a acceptable excuse. It's extremely hard to get fired where I used to work. With everybody being so hard up for workers they take anybody they can.
I’ve been almost fired and written up for performance issues. I also almost dropped out of my graduate program. One of the nice things about finding this ADHD community is finding fellow humans who have been through similar things. It can be really alienating to always be the person having performance issues despite being otherwise smart or talented and feeling like you’re going insane and losing control of reality lol.
I just got fired from my job last week after being there almost 2 years. It consisted of sitting in one place and troubleshooting things hours at a time back to back over the phone. I felt weak admitting i had adhd and sitting in one place staring at a screen asking the same questions again and again was actually mega stressful for me and my performance suffered from that. I really pushed to improve but still lost the job cause my managers had already given up on me. Ive been fired before (for similar reasons and prediagnosis) and i honestly considered i wasnt good enough, or functional, or even worthy of having any job to provide for myself. This video helped me so much in realizing the importance of being straight forward and asking for help before its too late. I feel a little bit less of a failure because of that so... a big thank you from me.
You’re so not a failure. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this situation right now! But I hope that this video helps even a little bit so you can only move up from here on out. It’s gonna be okay!
Killcupidsaaki17 I used to be a process and maintenance tech in waste water treatment, that job was completely incompatible with the ADHD type2 I didn't know I had until four years after I quit. Nowdays I work as a public service/disability transport driver, and it works great! Especially with meds.
Killcupidsaaki17 -- Been there, done that, got TWO of those t-shirts... =( And I'm saying that as a female engineer who had a career in an industry where every company that I could have worked for was considered a governemt contractor -- which means that all of my employers should have been taking affirmative action with regards to my employment... =/ At my first job, I kept quiet about my issues (and I have lots of physical and mental health diagnoses, including autism + ADHD) UNTIL things got bad... that job ended with some pretty bad harassment and discrimination. At my second job (which was technically two jobs -- one temporary and one permanent... but that's another story for another day), I started dropping hints from day #1 that I identified as disabled and pretty much everyone _knew_ (even if they didn't exactly know what was 'wrong with me') by the time that I was permanently hired at that company... that job ended with me being offered a severance package (that I was not comfortable accepting) not too long after everyone had essentially been forced to sign new employment agreements that contained non-compete agreements. And I actually thought that that job was the perfect fit for me, especially because my boss had a disability, too... My career is over but maybe yours isn't quite over, yet? Take what you've learned from "messing up" at your last job, and WHEN YOU FEEL READY, try again... it sounds like your biggest strength is that you _just don't give up_ (until 'the thing' is fixed) when troubleshooting needs to be done... and, depending on your specific industry, that could be a HUGE asset. =)
@@sunglassesgirl having lost two jobs doesn't mean that your career is over! I'm sure you can find a job in your field that will work out for you. There are so many factors that can affect it working out well or not... one boss changing can change everything. So just look for other jobs at other companies. Seeing that your comment is from 7 months ago, I hope that you've found something new by now :)
@@Czadzikable -- I wish it was NOT the case that my career in _that_ very tiny, very technical, highly specialized, yet obscure profession -- I'm a process engineer, but I was a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in a in sub-discipline of a sub-discipline... if that makes any sense... PLUS I had worked for the largest multinational corporation in the industry (by annual sales volume) _AND_ the other multinational corporation that I had worked for was easily within the industry's top six largest. Needless to say, I was on my way to becoming a 'big fish' in my industry's 'big pond' after only FOUR years. =) And yes, I totally agree that ONE awesome boss can change everything... and I did have one of those really awesome supervisors at my last job BECAUSE he DID take 'my side' and 'stand up for me' when I called out vendors (who we were paying to do work for us) for doing subpar work because they were cutting corners / being lazy / doing shoddy work. It gets even worse if you knew which industry I worked in and/or what type of processes I worked with. To make a long story short -- Executive Management at a gigantic multinational corporation, a 24 month non-compete agreement that I was required to sign to keep my job, corporate greed, *AND me refusing to 'look the other way' and go along with fraud* are the reason that my career got destroyed. I can live with that... my integrity is not for sale AND it's just not worth it, to me, to continue to sacrifice my health and well-being.
If you are running a software development team, here are some accommodations you can put in place include: 1) strive for projects to have a clear Definition of Done. This probably should be a written in collaboration with whoever’s pain point you are trying to solve. 2) Automated Testing tools that can support Test-Driven-Development
This is such a great video! I have been lucky enough to find a job I love that I just succeed at, so I haven't needed any accommodations. As a preschool teacher, my job is pretty ADHD friendly. There is virtually zero paperwork, each activity only lasts 15-30 minutes because preschoolers and I have the same attention span (lol), everything in preschool is done color coded and in calendar form, there is a strict daily routine because consistent schedules are great for young kids (and ADHD brains), and I can be crazy/silly with the kids! But that hasn't always been case and I have struggled in the past with jobs. I have never had the courage before to tell a boss while I had so many issues. Even now, with a job I have basically zero struggles with, I am still considering telling my boss that I have ADHD, just because I love working there and feel like I can be honest. Haven't decided yet, but we'll see!
I really wish this were the case for higher grade-level teachers. My high-school students seem to complain about even the most basic routines I try to set in place, and enforcing a noise reduction in my classroom during independent work is nearly impossible because administrators assume that students listening to music and working aren't actually doing any work. Standardized testing is the bane of my existence- because it keeps me from doing more hands-on activities that students might actually want to do.
My boss has ADHD too and she encourages playing videos and listening to music while working. She asks for an approximate schedule, but doesn’t mind if it isn’t exactly right. If I need to miss a day, I just shoot her a text and she is always understanding and never makes me feel bad for missing. She also tells me to take breaks when i need them. Because of this, my work ethic and productivity is extremely high. In past jobs, I would call out and miss and genuinely hated working to the point it made me depressed. Now, I look forward to working and get sad when I miss a day. Having a boss that truly understands and helps is amazing. Everything in my space has a post it label, and if she notices something doesn’t, she asks if it needs one and I’m like “omg ur right”. Checklists are also SO HELPFUL because I’m very forgetful
As a person with adhd I struggle to concentrate on things including RUclips videos but your editing make it entertaining to watch. I love your videos so much and am grateful for how much u have helpful 💓
After being fired over and over I decided to work for myself. Thank you for this video. I haven’t been able to seek therapy yet but hopefully I can soon. Your channel really helps me
My employer actually recommended I get tested for ADHD before I even thought about it. He has it too and when he left, my new boss sat me down and discussed what she could do to help me. Now when I walk into work, I check in with her and she gives me a written to-do list that I can adjust and manipulate depending on the day. At the end of my shift, we discuss how things went and review our action plan for the next day. It is really helpful.
I stopped binge watching Steven Universe because Jessica's notification popped up, it's a pretty big deal. Thanks for the video, even though i'm currently unemployed it was still awesome and informative as usual!
How to ADHD I meant I am also unemployed but the video was very helpful. Maybe I ought to show this video to my JSSA counselor. And teach her a few things about ADHD brains! :D
Jessica, I have a request. Would you please consider doing a video on what your work-week looks like day-to-day? I'm a content creator too (radio, podcasts, videos), and I really struggle with getting work done. Well, it always gets done, but it is such a struggle preparing incrementally each day and I usually wait until the very last minute to prepare and perform. I would love to see how you do what you do, and I am positive others would too. You're absolutely brilliant!
How to ADHD I'm really interested in a video like this as well. I haven't worked a 9-5 since graduating college because I get so bored of a job or worry about not being able to stay engaged consistently enough to make it work well. I'm really trying/interested in free-lancing type work and gigs because I just feel more "wired" for them. Or being my own boss of sorts. But keeping some part-time or flexible job while also trying to do my own projects is hard to balance. Work-life balance video perhaps? What type of work schedule or structures help?
i just bursted into tears when you said to focus on their strengths. its so simple as to how simple it is. and yet it lacks in so many workplaces. im reaching my 3 months at my 4th job in 2 years since i graduated.
It’s amazing how much of a difference simple accommodations can make. I was having trouble getting things turned in on time and they’d always have careless mistakes. My boss gave me a laminated sheet saying what was due every week, what time and day it was due, and reminders about things I often forgot (did I have the correct date on everything?) Such a simple thing but it made a world of difference!
The last clip about how it’s more than sticky notes hit me hard. I’ve worked at the company in with for nearly 10 years, since I was a teenager. I’ve worked from a phone position to being software developer to being a security tester. Lockdown and everything really messed up any real flow I had to my day. I ended up taking mental health leave because it got too much and got diagnosed. Since going back to work it’s hard to explain what I need because I don’t understand what’s going on either. Sometimes I feels like maybe I’m not meant to work at this level, people have been so mean since I came back… really killed my passion I can barely even sit at my desk without having a panic attack. This video gave me hope but I could see how that part of the video felt real, like it came from personal experience. Thank you.
