I got diagnosed with full and major ADHD and Moderate Depression on April 18 and started on Adderall. The depression was the only thing that also lead me to ADHD and the explanation of why I am both awesome and suck at different things.

My job performance has been awful at best since Jan...and got worse in Feb as I got more depressed....I think the depression actually started last year (Nov or Dec, but milder then).

Either way...the dosage I had on Tuesday finally cleared up the fog a bit and I got stuff done...mind you not all the right stuff, but 1/2 the day was focused back on what my boss wants. Wed...I was much less effective...and I am not really sure why, except on Tue I realized just how much stuff I haven't been doing for such a long time and I think that made me more depressed and angry (at me for not seeing doc sooner...at the world, etc.)

Thurs my dose went up and my anxiety went through the roof when I figured I would get way over charged in getting my brakes fixed as my normal mechanic was going out of business...and I have been having financial trouble and on Wed I had to transfer money immediately after my pay so I wouldn't be overdrawn...well that likely contributed to Wed too.

Today I had a lower dose, but stress/anxiety is still pretty bad as I knew my boss would wonder where the assignment he gave me last week was, since there was definitely enough time to get it done in a week.

Either way...I am starting stuff for my Depression tomorrow...and still trying to get myself under control with behavior changes...and I am getting more worried that my turnaround will be too slow and that I will have days like yesterday where I might have a bad reaction to my new medication dosage and not have a productive day.

So...I don't know when and if I should tell my boss as I attempt to turn around my job and life, but my gut says don't unless I have to. Ironically his behavior as a supervisor that doesn't really manage people well (and he doesn't want to)...clearly has been a factor that was not as much a problem as earlier bosses who were more active and proactive and more positive attitude.

I found a site that suggested for ADHD in the Workplace:
Reasons for not disclosing:

If you do not need accommodations
If you are performing well on the job
If you feel that disclosing your disability will cause your supervisor and co–workers to discriminate against you
Reasons for disclosing:

If you fear losing your job because you haven't received the accommodations you need to succeed
If you are about to be fired because of performance issues
Well that's all well in good, but who knows how bad things are or not. God knows we are such great judges of the behavior of ourselves and others around us...right;)

I even wonder if telling him about the Deperssion thing is less of a risk as it is normally temporary and not considered a long-term condition, but I don't know...he is the least empathetic boss I have ever had....and very likely to treat any such issues as a sign of weakness...so I don't know.

I like many of the guides about ADHD in the workplace have all these understanding and helpful people willing to do extra stuff for you and even coach you...I'm not so sure.

Okay...I am not looking for specific advice and trust me...I can make up my own mind, but if anyone can share their experiences in telling or not telling and how that worked out...I would appreciate it.

Oh...and please...try not to just scare the crap out of me...I'm there already and need no help...I am looking for constructive feedback based on your own experiences.

P.S. I work in a very large company that has a HR dept, but I don't trust them either...and I also wouldn't want it getting out.

You're on the right track. Feel free to PM me.

See: http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49828
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42296

There are other threads on this topic as well! Happy trails to you!

How long have you work at the company?

Also does the ADHD / anxiety you experience interfer with doing your job properly? - is it substandard.. done to a reasonable level?

"reasonable accomodation" is questionable.. is the only reason i ask.

How long have you work at the company?

Also does the ADHD / anxiety you experience interfer with doing your job properly? - is it substandard.. done to a reasonable level?

"reasonable accomodation" is questionable.. is the only reason i ask.

I've worked here since July 1999, so 9-years this July, but I was on contract up until March 2004. (pretty much the trend these days...very few hire direct any more)

I've done lots of good stuff...got a patent and a few internal awards, launched a NA wide process, but not only did I never realize why my perfomance fluctuated so much, but how it actually related to compensation factors that happened to be there.

Good supervisor with structure and positive feedback...pretty good results...also better if I had a team and could offload the "boring" crap that I hated and almost refused to do. (or procrastinated heavily)

I am a very good outside of the box thinker and problem solver...which is very helpful. But I lost my team during downsizing, and lost my good supervisor about 1-year ago.

