adhd and self treatment | ADHD Information

If you are needing a security clearance, chances are you're going to need a pee test, perhaps at random, at which point, your employer will find out if you take medications.

On the flip side, if you're a more productive person and your life is better on the medication, then go with it.  I struggled with this same issue quite frankly, but my family and social support is more important than my job....my choice was....be happy with my husband and children and risk the chance of losing my job....OR....be a miserable beast with low self esteem, losing everything, etc, etc and not lose my job and maintain a miserable quality of life.

I'm not being flip about this...it's tough, and I still wax and wane and sometimes don't take meds "just to see how I do".  Invariably, I go back.  I even go off to a clinic that I have to self pay so I am not exposed to people who potentially know me who see that I am in for an appointment.  I guess that helps me stay a bit anonymous.

Good luck with your decision.

[QUOTE=blues]

 

i got a delimma , my job has a securty clearance and i have my
concerns that if i got a diagnosis for adhd that i might lose my clearance
and thus my job, i know theres laws to the contrary, but securty clearance
requires "mentaly stable people" ...and we all know how much fun a jerk
can have with interptation of rules

as it goes i am speeking half as much as other people,

i listen to music with my mp3 player to hold attention

i multi task like a feind

i dont eat anything from a plastic wrapper, although i nurse a cup of
coffie till mid day

i do eat alot of sea food, oysters, i heard they help sometimes

but i...honestly i want help but i am slighty concerned about going to a
doctor, this forum is helpfull but with this in mind and meds not an
option any advice?

thank you

[/QUOTE]

Hmmm... tough choice. I'm a bit of a homer because I have ADHD. I
wouldn't consider ADHD a negative diagnosis, and I sure wouldn't call
ADHD'ers mentally unstable. I wouldn't assume that you would randomly
become dangerous, or leak classified information just because you have
ADHD.

I'd call ADHD more of a learning disorder, or something that would hinder
your ability to perform repetitive tasks accurately for a long period of
time. Thus possibly giving you a slightly higher risk of mistakes after an
extended period. But if your work is afraid of you leaking information or
shooting up the office, they're nuts. Maybe you'd have an increased risk
of cutting your own arm off, but I'd think that's it.

I would think that medication would help you stay focused for longer
periods of time, help with motivation, and relieve some of the mental
blocks that make it difficult to put into words what you're thinking and
feeling.

But you don't have to use meds. I would say counseling or an ADHD coach
would be your best bet. You should atleast look into a local support
group that you can attend. Meds without counseling will only help so
much. Old habits die hard. Counseling without meds, not sure, but it's
worth a try.

Other suggestions: Stop the seafood thing, that is bizarre. Or atleast have
some other types of protein and carbs in your diet. Eat right after you
wake up. I eat yogurt and it gives my brain the fuel it needs to maintain a
high level of stress. Eat about every 3 hours or when you start feeling
sluggish. Take frequent breaks from work. Walk around during your
allotted breaks, and get some air. Stay away from caffeine, although if
you drink a few sips throughout the day when you feel zapped of energy,
it seems to help, but not a whole bunch of caffeine at once. You'll drop
off and be miserable. Sleep well! yeah, ADHD'ers sleeping well? But try to
get enough sleep.

There's a long list of things that can help ADHD symptoms. But it's
something that would take me a novel to write about. Maybe later if I get
hyper-focused again and need to write another long winded post.

Ok, one tip: Listen to music with a fast tempo. Our brain frequency will
slow down or speed up to match the speed of a song. One song that I use
to motivate me is INANE by KMFDM. You may hate it, but it works for me.
When I get hyper-focused and can't seem to snap out of it, I put on this
song and I instantly snap out of it. I have a "motivation" playlist on my
itunes and it's for when I need a pick me up. I do housework to that list. I
lied,... I don't do housework.

 

i got a delimma , my job has a securty clearance and i have my concerns that if i got a diagnosis for adhd that i might lose my clearance and thus my job, i know theres laws to the contrary, but securty clearance requires "mentaly stable people" ...and we all know how much fun a jerk can have with interptation of rules

as it goes i am speeking half as much as other people,

i listen to music with my mp3 player to hold attention

i multi task like a feind

i dont eat anything from a plastic wrapper, although i nurse a cup of coffie till mid day

i do eat alot of sea food, oysters, i heard they help sometimes

but i...honestly i want help but i am slighty concerned about going to a doctor, this forum is helpfull but with this in mind and meds not an option any advice?

thank you

Have you checked out the Alternatives forum?  There's lots of stuff there about Omega-3's (found in high amounts in seafood, but also available in a supplement) and other supplements that some people find helpful.

It can be extremely difficult to prove that an employer fired you because of ADHD- it's very easy for them to find a "legitimate" reason, even if they have to create it.  What it comes down to is a quality of life issue when deciding about meds.  Many people have arranged their lives so that they can function happily without meds, other people can't, or don't have the opportunity, to do that. 

i finished reading How to Win Friends and Influence People By Dale Carnegie agian.. sorry about the tastless copy and past but ohh well. i know he dident write it with adhders in mind, but the book points out dosens of things i was blind to before and although its not ....designed for adhders i do think its well worth the read by most.

it was able to brake down alot of the bigpicture issues i have with dealing with others into smaller points that i could tackle and in simple enough terms for this social retard to understand.

recently though i have been working on the art of listening , its a pain in the backside but EXTREAMLY rewarding if you have patence. i will admit by no means am i a master at it.... but i'm learning that if i'm quite and listen alot, i do manage not to offend people with the same profecency and speed i am use too. and as an added bonus i have found out that if i chose questions to ask people and simply wait for it, they will talk , and i can find out stuff that i never knew before about them.....and for me knowing very little about my friends is somethingi am trying to not have happen agian

1. You should have access to an employee handbook. Look through it yourself (instead of asking someone) to find out what constitutes "mentally unstable." There has to be a more diffinitive description than just "mentally unstable." There are plenty of naturally occuring life issues that makes people more unstable than ADHD. (Death of a relative, divorce, erectile dysfuntion, etc..)