I'm the same way. I took over 6 months of disability leave and now that I'm gradually getting back to the full-time job, I have no idea what accommodations would help me other than using noiwe canceling headphones and a quiet environment. I'm a people pleasing overachiever and I know that I have to stop it because it's going to be the end of me, but I also can't get myself to slow down, or the opposite, to do boring things, or even set priorities (when everything is #1). My employer asks me what I need and I'm like I don't know... 😢
Hello, I’m very new to your channel but I’m so happy to be apart of it! You’re channel helps so many people including me and you bring a positive energy and a great message that is both informational,fun and shows the world that ADHD brains are brilliant and creative if you take the time to understand them. I hope you have even more success on your channel and I’m happy to be apart of the team!❤️
@Mike, if you can, set up a time when you can sit down and you can take notes which you can post places you will see them, OR have her text you/email the things as reminders, or leave up post-it notes for you. OR she can even shoot a quick video to-do list and share that with you, or you can ask if you can record the conversation using your phone, like an old tape recorder, so you make sure you have it all :D I keep a bullet journal with a "Things Hubby has asked me to work on" page, so I can keep a running list of chores and habits I should work on to smooth things around the house. One time he asked me to adjust how I was parking the car, and after 3 days I just couldn't remember. So I ended up writing it on the garage door in BIG chalk letters "PARK HERE NOW" :P Got me to do it, and it became a habit by the time the chalk wore off. Good luck!
Mike Albritton your wife stops mid sentence and looks at your glassy eyed stare. "Were you in the puppy dream again?" No.....but hypothetically, if i was, what were we talking ahout?
Cazriel haha what a great way to put it! I first read your comment as being in the”puppy room” and not dream. So I might have to say that I was in the other room when I get distracted 😂
Story Prompts if they aren't essential to you in a social or economic context, I wouldn't bother explaining and just tell wankers like that to get lost.
Omg. I did these things for myself. Like sticky notes. I almost died one day someone tossed out my post it notes I left.. than I explained to them it helps me. Always had pens and notes with me..oh yes my fit bit.. need to keep myself on task.
Recently found out I’ve been living with ADD for a while now, when I started going to therapy because I’ve struggled with school work for years now (you know, bright, talented, woefully inconsistent) and I was constantly spiraling in self-hate. (I’m a college senior, I was kind of ruining my future) A few months in I had a session in which I was asked how I remember to take my meds, to which I responded that I didn’t, at which point they apologized; they hadn’t realized that I hadn’t been diagnosed. It’s been super weird figuring life out ever since and long story short I found your videos after a really hard anxiety filled day (finals week, ugh) and now I feel a little more equipped to get through this.
I just lost my job that I had finally found doing something Im passionate about . Im completely devistated and went into severe depression. The same problem was because of being chronically late. And that was basically the only issue. The rest I was very good at my job and would offer my help if needed. I was mainly the only that would stay very late until I was able to get the job done. I tried to back up my jobs team in mainly everything. I would even be top 3 on my medical equipment delivery numbers but then again I dnt know how to make them understand that I was not late because I didn't care I was late because I struggle with everything in my everyday life but I was willing to push through and be there regardless
No one recognized my "extreme value" and now I'll just do it myself. Setting up "shop" real soon. Great Vid too. HOPE some Employers/Employees benefit from it.
Fantastic as always, Jessica. This one hit close to home because I was recently fired after a complicated process of trying to develop tools and habits and efficiencies but doing it all alone. I didn't disclose to all staff because they were already belittling and judging me but the boss knew. Accommodations were discussed and were promised but only one was implemented at a cost of a couple of dollars to the company. Instead, I was given even tougher tasks and impossible targets. A lot of time was invested in putting additional pressure on me and in the end they opted to just fire me. Thanks so much for the reminder that they left a lot on the table. I really was a valuable asset but companies often don't see it this way. Termination is the easy way out but after a lifetime of being brushed aside it sure hits the self-esteem. I often turn to you to help me lighten up on myself and get a boost to my esteem.
In process of finally transitioning into a “real” job, out of retail and into the field I went back to school for (btw, I’m supposed to be studying for a final right now - classic ADHD). The tips and hints in this video will hopefully be very useful in starting off on the best possible footing with my - hopefully - new employer, and preventing some of the managerial conflicts that have long fueled much of the loathing towards my current job. I think that a large part of why I stayed this long (16 years!) is that I actually like most of my coworkers, and because finding a new job would have been even more stressful than just putting up with the old one...
You have made such a difference in my life since I have been diagnosed (as an adult). Thank you for your insight(s) and for planting hope in my life. I'm truly thankful.
LOVE this. So many companies run screaming from the mention of ‘disorders’ though 😡 Like you said, when I am appreciated I go above and beyond. If I get ‘the wrong boss’ I may as well pack up and leave
I was diagnosed at 36. My manager actually asked me if it was an avenue I had explored. Her daughter was diagnosed young. I was struggling at work(understatement). When I was diagnosed and medicated, just like your Ted talk said, it was like putting on glasses. It was awesome and maddening because I kept thinking about what I could have accomplished. Now I'm managing a small group of people. I'm open at work about my diagnosis but I work with really amazing people. We are finding a lot of my coping mechanisms I had developed over the years benefit others quite a bit and with all the falls I have had along the way has made me a pretty awesome manager because I understand where my employees are coming from.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when i was in second grade i am 18 now i struggle with a lot of things that others my age already know it's hard i cry it hurts watching your videos makes me feel normal i just had to try harder than everyone my age it's stressful at times thank you so much i love your videos😭❤❤
I have ADHD and I normally can’t memorize lines and Important things but I joined Theater because my friend thought I was a good actor and I got roles that I had to memorize a lot of lines and my friend and the theater teacher helped me memorize my lines I am thankful to have people like that in my life
I’ve been a nurse for 6 yrs. this video 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 I constantly feel inadequate. Not that I don’t do my work or follow strict policies, it’s the mental exhaustion, doing a task, having a coworker talk to me & interrupting my thought process.. then I forget what I was doing. Ty for ur channel. I finally feel hope. I pray everyday to be Normal! Wake up have coffee n be motivated instead of waking up feeling Terrible, take meds, wait 30-45 min to feel a little better and then struggle to stay on task.
I like how you constantly keep jumping the video around in post, it keeps me more engaged. Like every time I look away I get pulled back by the sharp movements.
I am 47 years old, and have basically diagnosed myself since I can't seem to get a diagnosis with an actual doctor. I love your videos. They have been so helpful and explains a lot about how I learn. I wish I knew sooner, but at least I know now! Thank you so much. :)
This channel and some of the autism channels have done the same for me. I’ll be 38 this January myself. I may get a diagnosis next year if I have enough money when they actually finally have an opening.
Hi , well I am also diagnosed with ADHD , it's really difficult to manage things. People used to say that I am being naughty and immature. I usually lost in a different world . After a lot of scoldings and complains , I felt myself as a burden for my family. I try my level best for doing good in everything. I love drawing, writing stories and making dress. Plus I love to filming and making my own animation. You can tell that I am a multi tasking girl with various hobbies. I used to think that I am the only one in this world who is suffering from this thing. Until I started watching your videos. It made me realize that I am not alone. There are thousands of people like me facing the same. As before I thought ADHD is a bad thing. But now I think that ADHD is something that makes me a awesome person and makes me view this world in a different but in a unique way. My friends doesn't have these many hobbies as I do . They tell me that you got a special talent or some super power thingy so that I can do these many things. My friends ask me for giving some creative ideas about project and art. Thank you for making me realize that I am very special and I have a capability to do something good for others too.
Love it! Also I think the tips might work at school as well, and I really liked when you said "Focus on their strengths" today I came home sad, because one of my teachers said I was a disaster, just because I lost a piece of paper, but I felt like she didn't considered other things I have done really well at her class...
To be honest I'm not old enough to have a job yet, but you helped me with working and getting something done like homework or chores with ADHD, thank you:)
I was diagnosed at 46 (last month, actually) and feel compelled to go back to a particular past employer and let them know. They were such a great firm and my boss clearly knew something was different about me. They "weren't sure about me" at times (probably on the verge of firing me on and off) and I would have a "deer caught in headlights" look when some complex assignment was given and I was asked if I understood. I remember not understanding (brain just refused to engage), but I said I did and I took good notes and worked hard to figure it out later and get the job done. That had always been my routine. Then, just before I quit to pursue an exciting new life connected to adventure sports (whoohoo!!), I had an opportunity to lead the firm through its first "corporate games" competition. I was waaaay into it and basically insisted they (the 100-person firm) let me coordinate the team. It was so much fun and I had no expectation that I would get high marks for that, but I did and it was nice to know they valued my contribution. It's been 20 years, but I'll bet my old boss would use the knowledge to benefit others at the firm. He's the managing partner now! So much respect for him...the entire firm was in a league of their own. ❤
I love your videos! I wish I could ask for accommodations at work just like I during my studies. But unfortunately I work in a highly competitive corporate environment, where they don’t really care about your difficulties. As long as you deal with them and get the job done, don’t even bother bringing personal things up. In that sense though, I am glad that no one is micromanaging me and that they focus on the work I deliver. Hardly ever have I met a deadline, but the quality of my deliverables compensates for my delays so most of my superiors just look away. But I do know that down the line I will need to get a more adhd friendly job, more fulfilling and sustainable, maybe even become an entrepreneur. For now only a couple of colleagues know about my adhd, one of whom has become a huge support without even knowing. She reminds me of administrative deadlines, she reminds me to eat, etc, etc. She is incredibly organised, and in the other hand she asks for my help in unforeseen, difficult or new situations.