I'm not really looking for any specific "reasonable accomodation"...I just know that my perfomance has been my worst since the start of this year (but end of last year too) as the depression piled onto my ADHD, but my situation had become so anti-ADHD that it isn't surprising I was drowning, since I had no clue what I had.

I have got feedback in the past on ADHD behavior that I had to improve and work on...and I got moved to an isolated cube because some of that behavior bothered some people in nearby cubicals (loud excessive talking, etc.) This worried me, but was actually a good thing for someone with ADHD.

So now that I know what I got...I'm trying to turn things around (Depression isn't helping either) So I don't think certain people would be surprised if they knew I had ADHD now, as my behavior and performance weaknesses has been more obvious to them than me for a long time.

But besides having to stop beating myself up for not figuring this out sooner...I am now far more aware of my ADHD related performance issues that are being magnified by Depression right now.

The urge is I'd like to have a private discussion with my supervisor and explain my situation, but that I was getting myself treated and learning to cope, but as I do that and try these new drugs...I won't really have my stuff totally together immediately, but he should see regular improvements and he can give me constructive feedback.

My common sense says...1)He's not that type of supervisor...my last one was, but he is not. 2) I won't be able to put this back in the bottle after that and it could hurt me later. 3) If I can turn my performance around quickly enough...it won't matter.

I worry that 3) will be too slow, but I don't know. Again I am interested in actual people who have either talked to their boss at work about their ADHD...and how that worked out...or choose not to and why.

I had worked at my previous job for over 4 years. Found out during my time there about my ADHD. And made the decision to tell my supervisior.. because like you.. i was worried my work might flucutate during transition...

My first boss - actually asked me how long i would have the adhd... thought that was kinda funny.. but he was nice about it overall.. once i explained it to him.. On a side note he also told the VP of the department which i requested he not do.. and whenever a mistake happened.. i got blamed for things.. .. that my boss would make mistakes on.

The second guy there.. appeared a bit more understanding.. letme have the window seat that was more to itself than any other cubicals.. but in the end.. i can't say that admiting it to my boss was good for me. I think closer to my end there, i resigned because i got offered another postion in another company.. i felt more isolated by telling my boss, than safer.

Not sure that makes sense..

Now im at the point where i have been on ritalin for.. i guess 3 years consitently (I was on it as a child for a bit too) and i now know what i need to get the job done. When i did my paperwork for this career move.. i didn't click the box that asked if i have any type of disability... Might make my job harder at times.. but i feel it's better for me in the long run.

Both these companies are pretty big corporations, the first one global.

HR departments.. although they sometimes have employees best interest in mind.. not always when it comes to the bottom line. They do get their paychecks written by the companies and will in the end go with the best interest of company.. not individual.

I'm from Ontario too btw

I told my manager at my last job, because the diagnosis and medication actually helped my performance. I am in sales. Plus, I also felt that my manager was ADHD. We used to get into crazy arguments over really simple things. Once I was medicated, I would not escalate with her anymore. Unfortunately, a new team member joined us and I suspected he had ADD and he took my place in the arguments over nothing.

Once I realized what was going on with the two of them, I told her about myself and how I suspected she was too. She actually appreciated what I would share with her and I think she was actually considering this about herself. However, when it came to accomodations, she had a difficult time asking for what I wanted, which was to go into a closed room for a part of the day to get my calls done without distraction. She and the VP of sales did not want to give me this, because the VP did not think I needed this. All I needed to do was focus and try harder. WHATEVER!! I eventually left this company, which paid me very well and went to work for my mentor, who was formerly the director at my former company. I had told him about my diagnosis, shortly after I found out, but I was not working for him. We were friends outside of work. However, when I came to work for him, he said "am I hiring damaged goods?" I reminded him how effective I was at this job and nothing more was said, because he is fully aware of my strengths. However, at one point, when the company was struggling at the beginning of the year and I was having some doubts about my decision to come here, we had a discussion about my focus. Well my problem was that I was having trouble focusing on my sales, because there were some many issues with the product, support and a whole host of issues. He shut the door and said "I don't know if it is your ADD or what", now again he is viewing this as a weakness. What I told him was that if I were not medicated and working with a coach, I would have left here a long time ago. Plus, there is no way for me to turn off all of the ideas that come to my head. I guess I can control when I bring them up and how often, but my ideas can help this company and they are now starting to pay off.

