ADHD amd Job Performance problems

[Twiggy]

I do the best I can at work, but I still have problems in the following areas:

Tardiness
- I was late 6 times in 1.5 months and got written up for it.

Doing dumb stuff (when meds wear off)
- I start hyperfocusing and fiddling with things around me...and yes I've been caught twice in one day by my Supervisor.
I didn't intentionally do it.

Using the Restroom too frequently
- I get thirsty a lot from meds and drink plenty of water, which in turn makes me go to the restroom a lot. My Supervisor gets annoyed by it.

I don't want to look like a slacker at work, so I'm asking the Addforums for some advice.

[ginniebean]

Tardiness: Get the clothes you're going to wear, and everything you need to head out the door (make a list) have it all ready the night before.

Fiddling - Dunno... if it's interfering with your job not sure what to say.. keep a fiddle toy in your pocket?

Using the restroom too frequently.. WTF!!!! This is your boss being a jack ***. Tell your boss you're on medication (don't tell her what for) that makes you thirsty and hence you also need to use the washroom more often. Then, use the washroom as needed. If your boss objects do not look at her like you're doing anything wrong, very firmly let her/him know again that you need to use the washroom more frequently because it's a side effect of medication.

Do NOT tell her what the medication is for, just say it's a condition you were born with and the treatment makes you thirsty but you're not comfortable talking about it. (if you absolutely can't hold out) That's it. If she asks for more, repeat, you're not comfortable sharing that information.

[tudorose]

Set the clock 10 minutes fast.

Carry elastic bands coz that takes care of the fiddling, or use a stress ball.

Tell her to f*** off if she comments on the bathroom trips. It's none of her business. Or better still tell her she's not drinking enough water herself, buy her a water bottle and tell her she needs to drink that plus a refill by the end of the day.

[Twiggy]

Thanks, ginniebean and tudorose for the advice.
I can't fiddle with anything at my workplace or have anything on me to fiddle with.

[tudorose]

Originally Posted by Twiggy

Thanks, ginniebean and tudorose for the advice.
I can't fiddle with anything at my workplace or have anything on me to fiddle with.

Hmmmm. Grow fingernails long and then flick them against eachother?

[Unmanagable]

Can you have anything in your pocket?

[tortilaman]

Originally Posted by Twiggy

I do the best I can at work, but I still have problems in the following areas:

Tardiness
- I was late 6 times in 1.5 months and got written up for it.

How tardy were you? I'm beginning to not like your supervisor, but it might just be how things are where you work.

Originally Posted by Twiggy

Doing dumb stuff (when meds wear off)
- I start hyperfocusing and fiddling with things around me...and yes I've been caught twice in one day by my Supervisor.
I didn't intentionally do it.

I might suggest taking a second dose (or something along those lines). They can't prevent you from taking meds, and have no right to know what they're for if you don't want to tell them.

Originally Posted by Twiggy

Using the Restroom too frequently
- I get thirsty a lot from meds and drink plenty of water, which in turn makes me go to the restroom a lot. My Supervisor gets annoyed by it.

I don't want to look like a slacker at work, so I'm asking the Addforums for some advice.

Your supervisor has absolutely zero right to be upset at you about using the restroom too frequently. I don't know what the atmosphere is like at your employer, and how much you want to keep your job, but if after talking to her about the fact that it is medically necessary for you to use the restroom more frequently than some of her other employees she still gives you crap about it, file a grievance or go to her boss or whatever.

**** like this is ridiculous, your supervisor has something up his/her butt.

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by Twiggy

I do the best I can at work, but I still have problems in the following areas:

Tardiness
- I was late 6 times in 1.5 months and got written up for it.

Doing dumb stuff (when meds wear off)
- I start hyperfocusing and fiddling with things around me...and yes I've been caught twice in one day by my Supervisor.
I didn't intentionally do it.

Using the Restroom too frequently
- I get thirsty a lot from meds and drink plenty of water, which in turn makes me go to the restroom a lot. My Supervisor gets annoyed by it.