Also, thank you, Jessica for mentioning the reasons for keeping this knowledge to ourselves. I have been afraid for most of my life that I would be judged or look like an excuse-maker for ever mentioning ADHD.
Sadly, this only works if the management cares to begin with. Lots of places see it as 'You can't do the job? We'll find someone else who can.'. I'm dealing with that right now, and I've had troubles with all of this; the time management, the distraction, the not being able to pull myself away from things, mistakes being made because I'm under pressure. I had a desk by a big happy window, where it tended to be quieter and calmer. Their opinion was that because I was more isolated that it was distracting me from my job and it would be a better idea to put me next to the aisle of traffic, with my back to all the people walking by, who can just look at whatever I'm doing. And I'm across from my boss's desk and next to my supervisor's desk, and this ramped up my anxiety even more. I just feel frozen and I'm still underperforming. I'm literally looking for a new job because of this small of a thing. I tried to explain why this would make it worse but the response was 'I really think this will help.' COMPLETE dismissal. And because I'm still underperforming they're still on my ass and it's coming down to my work ethic as a person, and I'm one of the hardest workers they have. T__T
The simply fact is you are going to have a hard time getting employed if you openly admit to it I have had so many Jobs were I said it in a interview and it turned south quick my adhd makes it extremely hard for me to work with because I don’t see things the same way others do
Yeah, no joke. This one time I got an interview at a bank for some back-end job involving computers and math. They gave me the interview at an ADHD job fair, so they knew. They asked what accommodations I might need and I was like "well, I get real motivated in the morning and want to start early a lot, but sometimes I can't get anything done and I feel I need to leave early in the afternoon if my med aren't working or else I'll just distract everyone else around. So the ability to come in a couple hours early and leave in the middle of the afternoon if necessary would be great. At my old jobs, this meant I worked more hours than other people on average." They were like "No, we can't do that. We expect everyone to be at work only during work hours and to be productive during those times. Frankly, we're not sure we want to hire someone who refuses to be productive when we pay them to be."
@@danreyn Gggggrrrrrrr. So relatable/frustrating. What is the neurotypical obsession with specific, uniform work hours?! Particularly in situations where those specific hours in NO WAY impact the ability of an employee to successfully accomplish the tasks, goals or duties of the work that is being performed? It feels so petty!
I hate when I get sick and have to be off meds! It happened to me a few weeks ago.I had a sinus infection and had to take a medication that really shouldn't be mixed with a stimulant. So for a week it literally felt like I was choosing, "Do I want to breathe and be pain free or do I want my brain to work correctly." It was a tough week...
I have watched about 5 of your videos now and the way that you incorporate your bloopers, facts, humor and basically, your teaching methods and presentation style are on point .. Good stuff
In my previous job, our boss had our morning stand-up meeting at 830am. It was way too early for me, and I knew that me being late was not an indication of how good I was at my job. I talked to him and pushed the meeting to 930am (we were a team of 5 so it was easier to make changes like this). I flourished after that because I wasn't stressing out about getting to work on time for the meeting.
I don't know how you do it but your videos come out at the exact right time. I was sent home last night, from work. I have been getting a lot of anxiety as I feel like other employees don't understand me and I get bullied. I was depressed and my meds wore off so I became irritated by customers who were rude. I have never been sent home in 35 years of working. I love this job and most aspects about it but also feel like my needs are not met, yet all other staff needs are. I am valuable to the business, just a week ago I proved how valuable by putting together a huge promotion, with no budget, that increased sales, guest engagement, staff engagement and my own. I put together everything for the superhero day and even got to play captain america for 13 hours. This I really love doing. I'm sending this video to my peers and hope they watch it as if not, it could mean by bye from job no 1352!!!! You are amazing......
PUPPY!!!! I'm retired now so I don't have to work, but I know the difference between doing well at work and struggling - and accommodations and strategies are definitely the way to go.
I'm dealing with this right now. I've been struggling in a relatively new job because my boss doesn't really understand the inconsistency in my work. Sometimes I'm totally killing it and other times I get caught scrolling on my phone when I should be working. I'm preparing to have a conversation with her about some strategies that could help and this video really helped calm my anxiety. Thank you so much!! 💜
Today was a good day at work: my employer bought me the post-it note dispenser and erasable pens I asked for. It's a good feeling to know they have my back.
I have worked in job development for many years, and I've assisted employers on providing accommodations. Yet it was the hardest thing I ever had to do to ask for accommodations for my own job because of adhd. I am so glad I did though. Not only did it make me a better, more productive employee, but it helped me truly empathize with my caseload. I also truly resonated with your story at the end on having an employer that valued your strengths. I have a boss like that now, and it has made a world of difference for me. Great video!
I myself am also in a similar situation. But I am terrified to disclose my ADHD to my boss because at my last job when I was struggling with certain aspects of my job and I finally brought up my disability with my boss, they fired me that same day. Now at my current job, my department manager and store leaders have it out for me. I have been hearing from other coworkers that the think I am lazy and need to “try harder.” And the worst part is I would often beat myself up and believe those claims that I don’t work hard enough and I’m lazy when I forget that how my brain is built is NOT MY FAULT. Thankfully this new job has a union attached to it and I recently spoke with them to get some advice and figure out a solution. I stumbled across your channel recently and am so thankful I did because it reminds me that I am not alone when I feel like sometimes the entire world is stacked against me. Pressuring me into “fitting in” to a world that doesn’t seem like it wants me. Thank you. 🙏🏻
THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this video. This is exactly what employers of and employees with ADHD brains need to understand, and what isn't clearly stated anywhere else on the Web that I've found thus far. By posting this video, you've just saved a lot of people's careers. Thank you!!!!!!!
Soo. . . I havent been diagnosed (yet) but everything i learn about ADHD fits me. I was made redundant from my previous job in 2020 (covid) and after that i accidentally got a job that perfectly fits the now vs not now mentality. I can sit and distract myself until i have work to do then do that job and go back to youtube after. Its fantastic.
I discovered this channel recently, and let me tell you, I'm so grateful; I've been trying to explain a lot of these things to people for YEARS now, and while I've done my research and I've got the personal anecdotal evidence, you've taken the time to format it in a way that's palatable and understandable to both ADHD and non-ADHD viewers. Also "NOO!!! You're supposed to make smoothies!!" was a fantastic joke, and I legitimately audibly laughed, but god did that hit hard, because it really does feel like that sometimes.
I recently got diagnosed with adhd it's day two with being on my meds. I struggled with starting to write my novels and couldn't understand why it was so hard. I'm really hoping with this channel and with taking my meds I'll be able to get my novels done and in the future be able to self publish them and eventually become a full time author. Thank you so much for making this channel.
I love your videos and they make me feel very happy about my ADHD where I used to be embarrassed. I can't take medication for adhd because fo other mental health problems is there any non medication ways to help with adhd
Yes, lots! Most of my videos are about non-medication ways to help ADHD, but the big ones are mindfulness/meditation, exercise, get enough sleep. Diet can help some people too. And strategies/accommodations, having the right partner and/or the right job is enormously important. Coaching and/or cognitive behavioral therapy can be game changing too.
I'm not crying I swear! I just got off work a few hours ago and I was frustrated and upset, my to-do list STILL isn't done and I had 3 different emails corrected for typos (story of my life) and it was nice to hear that I can ask for accommodations and that there is a website that has helpful suggestions for accommodations.
I have auto spell check -- and I use that to re-read my emails, some in the office have started the narrative that my emails are not clear....rereading them and reading them out loud to myself help me edit...and I also indent supporting sentences...ridiculous as it sounds
Thanks for the video and the resources! I may use them as I disclose my depression to my boss. I really just need to ask to use some of my sick/safe time for psychotherapy appointments, but this makes me curious about what else might be helpful in my job with respect to my depression and ADHD. Thanks again :)
I didn’t know about that JAN thing! Why didn’t I know about that? That’ll be so helpful! I’ve been told I might have ADHD, but that I definitely have GAD, among other things, and that website has helpful stuff for that too! Thank you so much for sharing these kind of things for all of us out here.
Dude, I just hit that point. It started with my Depression, which when solved, 3 years later, finally being treated for ADHD, on day 3 of medication, my jaw relaxed for maybe, the first time.
The adorable puppy lift is killing me. I feel like I could watch that ALL DAY! SOO cute! On a serious note, I can not imagine talking to my HR department about my needs, I don't trust that the information would not be used against me. These videos have been a lifesaver. Watch one each day as I am starting my day, Helps me remember I am not flawed, or "broken" and it is SOOO wonderful to know I am not alone. To all the other Brains out there, thank you for posting comments and I'd love to know what other online communities are out there for support.
