How to handle someone with ADHD/ ADD in the Workplace

I have been learning all about ADHD in my academic studies and found this topic really resonates with me as a human being. Have you ever met someone who's head or mind tends to run at a million miles per hour? Do you know someone who can act reckless and displays outbursts of anger that you just cannot understand why or where it came from. That seems to get frustrated with themselves time and time again for no real reason. You can almost feel the build up of frustration and hurt inside them.

Have you worked alongside someone who always forgets things and cannot complete a task before starting a new project or something new. Does this drive you mad? Have you met a professional in work who mood levels can vary on a day-to-day basis. Have you found yourself walking on egg shells around them tip toeing and worrying if your presence might upset them that day. You might be working with someone with ADHD.

Research suggests about 1 in 7 children with?ADHD,?their?ADHD?will continue into adulthood.?To get a diagnoses on ADHD as a parent you will notice a pattern of behaviours which usually appear in early childhood. Such patterns might include the child been:

• unusually over-active.
• easily distracted, cannot stick to anything for any length of time.?
• really impulsive, does things on the spur of the moment or without thinking.
• unable to concentrate for any length of time on any one subject.
• Mind seems to run at a million miles an hour.
• Overthinking, frustration and anger outbursts.

Many of us might have one of these problems, but we do not have all of them. To have a diagnosis of ADHD, these problems must be bad enough to interfere with life and how you get on with other people - or?how you get on with people at work. The positive news is whilst we cannot cure ADHD it tends to get better as you get older, but can continue into adult life.

Adults might find that the over-activity usually gets less, but the impulsivity, poor concentration and risk-taking can get much worse. These can make it hard to work, learn and get on with other people.

It’s not surprising that adults with ADHD are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, feelings of low self-esteem and drug misuse and can feel overwhelmed and struggle in less structured environments. They might take part in reckless driving and reckless behaviour.

To get help for someone with ADHD ask them to reach out to a mental health professional can go over the advantages and disadvantages of medication and psychological interventions. They can be used on their own or together, and you might chose to medicate yourself with one of 5 key medicines that are on the market.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness techniques and attending psychoeducational groups?can help you to:

• Find ways to make sure that you do important tasks and to organise your life better.
• Get self-critical thoughts into perspective, and so you start to feel better about yourself.
• Reduce unhelpful feelings of anxiety, worry and stress this illness causes you on a day-to-day basis.

Seeking help from others who understand the problems may be useful to both you and your partner or family. There are a number of self-help groups for adults with ADHD across the country and also some online forums.

1. ADHD and you

Think about how your ADHD affects:

• how you think and feel
• the people around you.

2. Find out more about ADHD

There is now a lot of information about ADHD in adults and you can find out more via:

• books
• the internet
• support groups.

3. Discuss your problems with people around you

Your friends, family, teachers or workmates know you well. Find out how they see your problems and if they have noticed what things make it better or worse for you.

4. What makes things better or worse?

Think about the things in your life that seem to help – or to make it worse.

5. Do things which help you

These are things which have been helpful for people with ADHD. These will not work for everyone and there may be other things which you have discovered for yourself.

• You may find it hard to organise things so that you get things done you really need to.
• Make lists, keep diaries, stick up reminders, and set aside some time to plan what you need to do.
• Find ways of letting off steam, like exercise, dance, sport
• Find ways of relaxing – like music or relaxation techniques.
• Set yourself realistic goals.
• Remind yourself about the things you can do well.
• Avoid things that make life more difficult. These could be arguments with other people, using drugs and alcohol, and pressure at work.
• Don’t spend time with people who encourage you to drink too much or use drugs, or who create stressful situations.

6. Ask for help

• Your employer, tutor or teacher may be able to make allowances for you.
• Join a self-help group or use some of the web chat rooms for people with ADHD.
• If you are becoming very distressed or depressed because of your symptoms, your GP can refer you to a community mental health team or counsellor.
• They should have more information about local resources that you can use.

'15 tips to help yourself'

Adapted from?50 tips ?by psychiatrist Ed Hallowell in?Driven to Distraction.

• tell people:?but don’t use the diagnosis as an “excuse”
• ask for help from your friends and family:?but say exactly what you need
• get feedback about how you affect others:?and ask for feedback about when you do things well
• use structure and prioritise:
• make lists and notes
• use colour coding and reminders
• write down plans
• break down big goals into smaller, manageable tasks
• reward yourself when things go well:?or don’t go too badly!
• respond to boring tasks quickly:?“OHIO” = only handle it once
• accept that some things are just difficult:?so it doesn’t get you down
• plan difficult meetings or conversations:?anticipate problems
• find ways to help yourself concentrate:?background?music, silence, something to “fiddle with” in your hands
• have “blow-out time” or “time outs”:?gym, dancing, running
• don’t beat yourself up:?(or your parents!)
• join a support group:?or start one!
• learn to tolerate your moods (without panicking or catastrophising):?NOT “I’m hopeless” or “I never manage to…”
• find friends who are good for you:?and spend time with them
• be proud of yourself:?yes really…you’re trying to make things better!