So, I guess I am saying, be careful. My current boss is a very good friend, we go fishing, camping and pray together. The question you might ask yourself is, "What is the purpose of me saying something?" Will saying something actually help me? When I left my company, I told the CFO, also a friend, that I could have sued the company for not accomodating me, but that is not why I left. I really felt like I was making a step up in my career, plus it would allow me to work in areas where it took advantage of my strengths. After telling him that, he told me that his brother had ADD and that he was very impressed with how far I got in my career. My boss also confided in me that he got a call from his son's teacher saying that they suspected his son has ADHD. Another way of looking at it is that coming out of the ADD closet, may bring you closer to those that have ADD and this has its benefits too.

Just a thought to the OP...have you considered framing this to your supervisor not as "I have ADHD/ADD and things aren't working," but as "I've been having a difficult time in my personal life and I'm afraid it's affected my work, but I want you to know that things are improving and I expect my work to be at a more consistent level in the near future." That way, you're being honest and letting your supervisor know that things have been bit rocky, but you're not disclosing any of your personal medical information or risking a the possibility that your supervisor may have a negative reaction to an employee having ADD, depression, anxiety etc - sadly, there are plenty of folks who don't believe that mental health issues are real :)

You might have already considered this strategy and rejected it for reasons x, y, and z...if you haven't, well, just a thought :)

Make sure that if you do decide to confide in him.. for everything you feel is a barrier.. have a reasonable solution (Accomodation) that can be done.

Just a thought to the OP...have you considered framing this to your supervisor not as "I have ADHD/ADD and things aren't working," but as "I've been having a difficult time in my personal life and I'm afraid it's affected my work, but I want you to know that things are improving and I expect my work to be at a more consistent level in the near future." That way, you're being honest and letting your supervisor know that things have been bit rocky, but you're not disclosing any of your personal medical information or risking a the possibility that your supervisor may have a negative reaction to an employee having ADD, depression, anxiety etc - sadly, there are plenty of folks who don't believe that mental health issues are real :)

You might have already considered this strategy and rejected it for reasons x, y, and z...if you haven't, well, just a thought :)

That's the best suggestion/idea I have heard so far. I have myself so wrapped up tackling my issues and dealing with new meds that I didn't think of that...well I did, but I wasn't sure how to word it.

I guess I was/am worried if he asks for my details and attempts to pry how to handle it and not lie either. I do want him to know that I am aware that my performance at work has been suffering because of "personal issues" aka not something specific about work (although not entirely true...close enough) and that I am turning things around, but not only do I not want to get into what the personal issues are...I am not sure if he needs to or has the right to know.

I am reminded that when people take sick days...the company can ask for a doctors note or details so that people don't cheat the system, but I am not asking for any time off...or special things at this time and I could ask for things later that just "work better for me" without really getting into it as long as it isn't special accommodation.

You're on the right track. Feel free to PM me.

See: http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49828
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42296

There are other threads on this topic as well! Happy trails to you!

Wow...interesting, informative and a tad scary threads. I notice your advice of:

"Check with a lawyer before disclosing, or threatening to sue for discrimination or retaliation."

The two stories by Xavier & Tinkerbell were also very telling as well as the positive couple.

I believe I have come to the decision that the risks in telling out way the benefits. Even if things worked out in the shorter to medium terms...it would be on my HR file and as someone suggested...could easily be used to discriminate against my upward mobility in the company even if it didn't risk my job.

Since I have delivered some pretty good results and have been at the company a reasonable amount of time...I think I should be able to weather a bad mid-year Review if necessary and turn things around before I am in real jeopardy....and hopefully turn it around completely before the end of the year.

I mean we've had people and supervisors who literally slept at their desk, one guy just came in and did nothing but read the paper for almost a year before they fired him, etc.