Getting all teary eyed. I wish I would have known before and had bosses and HR departments that knew. My life at the jobs in the past (well...and even now) would be so much easier if we were working together instead of management thinking that I am just like everyone else.
Thank you Jess, that was the perfect video at the perfect time (to watch, its 2022 now...) for me - im in a crisis right now and my employer asked me how he could possibly help me with my adhd related problems. He values me as a person and what i can do. Now i have something pretty simple i can provide to him and myself too. Already translated and printed :)
That's why I love your videos Jessica. You put such a positive spin on our ADHD brains. Thank you. And yes I was given written warnings for being a few minutes late at work as well. But my current employer understands me and helps me.
Honestly, I would strongly recommend (at whatever comfort level you are ok with) being open about your ADHD at work. Bring it up in conversation. Openly mention it as a reason for accommodations. Because a workplace where you feel comfortable talking about your ADHD is one where you will thrive. If your employer discriminates against you, or makes you feel bad about your ADHD, you're going to have a LOT more problems in other areas as well. Finding an employer that is welcoming and accepting will help you grow instead of driving you away, and you are more likely to stay with the company longer and do better work for them. For college students, this could be working with your school's advisers or other offices where counselors will be your supervisors (like the career office or the disability office). As an adult, you can try look for a company that makes of point of advertising how they treat employees, or one that actively advocates for people with disabilities. You can also choose a field where people are more likely to be understanding or knowledgeable on the subject, like social services worker or librarian.
Understand that sometimes the HR person you reach out to will not be the right person..The Point is ...I fought for this for 11 weeks .. reaching out to someone else higher and higher until... I was heard .... And now I have been heard .... And so we move on... Not every HR people or dept will even know what to do...but not giving up made the difference ....don't settle on one person's inability to understand..
I have ASD and not ADHD (that I know of) and somehow your videos are super easy to relate to, I’m finding them really helpful. Keep up the good work you can help more people than you think :)
I worked really hard for my former employers, because they seemed to truly understand my ADHD and my RSD, and worked really hard to give me positive reinforcement. They were good friends as well as coworkers and employers.
I heard criticism so often that I kind of got used to it and got depressed for not getting positive feedback for my strengths. Since I have gotten my diagnosis my perspective is shifting a lot.
![Natanael Cano - Amor Eterno [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EO4prCs6WpM/mqdefault.jpg)
I almost cried at my first job meeting because my boss told me that the main reason he hired me was because of my ADHD. He has been the coolest person ever in working with me and my ADHD.
Where do you work??
Wow 🤩
What was the position he hired you for???
😳😃
This sounds like BS.
0:40 “many ADHDers feel like they shouldn’t need help” ... story of my life until I found your channel.
Eric Beckwith same
Yep same here.
This. So this.
I don't feel like I can talk to my boss. I feel like I can't get ANYTHING right. I'm so frustrated. 😞😞😒😞
100%
Last year during my midyear review, braced for my boss again worrying about my level of engagement, I took a deep breath and told her I was looking into the possibility that I had ADHD. It was like a lightbulb went off for her when I said that, and she told me that SHE had ADHD, discovered when her son showed signs (like I had myself), and had been on medication for longer than I had known her. She then identified a few other employees who had ADHD within the building who I could ask for help and advice. I have since been officially diagnosed, started my own medication, and during my yearly performance review a few weeks ago, we both started crying when I thanked her for her understanding, and her example. Being understood at work can make ALL the difference, and I encourage people to have that conversation.
Lacey D Sutton that’s so awesome! How amazing that you have people who know what it’s like to be in your shoes and who are so supportive!
Mutual crying is the best sign everything is going good
Lacey D Sutton wow! That’s amazing! Super lucky 🍀
I do not encourage people to have that conversation. People have lost jobs over telling their employers things like that.
eon star Understood... and it might be my privilege, but an employer who will fire someone over having ADHD will probably also be abusive in other ways, in my experience. They deserve to lose their employees with the most potential, and I hope those employees go on to find much better suited employment, like Jessica did in the video
i just got fired from my job... after watching this i realise what i can do to make my next job better! thank you! :D
Premium Lagg good luck! 😊👍🍀
Brind Music Nerd Thank you! :D
I know how you feel. Been fired twice for my adhd
I have been fired from every single job I have had since graduated college, it is frustrating and extremely demoralizing specially when it happens for ADHD not because I cannot do the work or dont enjoy it?
What will you do? My wife and I are in a similar spot. She has ADHD and I have High-Functioning Autism.
Disclosure during an interview guarantees not being hired.
Non-disclosure during the interview, and asking for accommodations later amounts to lying.
I don't know what to do, so I'm curious.
"feeling like you're good at your job and feeling like you just can't get it right" ...hit me hard
Im having alot of trouble at work lately this made me cry
sending hugs and tissues, I've been there. Hope this helps
Don't cry love.. think about what can help. Baby steps.
A lot of Jessica's videos make me cry. You're not alone. I hope they were happy tears full of feeling understood.
First time I saw here on line I cried.. I realized I wasn't alone. With all of us here. We can help each other..
kabouter post you’re not alone at all! 🙆🏻 (that’s a hug)
There is hope for you; it’s gonna get better ❤️
Are there any specific situations you’re having (that you’re comfortable disclosing) that we can help with? You’ve got a tribe here who wants to help 😊
Timestamps:
1:20 L: Learn about ADHD
2:19 I: Identify specific challenges
3:06 F: Find accomodations
5:02 T: Try them
This should be pinned!
Let me just caution everyone here: HR is not your friend. Their function is to protect he company from the employee NOT the other way around. I would not encourage anyone to go to HR and disclose their ADHD. I don't see any scenario where this will end well for the employee.
If you wanna take a quick history tour, then listen up. HR was made because women had entered the workforce. When men were the only employees, there wasn’t an HR.
Seldomely. Many have experienced HR like Union selling you out to the employer...sad. They pay them.
"Testing the accommodation not the person".. I like that.
I never realized you could be ADHD without the hyperactivity. I have all the symptoms but I am always tired. I used to think I was undiagnosed throughout my childhood but its getting worse as I get into my mid to late thirties. Thank you for this channel.
Michelle Lopez I have adhd and I sometimes can’t stay awake without my medication. My brain just doesn’t get enough stimulation and decides to shut down, which is extremely annoying. I didn’t get diagnosed until my junior year of high school after a lot of pushing to get tested, you’re definitely not alone!
@@BookishLish I never linked my tiredness with my ADD before. But it seems to be a thing. I always wondered why Im so tired no matter how much I sleep. I can sleep 12 hours no problem if I go to bed early. No matter how early I go to bed I still cant wake up earlier unless I have a comittment like work. I guess it makes sense with my brain waves being more in an alpha state thats closer to the sleepy waves lol
Interesting! I’m always tired and could sleep all day if you let me. It’s so frustrating because it makes me feel unproductive. But then when I am up I can’t get my thoughts organized enough to start/complete tasks. Ugh
Michelle
I struggle with this sometimes and usually because I can't shut my brain off which wears me out.
Not easy to find a solution to power down. Tried meditation and energy work which helps most times.
Sometimes exercise in one way shape or form works and sometimes a change in life. Mine have been drastic changes and now settling down I start to think again. Grrr just need sleep. I sometimes only get 2 hours of sleep a night as I can't power down until I'm all out of energy and unstimulated. Good and bad sides to this... Keep track of what tools work for you to sleep, get engaged or simply function.
Good luck with everything.
Cheers
Oh and not sure if this helps but for me I have had to save coffee for night time as coffee has a calming effect on me which helps me sleep. If I drink it in the morning I find I'm very tired most if not all day
“I’M BUSINESSING” 😂
I love how you make so many points while being fun at the same time!
With my ADHD I thrived at a particular IT job for 7 years that I was there. I was the go-to guy for everything. I got a really good offer from another company. After working for that new employer for almost six months they fired me and would not tell me why even though I was getting good feedback from multiple sources and I was getting things done. I think it was that management couldnt deal with my ADHD. I have grown very cynical about employers since then. It probably helps to have a good lawyer just in case. I hate to think this way but we have to protect ourselves.
It sounds a lot like a gardener seeing a rose grow well in the sun, with lots if watering and compost, transferring it to a swamp, expecting it to grow well in the swamp...
The rose was thriving because it was in the right conditions, but not in the swamp.
I have had two employers refuse me any accommodations. One was retail and wouldn't let me keep a water bottle with me at the register (between ADHD med side effects and another medical condition, I needed it), and I quit. The other was IT and I was pretty much forbidden from listening to music or podcasts until I told them that it was a violation of the ADA and I would be contacting a lawyer that afternoon. Starting singing a different tune then, but continued to harp about my performance though I got every assigned task done in a timely manner. Plenty of employers don't care about the wellbeing of any employee, let alone disabled ones. Being able to contact a lawyer is essential for these circumstances.
wow that just goes to show that some people care more about things that don't matter rather than results. I was trained by a few ADHD IT techs and they are amazing teachers and hard workers.