2. Stimulants of all kinds are mind altering drugs (including caffiene). So if a medication is legally and properly prescribed the effects are monitored and somewhat controlled. I personally would worry about unregulated amounts of Caffiene making someone run their mouth off more than I would a properly treated case of ADHD.

3. It may be harder for your employer to get rid of you than you think. Depending on your local laws, where you work, what your job entails, etc... If an employer can't cite a specific company policy or law when they terminate an employee they could possibly open themselves up for litigation. I personally don't think many employers are going to risk a lawsuit based on just their diagnosis of your mental stability.

4. You might be surprised at how many people in the average workplace are on prescription "mind altering" medication.

 

All I am trying to say is dig a little deeper for information before you start discounting your options for treatment.

are you happyOne of my best friends is in his last semester in the Army Recruiting Program through my university. And so I've subsequently heard that sometimes things obviously can get extremely stressful.

One thing you could do is try to test yourself in front superiors in stressful situations, especially ones requiring multitasking or processing many inputs to make a decision. Most likely you'll do much better and remain calmer is this situation, and we all know, and if people don't they are ignorant, military work requires processing multiple inputs and making educated, appropriate decisions accordingly.ADHD is a neurological not a psychological disorder

Being ADHD does not make you  "mentally unstable".

Look at being ADHD as a different way of being. If that interferes with you working or interacting with people then it is a problem that needs to be addressed.

First, start eating a healthy diet. Wide variety and lots of fresh veggies and fruit. I believe in moderation, therefore no food is off limits. If you like cheescake, have it once a month or when you crave it. Have one slice and not the whole cheesecake. If you like seafood, eat a wide variety and remember frying it negates the benefits of the seafood.  And be sure to eat regularly, this helps maintain a constant blood sugar level. This might require you to pack snacks for you to eat during your shift.

You don't anything from plastic. Why? It isn't the plastic that many think contribute to ADHD symptoms, but the perservatives. Maybe you do have the right thought, anything coming from plastic will be full of preservatives.

Next, make sure you are getting plenty of rest. Fatigue will make any symptoms worse. You must take care of your body.

And lastly, find a doctor (psychiatrist who specializes in Adult ADD treatment) and discuss the options. This is not "here's a pill and you're all better" disorder. Medication helps, but behavior modification helps too. There are several options available to you. You do not have to suffer.

Its a job that has meaning to me. i havent had that sence i was enlisted, i have talked to the union rep on base, he told me get my 4 years in and there isent a thing they can do to fire me, on work preformance alone i am doing quite well...do mostly to the dosens of side tasks in arms reach that alwase needs done.

i am a coffie junki but that might be due to the low sleep time due to class/work lol

as far as the am i happy.....its satifying to do work that matters in my minds eye, even if the cost is some discomfort. union rep tho told me to keep quite about this and stay in clean room as much as possable

[QUOTE=Parduse]3. It may be harder for your employer to get rid of you than you think. Depending on your local laws, where you work, what your job entails, etc... If an employer can't cite a specific company policy or law when they terminate an employee they could possibly open themselves up for litigation. [/QUOTE]

Here in Louisiana, employers can fire without just cause.  It's usually in the hire paperwork you fill out. We are a right to work state and unions aren't strong here.

Definitely check your hand book.  If there is an anonymous number to the HR department, call from a payphone, don't give your name and flat out ask about policy. Don't tell them your clearance level. Just tell them you have it and you don't want to lose your job if you try and get diagnosed with ADD and go on meds.

In the meantime, I have run across some info on the internet about diet helping or hindering ADD and the resultant treatment. Some drs. also use diet as another tool.

My personal experience before diagnosis was interesting.  Went on a modified Atkins/Sugarbusters diet. Ate fruit, veggies even though there were ones I wasn't supposed to because of the sugar content, but I DID cut back on my carbs and increase my protein intake. I am a carb junkie. Love bread, white potatos, rice, etc.  Had a mild case of the DT's when I cut out soft drinks, LOL.  Amazingly, I slept a little better, did not fall asleep in the middle of the afternoon, seemed a bit calmer and less likely to fly off the handle. This is just me, though. And there could be other reasons for it. BUT, I would look at what you're eating from that angle and then do some research into diet for ADD treatment and see what you come up with.

Good luck.
Echoing Opie's post, ADD is purely neurological. It shouldn't really come up. I think it disqualifies you for military service, but thats about it... At least, the airforce won't let you be a pilot.
That aside; chew gum. I work nights at a mental health facility, so I spent most of my time sitting in the client's doorway, in case they wake up and try to commit suicide. I listen to a lot of fast techno and chew about a pack of gum a night...
I also make sure I'm sitting in a place that I can get up and pace without breaking supervision.

On the other hand, I know from experience that I cannot reliably complete long-term assignments (more than a week long, or recurring for more that 2 or 3 days) unless I medicate. I just forget and procrastinate too much. If I have a set schedule, like work, I can be there on time every day. But if I have a more fluid schedule, or I'm expected to figure out what to do on my own, I get lost really quickly.
Being ADD or ADHD does not bar you from the military. You must be off your meds for 1 year before they will accept you. I think you can go back on your meds after boot camp. If you are really interested in the military, talk to a recruiter.