I don't want to look like a slacker at work, so I'm asking the Addforums for some advice.

Everything else aside...you are allowed to use the bathroom as often as you wish. Tell your supervisor to go f**k himself and if he still harasses you about the bathroom take it up with human resources.

[Targaryen]

I have started carrying a backpack (I'm a guy so I don't have a purse) with me almost everywhere I go and every night before work I make sure my wallet,keys, iPad, vitamins,etc... are all in the backpack so in the morning its not some panic fueled dilemma of me searching for the things I need and being late to work and starting my day off with negative energy. When I remember to do this it works extremely well. Another I use with my phone and iPad that has been a life saver for keeping up with appointments and when I'm working is Google calenders. You can set multiple reminders and it offers a lot of flexibility.

With the bathroom breaks I would say something to your boss letting him know that you have a medical reason for it. The have no right to do anything about that.

With the meds wearing off have you ever tried extended release meds?

[Twiggy]

Originally Posted by tortilaman

How tardy were you? I'm beginning to not like your supervisor, but it might just be how things are where you work.

I was late to work 8 minutes at most. Winding the clock forward will be my option to help.

I have to call in and ask permission to use the restroom.

What are some options on taking IR Ritalin on time?
So far I ask to use the restroom and take it in a restroom stall if I don't have a break on time, it feels sort of like druggy behavior.

I haven't told my employer about my adhd or meds.

Thanks.

[arrested_truth]

For fidgeting, I suggest getting one of those Eos chapsticks, shaped like a round pod, they make this clicky noise when you open and close them. It's slightly annoying to other people but it definitely is perfect for the fidget action

[ginniebean]

Asking permission to use the washroom I can't believe this is 'just how things are' surely this is a violation of some sort.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by tudorose

Set the clock 10 minutes fast.

This has been my tactic for the past 10 years. It stopped working and became counter productive- I learned I had "ten extra minutes" than I did, and not knowing how much time "ten minutes" actually is, I wound up making myself even later. To counter this I kept setting the clocks further and further out, until I had set them forward by a half hour.

Now I try to figure out in advance how much time it REALLY takes to get somewhere- I focus on the leaving time instead of the arriving time. If I have to be at work by 10, and my commute is 40 minutes, I fixate on 9:20. It sounds so obvious writing this, but for the longest time I focused on "being there at 10", instead of "leaving at 9:20".

I also set all my clocks back to the right time- and my partner is much happier.

Getting EVERYTHING ready the night before is always a good idea.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by Twiggy

I was late to work 8 minutes at most. Winding the clock forward will be my option to help.

I have to call in and ask permission to use the restroom.

What are some options on taking IR Ritalin on time?
So far I ask to use the restroom and take it in a restroom stall if I don't have a break on time, it feels sort of like druggy behavior.

I haven't told my employer about my adhd or meds.

Thanks.

Have you tried an extended release? The IR dex was such a pain at work, extended release is much easier for me to deal with. It doesn't have to be an all day med like Concerta- Isn't ritalin LA basically like taking two IR's back to back?

You could just pop it at your desk and tell them you're taking glucosamine or some sort of multivitamin if anyone asks. Glucosamine is a good ruse because it's often taken 4 times a day. Carry them in an empty vitamin bottle if you're really concerned. Heck, take the tabs, break them in half and stick it in a gel cap, and no one will ever know. I really like the camelback waterbottles that have a straw, they make drinking water throughout the day really easy.

[silivrentoliel]

Where do you work that you have to ask to pee??? That's pretty insane- even when I worked in a call center. If I had to pee, once I was done w/ a call, I'd just aux out and go pee. F**k them if they had anything to say. I keep my clocks fast, even on the coffee pot. My cell phone isn't fast, but I set the alarms early, otherwise I'm late... thankfully, my client's family doesn't care if I'm a few minutes late and thankfully my work hasn't said much yet.