IT sounds like it'd be great for ADHD if the employer is good. Plenty of long-term projects to work on when you're feeling productive, but lots of distractions to call you away at the right moment. And the best kind of distractions, too; the ones where you can swoop in, think of a novel solution to a problem, enact it, and then fly away. Engaging, not tedious, and no unexpected deadlines. No wonder you did well
sorry man. It's hard with some people. They have no tolerance for difference.
I'm a simple man. I get a notification from How to ADHD, I like the video.
Hello from a brain in Portugal :p
awwww thank you, that's so nice! Hello from Los Angeles!
Olá from a fellow brain from Portugal!
So your brain is in Portugal where is your body? 😂
NickAc just so you know: if you are hitting that like in the beginning of the video, RUclips might not count it. Like “you haven’t watched this yet, gimme a break”.
when you were talking about getting fired for being 4 minutes late, it made me feel better to know that I wasn't the only one. I also was almost fired (I quit before I could get reprimanded because I was too stressed out to get formally suspended) for the exact same reasons. this was all before I was diagnosed with ADHD. it really helps knowing that I'm not the only one who this happens to.
4 minutes? That's extreme. It's not like you been late like for 4 hours. Geez.
I quit a job making $22/hr once because I made a careless mistake; it wasn't even a big deal - 5 minutes of clean up that I did before quitting, but I stressed out over it and couldn't deal with the possibility of it or something dangerous happening as the consequence of my carelessness again.
4 minutes? Where I used to work you could come in 10-15 minutes late and still not get fired as long as you had a acceptable excuse. It's extremely hard to get fired where I used to work. With everybody being so hard up for workers they take anybody they can.
I’ve been almost fired and written up for performance issues. I also almost dropped out of my graduate program. One of the nice things about finding this ADHD community is finding fellow humans who have been through similar things. It can be really alienating to always be the person having performance issues despite being otherwise smart or talented and feeling like you’re going insane and losing control of reality lol.
Even up to an hour. Rules where pretty lax and it was sloppily run.
Or written up. Just reprimanded. After a while they even stopped that.
I just got fired from my job last week after being there almost 2 years. It consisted of sitting in one place and troubleshooting things hours at a time back to back over the phone. I felt weak admitting i had adhd and sitting in one place staring at a screen asking the same questions again and again was actually mega stressful for me and my performance suffered from that. I really pushed to improve but still lost the job cause my managers had already given up on me. Ive been fired before (for similar reasons and prediagnosis) and i honestly considered i wasnt good enough, or functional, or even worthy of having any job to provide for myself. This video helped me so much in realizing the importance of being straight forward and asking for help before its too late. I feel a little bit less of a failure because of that so... a big thank you from me.
You’re so not a failure. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this situation right now! But I hope that this video helps even a little bit so you can only move up from here on out. It’s gonna be okay!
Killcupidsaaki17 I used to be a process and maintenance tech in waste water treatment, that job was completely incompatible with the ADHD type2 I didn't know I had until four years after I quit.
Nowdays I work as a public service/disability transport driver, and it works great!
Especially with meds.
Killcupidsaaki17 -- Been there, done that, got TWO of those t-shirts... =( And I'm saying that as a female engineer who had a career in an industry where every company that I could have worked for was considered a governemt contractor -- which means that all of my employers should have been taking affirmative action with regards to my employment... =/
At my first job, I kept quiet about my issues (and I have lots of physical and mental health diagnoses, including autism + ADHD) UNTIL things got bad... that job ended with some pretty bad harassment and discrimination.
At my second job (which was technically two jobs -- one temporary and one permanent... but that's another story for another day), I started dropping hints from day #1 that I identified as disabled and pretty much everyone _knew_ (even if they didn't exactly know what was 'wrong with me') by the time that I was permanently hired at that company... that job ended with me being offered a severance package (that I was not comfortable accepting) not too long after everyone had essentially been forced to sign new employment agreements that contained non-compete agreements. And I actually thought that that job was the perfect fit for me, especially because my boss had a disability, too...
My career is over but maybe yours isn't quite over, yet? Take what you've learned from "messing up" at your last job, and WHEN YOU FEEL READY, try again... it sounds like your biggest strength is that you _just don't give up_ (until 'the thing' is fixed) when troubleshooting needs to be done... and, depending on your specific industry, that could be a HUGE asset. =)
@@sunglassesgirl having lost two jobs doesn't mean that your career is over! I'm sure you can find a job in your field that will work out for you. There are so many factors that can affect it working out well or not... one boss changing can change everything. So just look for other jobs at other companies. Seeing that your comment is from 7 months ago, I hope that you've found something new by now :)
@@Czadzikable -- I wish it was NOT the case that my career in _that_ very tiny, very technical, highly specialized, yet obscure profession -- I'm a process engineer, but I was a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in a in sub-discipline of a sub-discipline... if that makes any sense... PLUS I had worked for the largest multinational corporation in the industry (by annual sales volume) _AND_ the other multinational corporation that I had worked for was easily within the industry's top six largest.
Needless to say, I was on my way to becoming a 'big fish' in my industry's 'big pond' after only FOUR years. =) And yes, I totally agree that ONE awesome boss can change everything... and I did have one of those really awesome supervisors at my last job BECAUSE he DID take 'my side' and 'stand up for me' when I called out vendors (who we were paying to do work for us) for doing subpar work because they were cutting corners / being lazy / doing shoddy work. It gets even worse if you knew which industry I worked in and/or what type of processes I worked with.
To make a long story short -- Executive Management at a gigantic multinational corporation, a 24 month non-compete agreement that I was required to sign to keep my job, corporate greed, *AND me refusing to 'look the other way' and go along with fraud* are the reason that my career got destroyed. I can live with that... my integrity is not for sale AND it's just not worth it, to me, to continue to sacrifice my health and well-being.
If you are running a software development team, here are some accommodations you can put in place include:
1) strive for projects to have a clear Definition of Done.
This probably should be a written in collaboration with whoever’s pain point you are trying to solve.
2) Automated Testing tools that can support Test-Driven-Development
This is such a great video! I have been lucky enough to find a job I love that I just succeed at, so I haven't needed any accommodations. As a preschool teacher, my job is pretty ADHD friendly. There is virtually zero paperwork, each activity only lasts 15-30 minutes because preschoolers and I have the same attention span (lol), everything in preschool is done color coded and in calendar form, there is a strict daily routine because consistent schedules are great for young kids (and ADHD brains), and I can be crazy/silly with the kids! But that hasn't always been case and I have struggled in the past with jobs. I have never had the courage before to tell a boss while I had so many issues. Even now, with a job I have basically zero struggles with, I am still considering telling my boss that I have ADHD, just because I love working there and feel like I can be honest. Haven't decided yet, but we'll see!
I really wish this were the case for higher grade-level teachers. My high-school students seem to complain about even the most basic routines I try to set in place, and enforcing a noise reduction in my classroom during independent work is nearly impossible because administrators assume that students listening to music and working aren't actually doing any work. Standardized testing is the bane of my existence- because it keeps me from doing more hands-on activities that students might actually want to do.
I love this!
damn i wish. im an out of school care teacher and there is so much paperwork, and cleaning
Oh...I am a secondary school teacher in training, and was just wondering last night if I should maybe consider switching to primary...
My boss has ADHD too and she encourages playing videos and listening to music while working. She asks for an approximate schedule, but doesn’t mind if it isn’t exactly right. If I need to miss a day, I just shoot her a text and she is always understanding and never makes me feel bad for missing. She also tells me to take breaks when i need them. Because of this, my work ethic and productivity is extremely high. In past jobs, I would call out and miss and genuinely hated working to the point it made me depressed. Now, I look forward to working and get sad when I miss a day. Having a boss that truly understands and helps is amazing. Everything in my space has a post it label, and if she notices something doesn’t, she asks if it needs one and I’m like “omg ur right”. Checklists are also SO HELPFUL because I’m very forgetful
As a person with adhd I struggle to concentrate on things including RUclips videos but your editing make it entertaining to watch. I love your videos so much and am grateful for how much u have helpful 💓
Oh yeah!! She does this so well!!
Yes!! And I love that so much of the how to vids are short and manageable so I won't get bored
After being fired over and over I decided to work for myself. Thank you for this video. I haven’t been able to seek therapy yet but hopefully I can soon. Your channel really helps me
My employer actually recommended I get tested for ADHD before I even thought about it. He has it too and when he left, my new boss sat me down and discussed what she could do to help me. Now when I walk into work, I check in with her and she gives me a written to-do list that I can adjust and manipulate depending on the day. At the end of my shift, we discuss how things went and review our action plan for the next day. It is really helpful.
Oh wow!!! That’s incredible!