Right now I think my boss has the impression more that I have been working on stuff he doesn't care about as much (he made such a comment like "Well I know you aren't just doing nothing" or similar when we had a confrontation a week before this past Friday). The guy I was supposed to be training to take over this project left the company (which also explains why he didn't do much to help), so there really isn't much evidence that I didn't actually push or do very much to attempt to train him or whatever.

Although it doesn't completely excuse my performance...my boss aka my supervisor has been an awful supervisor since at least last November....and others even went to see our manager separately to complain before our skip meeting with our manager where with some minor discussion with a couple of my co-workers before hand...we pretty much all felt that way and said so to some degree (I was more vocal, but no surprises there). He has clearly been having his own issues (some personal and work combo I think).

I don't think I can get around the fact that my performance has sucked lately. In came up mostly in that he can't figure out exactly what I have accomplished since January...and he is right...it doesn't add up.

So right now I think taking responsibility for that and striving to do better and if needed disclosing the personal problems angle (which is true, but non-specific) is probably the best. I really don't like it when personal stuff messes with my work, but I will have to think about what to say if he asks for any specifics...not sure right now....clearly easier if there was an event that I could claim was responsible, but no such luck....and he is the least empathetic boss I've ever had. (although ironically he doesn't see his own bad performance...he might be ADHD too AFAIK)

Are you able to take a few weeks off? Vacation?

Are you able to take a few weeks off? Vacation?


I wish I could, but I believe that especially since I had not planned any at this time and my situation with my boss and projects is at a critical stage...taking even a week off with such short notice would look even worse than my recent performance and things could fall apart behind me. Perception is as important as performance and I don't want to hurt mine more than I have recently.

But I think you may be onto something. I haven't had a good vacation in a while...and getting one as soon as I can would probably help and just use the time to get my stuff together....not sure. I have 12-days of vacation left and have to use 4 of those during our July shutdown. Plus I will need to use at least a couple for some other stuff. I don't know, but my goal was to not take any additional vacation before July so that I could get my projects in better shape before the mid-year review.

I found the following link about legal stuff and ADHD/ADD in the workplace:
http://www.addresources.org/article_adhd_legal_chadd.php

I think the information there is true, but is very disturbing and it just reinforces my decision. I will not tell anyone at work of my having ADHD or Depression problems, but if needed I will tell my supervisor that

"I have been having personal problems that have been impacting my effectiveness and productivity at work, but I am turning things around and expect my performance to improve on a continual basis." or something similar...I haven't worked it out yet.

I still don't know what to say if he presses for some details. Has anyone else tried such a vague approach and had their boss press and what did you tell them if you didn't mention ADHD and/or Depression?

When your doing searches for research.. also ensure they apply to Canada.. All laws etc are not necessailrily the same

When your doing searches for research.. also ensure they apply to Canada.. All laws etc are not necessailrily the same


I actually cross-border commute and work in the United States, but live in Canada. This generally doesn't help with ADHD influenced morning lateness;)

highlandr...so glad to hear that my suggestion was helpful to you! I'm no labor law expert, but I'm almost positive that it would not be appropriate for your supervisor to press for further details. In fact, it would quite possibly be illegal. I mean, think about it this way...I know that in the U.S. (and believe that you mentioned that you work in the US, live in Canada) it would be highly inappropriate for your supervisor to demand to know if you are, say, getting a divorce...or that you're having financial problems...or that a family member is ill.

If your supervisor is inappropriate enough to ask "Why," then I think it would be more than acceptable to say something along the lines of, "Thank you for your concern, but I don't feel comfortable discussing this further right now." Even if he's not motivated by concern, saying that still lets both of you walk away from the situation feeling good about it.

Good luck!

Dilly...you rule!

I did not have the confrontation, but your advice got me thinking along the right lines to deal with this as well as my late assignment from last week. I decided to answer that via email to the one asking "Where is it?" as I wanted the wording to be right and wrote some crib notes on my little notebook that I am now carrying around with me.

Either way...I am sure he will come by at some point (and maybe have not even read his email...he's really awful about email)...and we will see how it goes, but I greatly appreciate your suggestions and feedback.

So glad to hear my thoughts were helpful! Good luck!