No one cares for me like that
I stopped binge watching Steven Universe because Jessica's notification popped up, it's a pretty big deal. Thanks for the video, even though i'm currently unemployed it was still awesome and informative as usual!
awww I'm honored! :D Thanks for stopping by!
Jess, same here!
How to ADHD I stoped watching a movie 😂👍
oh wow! I feel so special :D
How to ADHD I meant I am also unemployed but the video was very helpful. Maybe I ought to show this video to my JSSA counselor. And teach her a few things about ADHD brains! :D
Jessica, I have a request. Would you please consider doing a video on what your work-week looks like day-to-day? I'm a content creator too (radio, podcasts, videos), and I really struggle with getting work done. Well, it always gets done, but it is such a struggle preparing incrementally each day and I usually wait until the very last minute to prepare and perform. I would love to see how you do what you do, and I am positive others would too. You're absolutely brilliant!
Come hang out with us on the Patreon Discord, there’s a behind the scenes vlog at the $5 level :) We talk all about that
How to ADHD I'm really interested in a video like this as well. I haven't worked a 9-5 since graduating college because I get so bored of a job or worry about not being able to stay engaged consistently enough to make it work well.
I'm really trying/interested in free-lancing type work and gigs because I just feel more "wired" for them. Or being my own boss of sorts. But keeping some part-time or flexible job while also trying to do my own projects is hard to balance.
Work-life balance video perhaps? What type of work schedule or structures help?
How to ADHD I will have to check out the Vlog too if that's not too late if it was livestreamed? Do you have a link?
Jk after I took the 5 sec to think about/focus/remember what a Patreon was I found the link to it in your description, lol.
My god its like u read my mind.... Just dealing with this all the time right now.. I can't go into details publicly but its not good!
aww sending hugs! Hope this helps!
i just bursted into tears when you said to focus on their strengths. its so simple as to how simple it is. and yet it lacks in so many workplaces. im reaching my 3 months at my 4th job in 2 years since i graduated.
It’s amazing how much of a difference simple accommodations can make. I was having trouble getting things turned in on time and they’d always have careless mistakes. My boss gave me a laminated sheet saying what was due every week, what time and day it was due, and reminders about things I often forgot (did I have the correct date on everything?) Such a simple thing but it made a world of difference!
Wow you're lucky to have such a nice boss!
The last clip about how it’s more than sticky notes hit me hard. I’ve worked at the company in with for nearly 10 years, since I was a teenager. I’ve worked from a phone position to being software developer to being a security tester.
Lockdown and everything really messed up any real flow I had to my day. I ended up taking mental health leave because it got too much and got diagnosed. Since going back to work it’s hard to explain what I need because I don’t understand what’s going on either. Sometimes I feels like maybe I’m not meant to work at this level, people have been so mean since I came back… really killed my passion I can barely even sit at my desk without having a panic attack.
This video gave me hope but I could see how that part of the video felt real, like it came from personal experience. Thank you.
I'm the same way. I took over 6 months of disability leave and now that I'm gradually getting back to the full-time job, I have no idea what accommodations would help me other than using noiwe canceling headphones and a quiet environment. I'm a people pleasing overachiever and I know that I have to stop it because it's going to be the end of me, but I also can't get myself to slow down, or the opposite, to do boring things, or even set priorities (when everything is #1). My employer asks me what I need and I'm like I don't know... 😢
Hello, I’m very new to your channel but I’m so happy to be apart of it! You’re channel helps so many people including me and you bring a positive energy and a great message that is both informational,fun and shows the world that ADHD brains are brilliant and creative if you take the time to understand them. I hope you have even more success on your channel and I’m happy to be apart of the team!❤️
Hi new brain! Welcome!!! Happy to have you here :D And yes I agree! ADHD brains have SO MUCH to offer if given the right support and understanding
You’re so cute and I love your videos! Thank you for helping me through those tough years. ❤️😭
by the way thank you for loving my comment Jessica❤️❤️❤️you’re a great influence🤗
My boss is so gracious with me as I’m someone who is chronically late for years 😭
Thoughtful. Informative. And I can't remember a single word of it because I was distracted by the confused look on the Puppy's face.
@Mike, if you can, set up a time when you can sit down and you can take notes which you can post places you will see them, OR have her text you/email the things as reminders, or leave up post-it notes for you. OR she can even shoot a quick video to-do list and share that with you, or you can ask if you can record the conversation using your phone, like an old tape recorder, so you make sure you have it all :D I keep a bullet journal with a "Things Hubby has asked me to work on" page, so I can keep a running list of chores and habits I should work on to smooth things around the house. One time he asked me to adjust how I was parking the car, and after 3 days I just couldn't remember. So I ended up writing it on the garage door in BIG chalk letters "PARK HERE NOW" :P Got me to do it, and it became a habit by the time the chalk wore off.
Good luck!
Mike Albritton your wife stops mid sentence and looks at your glassy eyed stare. "Were you in the puppy dream again?" No.....but hypothetically, if i was, what were we talking ahout?
Cazriel haha what a great way to put it! I first read your comment as being in the”puppy room” and not dream. So I might have to say that I was in the other room when I get distracted 😂
Heismyrock3 the hard part is when the puppies get out of the room
Cazriel absolutely. Even with medication this can still be a problem for me
Can you make a video on how to live with people who say your lazy but don't understand people with adhd. Please
:D Here's the video for Hearts: ruclips.net/video/LcZuL1jQJuM/видео.html
Here's the video for tackling ADHD myths: ruclips.net/video/V5tLi1bYilA/видео.html
This would be really helpful honestly
Story Prompts if they aren't essential to you in a social or economic context, I wouldn't bother explaining and just tell wankers like that to get lost.
SonsOfLorgar well I am 15 so my parents.....
Omg. I did these things for myself. Like sticky notes. I almost died one day someone tossed out my post it notes I left.. than I explained to them it helps me. Always had pens and notes with me..oh yes my fit bit.. need to keep myself on task.
Recently found out I’ve been living with ADD for a while now, when I started going to therapy because I’ve struggled with school work for years now (you know, bright, talented, woefully inconsistent) and I was constantly spiraling in self-hate. (I’m a college senior, I was kind of ruining my future) A few months in I had a session in which I was asked how I remember to take my meds, to which I responded that I didn’t, at which point they apologized; they hadn’t realized that I hadn’t been diagnosed. It’s been super weird figuring life out ever since and long story short I found your videos after a really hard anxiety filled day (finals week, ugh) and now I feel a little more equipped to get through this.
I just lost my job that I had finally found doing something Im passionate about . Im completely devistated and went into severe depression. The same problem was because of being chronically late. And that was basically the only issue. The rest I was very good at my job and would offer my help if needed. I was mainly the only that would stay very late until I was able to get the job done. I tried to back up my jobs team in mainly everything. I would even be top 3 on my medical equipment delivery numbers but then again I dnt know how to make them understand that I was not late because I didn't care I was late because I struggle with everything in my everyday life but I was willing to push through and be there regardless
No one recognized my "extreme value" and now I'll just do it myself. Setting up "shop" real soon.
Great Vid too. HOPE some Employers/Employees benefit from it.
Wade Patton how has business gone this past year?
Did you remember to file your quarterly estimated taxes?
Fantastic as always, Jessica. This one hit close to home because I was recently fired after a complicated process of trying to develop tools and habits and efficiencies but doing it all alone. I didn't disclose to all staff because they were already belittling and judging me but the boss knew. Accommodations were discussed and were promised but only one was implemented at a cost of a couple of dollars to the company. Instead, I was given even tougher tasks and impossible targets. A lot of time was invested in putting additional pressure on me and in the end they opted to just fire me. Thanks so much for the reminder that they left a lot on the table. I really was a valuable asset but companies often don't see it this way. Termination is the easy way out but after a lifetime of being brushed aside it sure hits the self-esteem. I often turn to you to help me lighten up on myself and get a boost to my esteem.
In process of finally transitioning into a “real” job, out of retail and into the field I went back to school for (btw, I’m supposed to be studying for a final right now - classic ADHD).
The tips and hints in this video will hopefully be very useful in starting off on the best possible footing with my - hopefully - new employer, and preventing some of the managerial conflicts that have long fueled much of the loathing towards my current job.
I think that a large part of why I stayed this long (16 years!) is that I actually like most of my coworkers, and because finding a new job would have been even more stressful than just putting up with the old one...
You have made such a difference in my life since I have been diagnosed (as an adult). Thank you for your insight(s) and for planting hope in my life. I'm truly thankful.
How have I NEVER heard of that website?? Omg. You’re a hero for making this video. Sometimes, we don’t even know what to ask for.
LOVE this. So many companies run screaming from the mention of ‘disorders’ though 😡
Like you said, when I am appreciated I go above and beyond.
If I get ‘the wrong boss’ I may as well pack up and leave
I was diagnosed at 36. My manager actually asked me if it was an avenue I had explored. Her daughter was diagnosed young. I was struggling at work(understatement). When I was diagnosed and medicated, just like your Ted talk said, it was like putting on glasses. It was awesome and maddening because I kept thinking about what I could have accomplished. Now I'm managing a small group of people. I'm open at work about my diagnosis but I work with really amazing people. We are finding a lot of my coping mechanisms I had developed over the years benefit others quite a bit and with all the falls I have had along the way has made me a pretty awesome manager because I understand where my employees are coming from.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when i was in second grade i am 18 now i struggle with a lot of things that others my age already know it's hard i cry it hurts watching your videos makes me feel normal i just had to try harder than everyone my age it's stressful at times thank you so much i love your videos😭❤❤
Lol she’s so lovable and cheesy. Just received my diagnosis yesterday. Glad I found this channel.
I have ADHD and I normally can’t memorize lines and Important things but I joined Theater because my friend thought I was a good actor and I got roles that I had to memorize a lot of lines and my friend and the theater teacher helped me memorize my lines I am thankful to have people like that in my life
I’ve been a nurse for 6 yrs. this video 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 I constantly feel inadequate. Not that I don’t do my work or follow strict policies, it’s the mental exhaustion, doing a task, having a coworker talk to me & interrupting my thought process.. then I forget what I was doing. Ty for ur channel. I finally feel hope. I pray everyday to be Normal! Wake up have coffee n be motivated instead of waking up feeling Terrible, take meds, wait 30-45 min to feel a little better and then struggle to stay on task.
I like how you constantly keep jumping the video around in post, it keeps me more engaged. Like every time I look away I get pulled back by the sharp movements.
I am 47 years old, and have basically diagnosed myself since I can't seem to get a diagnosis with an actual doctor. I love your videos. They have been so helpful and explains a lot about how I learn. I wish I knew sooner, but at least I know now! Thank you so much. :)
This channel and some of the autism channels have done the same for me. I’ll be 38 this January myself. I may get a diagnosis next year if I have enough money when they actually finally have an opening.
OMG you’re so close to 1 million subs. Everyone been together get her to 1 million
Hi , well I am also diagnosed with ADHD , it's really difficult to manage things. People used to say that I am being naughty and immature. I usually lost in a different world . After a lot of scoldings and complains , I felt myself as a burden for my family. I try my level best for doing good in everything. I love drawing, writing stories and making dress. Plus I love to filming and making my own animation. You can tell that I am a multi tasking girl with various hobbies. I used to think that I am the only one in this world who is suffering from this thing. Until I started watching your videos. It made me realize that I am not alone. There are thousands of people like me facing the same. As before I thought ADHD is a bad thing. But now I think that ADHD is something that makes me a awesome person and makes me view this world in a different but in a unique way. My friends doesn't have these many hobbies as I do . They tell me that you got a special talent or some super power thingy so that I can do these many things. My friends ask me for giving some creative ideas about project and art. Thank you for making me realize that I am very special and I have a capability to do something good for others too.
Love it! Also I think the tips might work at school as well, and I really liked when you said "Focus on their strengths" today I came home sad, because one of my teachers said I was a disaster, just because I lost a piece of paper, but I felt like she didn't considered other things I have done really well at her class...
clarita pena google “gallup strengthsfinder”. It is worth the money.
To be honest I'm not old enough to have a job yet, but you helped me with working and getting something done like homework or chores with ADHD, thank you:)
I was diagnosed at 46 (last month, actually) and feel compelled to go back to a particular past employer and let them know. They were such a great firm and my boss clearly knew something was different about me. They "weren't sure about me" at times (probably on the verge of firing me on and off) and I would have a "deer caught in headlights" look when some complex assignment was given and I was asked if I understood. I remember not understanding (brain just refused to engage), but I said I did and I took good notes and worked hard to figure it out later and get the job done. That had always been my routine. Then, just before I quit to pursue an exciting new life connected to adventure sports (whoohoo!!), I had an opportunity to lead the firm through its first "corporate games" competition. I was waaaay into it and basically insisted they (the 100-person firm) let me coordinate the team. It was so much fun and I had no expectation that I would get high marks for that, but I did and it was nice to know they valued my contribution. It's been 20 years, but I'll bet my old boss would use the knowledge to benefit others at the firm. He's the managing partner now! So much respect for him...the entire firm was in a league of their own. ❤
I feel so much kinship with you/your experience. Think we may even be in the same industry. would love to hear more!!!
This is oddly timed as I just got fired from my job because of the challenges with my ADHD, searching for a new job this is very helpful. Thank you.
I know the feeling it’s happened to me a lot hope things are going better now
Same here
I love your videos! I wish I could ask for accommodations at work just like I during my studies. But unfortunately I work in a highly competitive corporate environment, where they don’t really care about your difficulties. As long as you deal with them and get the job done, don’t even bother bringing personal things up. In that sense though, I am glad that no one is micromanaging me and that they focus on the work I deliver. Hardly ever have I met a deadline, but the quality of my deliverables compensates for my delays so most of my superiors just look away. But I do know that down the line I will need to get a more adhd friendly job, more fulfilling and sustainable, maybe even become an entrepreneur. For now only a couple of colleagues know about my adhd, one of whom has become a huge support without even knowing. She reminds me of administrative deadlines, she reminds me to eat, etc, etc. She is incredibly organised, and in the other hand she asks for my help in unforeseen, difficult or new situations.
same, i've never met a deadline, but the quality of my deliverables compensates for my delays....:'
I can not thank you enough or tell you how much your channel is changing my life, Sincerely Thanks
LOVE how this videomoves quickly and with different angles. Thanks!
Also, thank you, Jessica for mentioning the reasons for keeping this knowledge to ourselves. I have been afraid for most of my life that I would be judged or look like an excuse-maker for ever mentioning ADHD.
Sadly, this only works if the management cares to begin with. Lots of places see it as 'You can't do the job? We'll find someone else who can.'. I'm dealing with that right now, and I've had troubles with all of this; the time management, the distraction, the not being able to pull myself away from things, mistakes being made because I'm under pressure. I had a desk by a big happy window, where it tended to be quieter and calmer. Their opinion was that because I was more isolated that it was distracting me from my job and it would be a better idea to put me next to the aisle of traffic, with my back to all the people walking by, who can just look at whatever I'm doing. And I'm across from my boss's desk and next to my supervisor's desk, and this ramped up my anxiety even more. I just feel frozen and I'm still underperforming. I'm literally looking for a new job because of this small of a thing. I tried to explain why this would make it worse but the response was 'I really think this will help.' COMPLETE dismissal. And because I'm still underperforming they're still on my ass and it's coming down to my work ethic as a person, and I'm one of the hardest workers they have. T__T
The simply fact is you are going to have a hard time getting employed if you openly admit to it I have had so many Jobs were I said it in a interview and it turned south quick my adhd makes it extremely hard for me to work with because I don’t see things the same way others do
Yeah, no joke. This one time I got an interview at a bank for some back-end job involving computers and math. They gave me the interview at an ADHD job fair, so they knew. They asked what accommodations I might need and I was like "well, I get real motivated in the morning and want to start early a lot, but sometimes I can't get anything done and I feel I need to leave early in the afternoon if my med aren't working or else I'll just distract everyone else around. So the ability to come in a couple hours early and leave in the middle of the afternoon if necessary would be great. At my old jobs, this meant I worked more hours than other people on average."
They were like "No, we can't do that. We expect everyone to be at work only during work hours and to be productive during those times. Frankly, we're not sure we want to hire someone who refuses to be productive when we pay them to be."
@@danreyn Gggggrrrrrrr. So relatable/frustrating. What is the neurotypical obsession with specific, uniform work hours?! Particularly in situations where those specific hours in NO WAY impact the ability of an employee to successfully accomplish the tasks, goals or duties of the work that is being performed? It feels so petty!
YAY!! I made it!!! I've been sick. And Off my meds LOL. Your videos always make me smile!! Thank you for being open, honest and Awesome!!
oh no, sending hugs!! Hope you feel better soon!
How to ADHD Awww!! Thanks Jessica! Why am I procrastinating going to the doctor?! 😂🤦🤷 I blame ADD!
I hate when I get sick and have to be off meds! It happened to me a few weeks ago.I had a sinus infection and had to take a medication that really shouldn't be mixed with a stimulant. So for a week it literally felt like I was choosing, "Do I want to breathe and be pain free or do I want my brain to work correctly." It was a tough week...
I have watched about 5 of your videos now and the way that you incorporate your bloopers, facts, humor and basically, your teaching methods and presentation style are on point .. Good stuff
In my previous job, our boss had our morning stand-up meeting at 830am. It was way too early for me, and I knew that me being late was not an indication of how good I was at my job. I talked to him and pushed the meeting to 930am (we were a team of 5 so it was easier to make changes like this). I flourished after that because I wasn't stressing out about getting to work on time for the meeting.
thank you for helping me through this school year so I could show my teachers who don't understand adhd at all this channel really helped me
I don't know how you do it but your videos come out at the exact right time. I was sent home last night, from work. I have been getting a lot of anxiety as I feel like other employees don't understand me and I get bullied. I was depressed and my meds wore off so I became irritated by customers who were rude. I have never been sent home in 35 years of working. I love this job and most aspects about it but also feel like my needs are not met, yet all other staff needs are. I am valuable to the business, just a week ago I proved how valuable by putting together a huge promotion, with no budget, that increased sales, guest engagement, staff engagement and my own. I put together everything for the superhero day and even got to play captain america for 13 hours. This I really love doing. I'm sending this video to my peers and hope they watch it as if not, it could mean by bye from job no 1352!!!! You are amazing......
PUPPY!!!! I'm retired now so I don't have to work, but I know the difference between doing well at work and struggling - and accommodations and strategies are definitely the way to go.
I'm dealing with this right now. I've been struggling in a relatively new job because my boss doesn't really understand the inconsistency in my work. Sometimes I'm totally killing it and other times I get caught scrolling on my phone when I should be working. I'm preparing to have a conversation with her about some strategies that could help and this video really helped calm my anxiety. Thank you so much!! 💜
Sarah Kilham, hi! What strategies did you come up with and how did the talk go with boss? I hope all went well for you. 🙂
Sarah Kilham how did the conversation go?
Today was a good day at work: my employer bought me the post-it note dispenser and erasable pens I asked for. It's a good feeling to know they have my back.
I am not gunna lie. I did not expect you to be still making videos. way to go on the persistense. I know hard it can be
I have worked in job development for many years, and I've assisted employers on providing accommodations. Yet it was the hardest thing I ever had to do to ask for accommodations for my own job because of adhd. I am so glad I did though. Not only did it make me a better, more productive employee, but it helped me truly empathize with my caseload. I also truly resonated with your story at the end on having an employer that valued your strengths. I have a boss like that now, and it has made a world of difference for me. Great video!
Thank you for this
Quite relatable- especially when you stated “having to be corrected many times”
I myself am also in a similar situation. But I am terrified to disclose my ADHD to my boss because at my last job when I was struggling with certain aspects of my job and I finally brought up my disability with my boss, they fired me that same day. Now at my current job, my department manager and store leaders have it out for me. I have been hearing from other coworkers that the think I am lazy and need to “try harder.” And the worst part is I would often beat myself up and believe those claims that I don’t work hard enough and I’m lazy when I forget that how my brain is built is NOT MY FAULT. Thankfully this new job has a union attached to it and I recently spoke with them to get some advice and figure out a solution. I stumbled across your channel recently and am so thankful I did because it reminds me that I am not alone when I feel like sometimes the entire world is stacked against me. Pressuring me into “fitting in” to a world that doesn’t seem like it wants me. Thank you. 🙏🏻
THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this video. This is exactly what employers of and employees with ADHD brains need to understand, and what isn't clearly stated anywhere else on the Web that I've found thus far. By posting this video, you've just saved a lot of people's careers. Thank you!!!!!!!
Soo. . . I havent been diagnosed (yet) but everything i learn about ADHD fits me. I was made redundant from my previous job in 2020 (covid) and after that i accidentally got a job that perfectly fits the now vs not now mentality. I can sit and distract myself until i have work to do then do that job and go back to youtube after. Its fantastic.
I feel like you’re talking directly to me
Memorial health system
I discovered this channel recently, and let me tell you, I'm so grateful; I've been trying to explain a lot of these things to people for YEARS now, and while I've done my research and I've got the personal anecdotal evidence, you've taken the time to format it in a way that's palatable and understandable to both ADHD and non-ADHD viewers. Also "NOO!!! You're supposed to make smoothies!!" was a fantastic joke, and I legitimately audibly laughed, but god did that hit hard, because it really does feel like that sometimes.
I recently got diagnosed with adhd it's day two with being on my meds. I struggled with starting to write my novels and couldn't understand why it was so hard. I'm really hoping with this channel and with taking my meds I'll be able to get my novels done and in the future be able to self publish them and eventually become a full time author. Thank you so much for making this channel.
Oh good luck!! Writing is hard, I honestly can’t do it without my meds (I’ve tried 😂)
This warms my ❤️ , great contrnt as always 🤗 your channel is the fifference between staying down or rising up.
What really helped me at work was a separate calendar and to do list. I had 3 calendars 📆 For Work, Personal Life (my self), and Family Management.
I love your videos and they make me feel very happy about my ADHD where I used to be embarrassed. I can't take medication for adhd because fo other mental health problems is there any non medication ways to help with adhd
Yes, lots! Most of my videos are about non-medication ways to help ADHD, but the big ones are mindfulness/meditation, exercise, get enough sleep. Diet can help some people too. And strategies/accommodations, having the right partner and/or the right job is enormously important. Coaching and/or cognitive behavioral therapy can be game changing too.
I'm not crying I swear! I just got off work a few hours ago and I was frustrated and upset, my to-do list STILL isn't done and I had 3 different emails corrected for typos (story of my life) and it was nice to hear that I can ask for accommodations and that there is a website that has helpful suggestions for accommodations.
I have auto spell check -- and I use that to re-read my emails, some in the office have started the narrative that my emails are not clear....rereading them and reading them out loud to myself help me edit...and I also indent supporting sentences...ridiculous as it sounds
I speak for myself and there rest of the tribe, thank you for your time and help , your really put things in perspective on adhd
Thanks for the video and the resources! I may use them as I disclose my depression to my boss. I really just need to ask to use some of my sick/safe time for psychotherapy appointments, but this makes me curious about what else might be helpful in my job with respect to my depression and ADHD. Thanks again :)
I didn’t know about that JAN thing! Why didn’t I know about that? That’ll be so helpful! I’ve been told I might have ADHD, but that I definitely have GAD, among other things, and that website has helpful stuff for that too! Thank you so much for sharing these kind of things for all of us out here.
Dude, I just hit that point. It started with my Depression, which when solved, 3 years later, finally being treated for ADHD, on day 3 of medication, my jaw relaxed for maybe, the first time.
The adorable puppy lift is killing me. I feel like I could watch that ALL DAY! SOO cute! On a serious note, I can not imagine talking to my HR department about my needs, I don't trust that the information would not be used against me. These videos have been a lifesaver. Watch one each day as I am starting my day, Helps me remember I am not flawed, or "broken" and it is SOOO wonderful to know I am not alone. To all the other Brains out there, thank you for posting comments and I'd love to know what other online communities are out there for support.
Can't believe I got to 58 before being told I had ADHD, now I've found your channel and book, thank you
1:13 I was so pumped, already getting up to grab a dumbbell.
Getting all teary eyed. I wish I would have known before and had bosses and HR departments that knew. My life at the jobs in the past (well...and even now) would be so much easier if we were working together instead of management thinking that I am just like everyone else.
I wish I was in a place 3 years ago to see this video. I am so thankful for your channel. 😊👍
i seriously cannot thank you enough for this series. this has saved my life (my marriage, my work, myself).
Thank you Jess, that was the perfect video at the perfect time (to watch, its 2022 now...) for me - im in a crisis right now and my employer asked me how he could possibly help me with my adhd related problems. He values me as a person and what i can do. Now i have something pretty simple i can provide to him and myself too. Already translated and printed :)
That's why I love your videos Jessica. You put such a positive spin on our ADHD brains. Thank you. And yes I was given written warnings for being a few minutes late at work as well. But my current employer understands me and helps me.
you are very talented at this and seem to get alot of awareness raised. good on you, keep up the good work and thank you.
Honestly, I would strongly recommend (at whatever comfort level you are ok with) being open about your ADHD at work. Bring it up in conversation. Openly mention it as a reason for accommodations. Because a workplace where you feel comfortable talking about your ADHD is one where you will thrive. If your employer discriminates against you, or makes you feel bad about your ADHD, you're going to have a LOT more problems in other areas as well. Finding an employer that is welcoming and accepting will help you grow instead of driving you away, and you are more likely to stay with the company longer and do better work for them. For college students, this could be working with your school's advisers or other offices where counselors will be your supervisors (like the career office or the disability office). As an adult, you can try look for a company that makes of point of advertising how they treat employees, or one that actively advocates for people with disabilities. You can also choose a field where people are more likely to be understanding or knowledgeable on the subject, like social services worker or librarian.
Understand that sometimes the HR person you reach out to will not be the right person..The Point is ...I fought for this for 11 weeks .. reaching out to someone else higher and higher until... I was heard .... And now I have been heard .... And so we move on... Not every HR people or dept will even know what to do...but not giving up made the difference ....don't settle on one person's inability to understand..
You also might find the HR person with ADHD 🙋♀️
I have ASD and not ADHD (that I know of) and somehow your videos are super easy to relate to, I’m finding them really helpful. Keep up the good work you can help more people than you think :)
I worked really hard for my former employers, because they seemed to truly understand my ADHD and my RSD, and worked really hard to give me positive reinforcement. They were good friends as well as coworkers and employers.
I love how she lifts the dog. It’s so cute!!🐶🐶
I heard criticism so often that I kind of got used to it and got depressed for not getting positive feedback for my strengths. Since I have gotten my diagnosis my perspective is shifting a lot.